Chapter 2: Destroyer / Resurrection and regeneration / At the end of the deadly battle
– Prepare for impact!
At the same moment that Planet?ZERO? made a big explosion, emitting a sudden intense light.
Fritz shouted to the Slayers waiting on the deck from the control room of?Charlotte No. 1?.
Each of the Slayers reflected on the monitor before his eyes grasped the handrail for preventing falls and prepared for impact.
Charlotte called out to the two people inside the capsules.
– Liza, Maria, we’re counting on you.
– … I know.
Liza said, following Maria who replied and nodded in the capsule.
– We’ll protect this ship.
The two capsules started to shine.
Then, a defensive field was deployed around?Charlotte No.1?.
After the shock wave, pieces of the fragmented Planet?ZERO?commenced to attack one after another, but thanks to Liza and Maria’s defense fields, the hull of?Charlotte No.1?was left undamaged.
The Slayers on the deck were also undamaged.
However, ?Charlotte No.1?was shaking violently, it felt as if they had experienced a huge earthquake.
While Hayato and the others Slayers continued holding the handrails firmly, they kept turning fixed gazes to the place where Planet?ZERO?was until moments ago while enduring the shaking.
About the results, were they able to stop the operation of the autonomous-type automatic destructive weapon Destroyer?
*TN: That is how the author wrote the name of the machine by the way.
Could Diff and Miile escape from the exploding Planet?ZERO??
They wanted to achieve at the very least one of them; that was the wish of Hayato and the others.
However, it seemed that both were impossible dreams.
Charlotte, Irina, Fritz and Liza were desperately searching for them, but they hadn’t been able to find life responses of Miile and Diff so far.
Instead, they found something shaped like a konpeito that drifted in the void of space, it possessed an enormous energy, giving the impression that it would give a spontaneous discharge at any moment now??.
It was the existence of an object similar to a Variable Stone as they called it on Earth.
Now, fragments of Planet?ZERO?that became pieces and the bodies of the Savages whose movement ceased as the cores were dispersed by the impact of the explosion were floating in space.
However, and while that happened, Hayato and the others soon noticed that something with a strong force was there.
The one who muttered and checked with her eyes was Aila.
– What is that…?
Ryuuto said next.
– It seems that something is getting bigger.
As his words said, it seemed as if that thing that shined faintly started to collect the cores of the Savages scattered around like a powerful magnet.
Together with getting bigger, its brilliance also became intense??.
– No way, that’s…
Hayato muttered while feeling an uncanny uneasiness.
It seemed that his prediction wasn’t wrong.
Before long, it emitted a strong light, showing a transformation to a gigantic, bizarre shape that would frighten any kind of life-form.
– What the hell is that…?
It was something like a giant scorpion-type Savage with many arms and pincers attached to them??.
No.
On the contrary, Krovahn, who saw the autonomous evolutionary-type destructive weapon Destroyer that was something like a weird structure, dropped words involuntarily.
– We have to… fight… that?
Latia revealed her impression next.
– It’s no surprise it’s this big, huh…
*Ahaha*, Emilia showed a wry smile.
At any rate, when speaking of its size, it was almost like a huge building.
– But, we have no choice but to do it desuwayo.
Although they didn’t know how much strength it had, they couldn’t afford to leave it as it was.
Claire took out the Hundred from the neck case and tried to deploy her armament.
Then, Destroyer leaned its long neck upwards and turned up as if laughing with a loud voice.
Charlotte No. 1?swayed due to the impact of the sound wave that was let loose.
Because of that, Claire couldn’t deploy her armament.
– Aila-san, this is…
– Yeah, this feels… very, bad…
Aila covered her mouth to withstand the nausea.
Ryuuto covered his mouth in the same way as her.
– It’s like something is resounding in my head…
The one who muttered so while holding her head was Nakri.
But not only those three.
All the Slayers on the deck appeared to be in pain.
Moreover, not just the Slayers on the deck, but also Sakura and Karen in the spaceship. That was also the case for Liza and Maria in the capsules.
And Fritz, of course.
– Kuh, this is…
Fritz was clutching his head in the control space of?Charlotte No.1?.
Sakura and Karen in their Variable Suits came there with an unsteady pace.
– Hey, Charlotte, what’s this…?
– What is really happening?
– It seems that’s the scream of Destroyer??it appears to be something like a sound wave emitted by Destroyer, so to speak, which has some sort of influence on the Variant Virus.
It was Charlotte who had finished the analysis exactly there that replied to the questions of Sakura and Karen that they had thrown at her when they tried to touch the door.
– A sound wave…!
Karen was amazed, hearing the words of Charlotte.
– If that’s the case, then we can fight back with songs, no?
Sakura raised her voice as if she was sure of it.
– What do you say, Charlotte?
– Well, that might work.
In the end, Charlotte’s analysis wasn’t more than a deduction.
However, if the cause was the oscillation of air like sound waves, then they should be able to counter it with songs.
There was no mistake about it.
If so, Sakura asked.
– Shall we do it, Karen-chan?
– Yes, of course!
– Charlotte, you have no problems with it, right?
– From the get-go you were prepared for it, as you are dressed in your Variable Suits, thinking that you’ll sortie or something. If being able to do something exists, then there’s no choice but to do it. You two, get ready to sortie immediately. Irina, please take care of supporting them.
– Understood.
Receiving the help of Irina who replied, they moved to the elevator to go up to the stage further above the deck.
– Well then, up we go.
Following the words of Irina, the elevator started to move.
Because of that, the two had been decided to come out to the stage further above the deck where Hayato and the others were suffering.
– Do you hear me, Nii-san!?
Due to the call of Karen, not just Hayato.
But also the rest of the Slayers on the deck noticed that the two were on the stage.
– Karen…! And Sakura as well…!
Hayato raised his voice as if surprised.
However, his voice didn’t reach them.
In order to reduce the effect of the sound waves emitted by Destroyer as much as possible, the two were wearing noise cancelling earphones.
Karen and Sakura could only hear the music??and each other’s voice.
Following Karen, Sakura called out to the Slayers on the deck.
– We’ll help you with our songs, everyone! Let’s go, Karen-chan!
– Yes!
Karen nodded.
The two raised their voices all together and held up high over their heads the Hundred they grasped tightly.
– HUNDRED ON!
– HUNDRED ON!
Shining and transforming into particles, the Hundred of Sakura, Fairy Fairy Tale, made a costume.
Karen’s Hundred, Divine Card, transformed into a number of cards that clung to Karen’s body, making a costume.
The two Divas had immediately??.
Oriental Wizard and Little Little Witch had arrived.
Then, Sakura started operating the touchscreen floating monitor displayed on the stage with her fingers and selected a song.
The intro started to sound from the speakers.
And naturally from their earphones.
– Let’s sing, Karen-chan! To help everyone with our songs and to save the universe??with our songs of salvation!
– Yes!
The two started to sing.
A song of love, that is.
A song about love, about persons who were wounded and destroyed by love, raising over and over again.
But love was a fight for girls!
In short, it was a battle song.
The song lyrics inspired hearts with powerful melodies.
And the effect of their singing voices loaded with their thoughts for those who went to the battle was outstanding.
The bad condition of the Slayers was alleviated.
– …we can fight with this, huh?
Krovahn, who had fell to his knees and was crouching, stood up.
– I think so.
– … me too.
Nakri and Nesat who were in similar conditions also stood up.
A fair amount of time had passed since last battle, and compared to Hayato and the others, the energy of Krovahn, Nakri and Nesat had recovered significantly.
They were filled with motivation as well.
– Technically, it’s our turn, isn’t it? Since we’ll be the explorers, watch us from here.
After Nakri said so to Hayato and the rest, she turned her eyes to Nesat and Krovahn consecutively and said to them.
– Let’s go.
– Yeah??
– Yes.
Nesat replied after Krovahn.
Krovahn produced his Crusher-type Hundred Orthros Liberio in his right hand and Nakri created her Dancer-type Hundred Duo Varga at the same time.
Following them, Nesat muttered, turning her eyes above her head.
– … Hundred On.
A sword that resembled Krovahn’s Orthros Liberio was created by her Trace-type Hundred Truth Eye.
– We don’t know what kind of attack that thing will do. So, we’ll investigate. Hayato and the rest, you watch for now.
Hayato, who made his voice express itself, turned his eyes to Claire as if requesting her decision.
Then, Claire nodded.
-… I know. We’ll leave it to you. However, be really careful??.
– We know.
Krovahn replied with a serious expression.
Then he cheerfully spoke to Nakri and Nesat.
– Nee-chan, Nakri, let’s go!
– Wait a second.
It was Liza who appeared on the deck and raised her voice to stop the three of them.
As her words said, Krovahn, who was on the brink of jumping out of the deck, asked Liza.
– What do you…?
– Well, let’s say that I can’t lose to Sakura and Karen’s songs.
Liza replied, smiling sweetly.
– Besides, if you don’t have my support, you can’t fight in perfect conditions, you know?
With those words, Krovahn suddenly realized.
– You’re right, I forgot about that.
Certainly, it was as Liza said.
The battlefield was the space.
If they don’t take oxygen capsules, then they can’t breathe and will end up dying.
By taking them, they could move for an extended period of time, even in anaerobic conditions, but that in the end consumed a lot of energy.
In that regard, Liza’s support was imperative to keep it within limits.
Not just Krovahn, the rest of the Slayers knew that well.
– In that case, please support us.
– Yes, of course.
Liza stretched her hands towards the emptiness, and began creating small spheres.
Then, she made them burst, scattering particles in the surroundings.
– All is clear now, you should be able to fight.
– Sure, and thank you.
After he returned those words to Liza.
Krovahn said to Nakri and Nesat again.
– ‘kay then, let’s go.
– Yup!
– Let’s go!
Krovahn jumped out, kicking the deck together with the two that assented.
And so, the three started an offensive on Destroyer.
– ??Oraah!
As preceded, the one who slashed at Destroyer with Orthros Liberio was Krovahn.
Because of that, a part of the giant body flew in the space as if bouncing.
– Hmm, this isn’t harder than what I thought.
– … that, seems to be the case.
Nesat, who also slashed at it with an Orthros Liberio-like sword after Krovahn, thought the same.
The same was true for Nakri that threw Duo Varga towards Destroyer.
Even with the attacks of the two, parts of the large body were popping off.
– If so, then we can easily cut it into pieces! One more ti??eh…
Nakri caught Duo Varga that came back like a boomerang and tried to throw it again at Destroyer.
– Eh…?
Nakri was amazed due to the phenomenon that happened.
– Krovahn, Nesat, that’s…
As Nakri pointed with her shaky finger, the two that were called also were amazed.
– What’s that…?
A portion of the body parts that got separated from the main body of Destroyer and were reflected in the eyes of Krovahn appeared to be transforming into Savages.
Not just Nakri and Nesat.
Hayato and the others were able to confirm it like him.
– It’s exactly as what Nesat said, that we don’t know what kind of attack it was going to do, but… I’ve never imagined that it would be this.
Claire muttered.
About the result, and even though the factory of Savages had been destroyed, it seemed that Destroyer itself had become a factory.
The Savages started to move, they’re after?Charlotte No. 1?!?
Irina issued a communication, looking flustered.
The eyes of Hayato and the others were able to confirm that as well.
Claire stared talking to the Slayers on the deck to order them.
– Now that it has become to this, we will protect Kirishima Sakura, Kisaragi Karen and?Charlotte No.1?masuwayo! Do you agree, Fritz desuwane?
Yeah, we request that to the Slayers on the deck?
Fritz continued, replying from the control room.
Krovahn and the others, continue attacking?
They had to destroy the core of Destroyer without cutting its body into pieces as much as possible.
That was the strategy informed to Krovahn, Nesat and Nakri.
Roger?
It’s bothersome, but it can’t be helped?
Krovahn and Nakri sent a transmission.
… let’s do our best, guys?
What came and was heard next was the voice of Nesat that called out Krovahn and Nakri.
Yup!?
Sure thing, Nee-chan!?
Nakri and Krovahn started to move while replying to the call of Nesat.
– Well then, we’ll start dealing with the Savages masuwayo.
Claire called Hayato, Emilia, Latia, Aila and Ryuuto.
After she confirmed the figures of the five people that nodded all together.
Claire turned her eyes to Liza and said to her.
– If the moment comes, Liza and Maria will have to protect?Charlotte No.1?. We’ll be counting on you masuwayo.
– Yes, of course.
I know?
Following Liza who was in front of her, Maria answered from inside the capsule.
– Well then, everyone, it’s time to deploy masuwayo.
– If that’s the case, then I’m going first??
Complying with Claire’s call, Emilia threw the Hundred in the air, striving to be the first.
– HUNDRED ON!
Following the yell, bluish particles enveloped the body of Emilia and deployed the Innocence-type Hundred Arms Shroud.
Subsequently, Claire and Latia threw their Hundred in the air and gathered their voices.
– HUNDRED ON!
– HUNDRED ON!
The Hundred created the Dragoon-type Hundred Alisterion and the Martial Arts-type Hundred Strike Beast while emitting emerald green and pink particles respectively.
Then, Aila and Ryuuto also stacked their voices.
– HUNDRED ON!
– HUNDRED ON!
With that, Aila’s Dragoon-type Hundred Darkness Queen and Ryuuto’s Chevalier-type Hundred Ryuuga were deployed.
Finally, Hayato threw his Hundred into the space and shouted.
– HUNDRED ON!
Red particles wrapped Hayato’s body and created an armor.
His Chevalier-type Hundred Hien also appeared in his hand.
However??
– Ah…
The moment he finished the deployment.
Hayato noticed a certain thing and voiced without thinking.
That seemed to be noticed by others too.
Claire asked.
– Is there something wrong?
– I have to put my Outer.
Claire got surprised with those words.
– Now that you mention it desuwane…
Claire muttered, as if being troubled.
At any rate, Hayato won’t be able to fight in space unless he had his Space Ride aka the Outer.
Because he left it behind on the surface of Planet?ZERO?.
– Can you hear me, Dr. Charlotte?
Yes, it’s about Space Ride, no??
When he called out to her, words from Charlotte came back.
It seemed like she was listening to their conversation.
Well, I’ve been searching for it, but I can’t find it. Maybe it ended up shattering when Planet?ZERO?exploded or it ended up being absorbed by Destroyer together with the Variable Stone, its motive power?
– Then, that means…
There’s no actual way for you to enter the battlefield?
Charlotte affirmed flatly.
– …
Hayato showed an almost vexing look on his face.
But then again, Charlotte’s voice came there.
But, feel relieved. As we have Liza, no??
– Ah…
He remembered the time of the battle against Serivia.
Liza became Hundred’s substitute and turned into his armament and Space Ride.
– … I forgot about that.
He seemed to understand Charlotte’s intention.
Liza replied with a not-so-wholly look.
– If so, then I’ll do something about it. Kisaragi Hayato. Stay like that, don’t move.
Liza came close to Hayato and touched his back with both hands.
Then, an Outer identical to Space Ride appeared on Hayato’s back.
– How is it? I made it with my energy. You can go with this.
– Thank you very much!
Hayato gave his thanks to Liza.
The Space Ride made on his back felt exactly the same like the one he used regularly.
With this, he surely could go there.
– Are you ready now desunone? If so, let’s go masuwayo!
– Yes!
Hayato, who replied, flew out and split as if scattering with four other Slayers: Emilia, Latia, Aila and Ryuuto to follow Claire that flew out first.
And then, the battle started.
Space was a unique place where everywhere was a battlefield??.
However, he was already used to fight in it.
The fundamental form was that each Slayer maintained a certain distance and protected and defended their stationed area.
Hayato and the others moved just like that, defeating one after another the imminent Savages.
Of course, the moment they were free, they also were attacking Destroyer directly.
Claire as well.
She destroyed the core of a Savage that invaded her area of duty with the floating batteries, and after she defeated it.
She confirmed that no Savage was coming.
She transformed the floating batteries into Buster Cannon and attempted to bombard Destroyer.
– With this??!
The energy filling was complete.
She had already put the finger on the trigger.
The only thing was to pull the trigger and fire the bombardment.
Destroyer howled abruptly.
Claire couldn’t fire the bombardment, her whole body trembled with such shock.
Sakura and Karen couldn’t continue singing.
– … grief, it’s really loud!
Sakura said reflexively; she crouched, covering her ears.
Because the voice of Destroyer was so big that the effect of the noise cancelling earphones was insignificant.
After that passed.
– There, Sakura-san!
A voice called out Sakura.
It was Karen’s voice.
– Ah…
When she looked ahead where Karen was pointing with her index finger, she saw that something like a wall capable of blocking the attacks was in front of Destroyer.
It appeared to be a barrier.
That was what Claire and the others noticed.
– Like I thought, the attacks aren’t effective, huh…
She recovered from the released sound wave of Destroyer and shot a beam to give it a try, but as she thought, it ended up being erased.
The beams of Nesat and Emilia that were fired next also got erased.
– If so, how about a direct attack!?
Nakri threw Duo Varga to test it out.
However, and like before, they bounced back on the barrier.
Which meant that it would be the same even with a direct attack like this.
Charlotte muttered, looking at its appearance.
I think that it’s growing…?
”Autonomous evolutionary-type” it’s what he told us. It seems it is exactly as stated?
It was Irina who continued her words.
Narrowed to this, in case it suffered an attack, it would just evolve to cope with it.
Charlotte continued.
In this connection, then not just Destroyer is evolving, but also the Savages that were created?
– That surely seems to be the case.
Krovahn smiled wryly as she slashed at the approaching Savage.
The Savages reached the point of deploying barriers, but there was no mistake that they got stronger than how they were in the first place.
– Let’s deal with the Savages first. The ones who are free, destroy their barriers masuwayo!
The Slayers nodded and replied?Roger?and each one of them started??or continued fighting with the imminent Savages.
Sakura and Karen resumed the song.
The battle, continued.
– Haaah!
Latia defeated one Savage, then another one that got into her guarding space.
Then, when she finally destroyed the core of the last Savage that got into her guarding space.
– I finished here! How about everyone else!?
Immediately after she shouted and tried to look for the others.
Sakura, who stopped singing, shouted.
Behind you, Latia! Be careful!?
The music also stopped at the same time.
– ??Wha!?
Called by Sakura, Latia noticed that Destroyer’s arms had sharp claws attached to them and were about to be swung downward towards her.
(??this is bad!)
At this rate, she would end up receiving the blow.
With no time to escape, she deployed an E-Barrier.
When she was about to enter in a defensive stance.
*Boom!*, A big mass of energy passed by the side of Latia and hit Destroyer.
Due to that, Latia wasn’t attacked by the arm of Destroyer.
(That just now, don’t tell me…)
Latia was showing confusion.
Because the energy she felt just now was definitely the one of a comrade she knew.
Latia, who couldn’t endure the nostalgic feeling that was arising in her heart, shouted his name while looking back.
– Fritz!
It was that name.
It was the figure of Fritz having at the ready Shooting Star??the weapon of his deployed Long Shooter-type Hundred Stronghold on the deck of?Charlotte No. 1?that jumped in the eyes of Latia.
Fritz raised his lips and smiled then responded to Latia’s call.
– … I’m really glad that I continued rehabilitation, even if it was for a moment like this. Naturally, I’m not at my 100% yet!
Even though he said that, Fritz set his aim on Destroyer and *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*, he fired energy bullets in succession.
Due to that, the Destroyer’s wide barrier was destroyed.
Fritz continued while showing an “I got you!” smile on his face.
– Even if my skill has weakened, I can easily hit it if it’s a size of that degree. Like this!
He launched even more energy bullets into various parts of Destroyer’s body, he turned that giant body into pieces, but eventually, his limit ended up coming.
It seemed like he was running out of energy, his arm became numb by the reaction of the all-out bombardment done from the beginning.
– Tch… sorry, but it looks like this is my limit. I leave the rest to you, Latia??and the others!
– Yeah, got it!
Latia replied and began to emit an intense energy from her whole body while scowling at Destroyer.
– … Fritz, saved me…. He lent me his strength…. I absolutely have to repay the favor!
The body of Latia shone intensely with that shout and changed into a whole-body armed state.
And plunged forward to Destroyer while giving an outcry.
– Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Latia punched Destroyer vigorously.
Claire got in touch with the rest of the Slayers while watching her state.
– Ryuuto, Aila! We will deal with the Savages masuwayo!
– Yes!
– Understood!
Ryuuto and Aila responded.
The parts of Destroyer’s body that became pieces by the bombardments of Fritz had already turned into Savages and were heading towards?Charlotte No.1?
– Nee-chan, Nakri, we’re also going to fight the Savages!
– Okay!
– You don’t need to say it!
Nakri and Nesat responded to the call of Krovahn.
– Hayato, there are no Savages coming to our positions! Let’s go to attack Destroyer now!
– Yeah, I agree!
Hayato made sure to follow Latia with Hien??.
Emilia created a long sword with Arms Shroud and launched an attack on Destroyer to decapitate the core.
– Karen-chan, let’s aid everyone even more with our songs!
– Yes!
Sakura and Karen, those two, began to sing songs one after another.
It was also the song of a battle.
To reach the big objective.
A collaboration song that went beyond National borders, races??
Even each other’s situation.
Be it rivals that competed for power.
Be it rivals of love.
Uniting their strength, the song conquered the objective.
It was something that represented somehow the current situation of Hayato and the others.
The flowing melody and the strength of the song loaded in it inspired the Slayers.
The Slayers continued fighting as they went along with the song.
There were those primarily attacking it directly and those who were mainly dealing with the fragments.
Hayato, Emilia, Latia, and Krovahn were the former, Claire, Nesat, Nakri, Aila and Ryuuto were the latter.
However, it didn’t mean they were by themselves.
The two teams worked together to make the body of Destroyer smaller.
It was already around a third of its original form, and the number of attacking arms also decreased.
(A bit more…! A bit more…!)
But, his energy was very exhausted.
Not just Hayato.
The other Slayers also consumed a lot of energy.
(But, it’s just a little more!)
It should be possible to reach the core in a matter of time to make Destroyer stop.
In the middle of it.
Destroyer howled again, Hayato and company, including Sakura and Karen, couldn’t move.
When they looked at Destroyer as they suppressed their trembling bodies, a barrier was deployed again.
A communication from Fritz came there.
Based on what has been analyzed here, that barrier seems to be harder than the previous one?
In other words, that meant that it became an even stronger barrier.
Not just beams.
Physical attacks didn’t work at all.
Even if it was destroyed, they needed to be more aggressive than Fritz’s previous bombardment.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do?
The energy of Fritz ran out already.
That meant that he wasn’t in a state where he could bombard it.
That was what Hayato and the rest understood.
– In that case, then I??!
It was Claire who said so.
A bit more.
If she used up her energy, then surely her comrades would destroy Destroyer’s core.
The whole-body armed Claire who believed so turned Buster Cannon to Destroyer and loaded energy into it.
– With this!
One shot??.
She fired with all her strength, but she couldn’t destroy the deployed barrier.
– Fritz, what’s the state of the barrier desuno!?
The endurance rate is around 45% down! Destruction is possible with another hit!?
– In that case??!
One more hit; Claire poured energy into buster Cannon.
However??.
(Kuh…)
An alert of low energy resounded.
It’s faster than I thought, Claire made irritation spread on her face.
(But, this is the last sortie for me! Even if I use up my strength with this, even so…!)
When she thought so, the eyes of Claire dyed in golden color.
This was the result of activating the Variant Virus in her body to attempt pouring energy into it, even if it was impossible.
At the same time the excitement reached a peak, the energy was being replenished.
Buster Cannon was going to get fully charged in an instant.
A voice echoed there.
… wait?
It was Maria’s voice.
Claire’s eyes regained their original color.
Claire stopped pouring energy into Buster Cannon.
– What’s wrong, Maria?
I’ll do it?
Immediately after she said so.
– Ah….
When she realized, Maria appeared next to her.
– When did you get here…?
Claire asked while being surprised.
The voice of Irina was heard next.
Maria, can you hear me? What do you plan to do!??
She heard the voice of Charlotte next.
That’s right. If you’re not in the ship when something happens, then who’s going to protect it!??
Yeah??.
Maria disappeared completely from the capsule.
– Don’t worry.
Maria gave an immediate reply.
Don’t worry…??
Maria answered Irina who asked back.
– This will make it end.
Eh…??
She didn’t understand the meaning of those words.
That’s why Irina asked again.
Make it end? W-what do you mean with that? What are you saying???
Like I said, Irina??I’m saying that I’ll end this?
… Mari, a…??
It seemed that when she felt that her tone of voice had changed, it wasn’t a mistake.
The very same moment when her eyes shone with a suspicious fluorescent color.
Energy of the same color was sent from her whole body and Maria’s whole body shone.
To the extent that her outline could be felt.
And gradually got bigger as if expanding??.
Eh…??
Eventually, when the brilliance disappeared.
Irina was lost for words, looking at the figure that appeared from the dazzling light.
Not just Irina, of course.
Hayato and the others were also lost for words, they doubted their eyes.
– Isn’t she??
– Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III…?
Emilia raised her voice after Hayato.
Just as she said, the little girl Maria who was supposed to be floating in the air, was the woman dressed in priest clothes that Hayato and the others knew.
She accomplished the transformation to Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III, the person of New Planet Notre Dame??the Pope of Puritaria who did an emergency landing on Earth millions of years ago and hastened the growth of mankind on Earth.
Claire asked Maria, who was floating nearby, with the same surprised look.
– Maria…? No, shouldn’t we call you Serivia? Your memories came ba??
– Maria is fine. Maria Florence. That’s my real name.
Maria, who replied, stretched her right arm above her head.
– My memories are still vague. But, there are many things that I remembered.
Those are, the things of approximately a million of years ago.
Why did I descend on the planet called Earth?
Why did I do that, and for what?
The outcome of that, led to this???
– You protected me, the person who caused trouble for everyone. This is my thanks??and my apologies to the earthlings who brought me along even to this point.
Maria extended her right arm.
A huge energy sphere was completed on the palm of her hand.
Its size was completely different from what Liza created to disperse particles that protected the Slayers. It was at least ten times huge than that.
Then it released a strong force.
– And also, this is my revenge. Because there’s no doubt that Savages made my life a mess in the first place.
That’s right.
That wasn’t an error.
In addition, even when the warp was ready, I couldn’t warp.
My wish became an impossible thing.
I couldn’t meet with the traitors.
That’s why this was revenge too.
About the revenge that can’t be done.
If I’m going to vent my anger, then there was nothing more appropriate than the enemy before my eyes.
At any rate, it was creating Savages, so then this thing may be like the source of them!
… Venting my anger?
I know that.
But, since I accepted it, then it’s all well.
If I don’t do so, then I won’t be able to settle down.
I’m that kind of person.
So, I just have to destroy the Savages’ production factory.
That’s the revenge I can do now.
– I’ll put an end to it with this!
Maria threw the sphere of energy that she had created on the palm of her extended right arm towards Destroyer.
The barrier that had just regenerated was destroyed by the big explosion that happened because of that.
However, no damage was dealt to Destroyer itself.
– Haa… haa…
Maria had sweat running on her forehead, she made her shoulders go up and down.
It looked like the attack just now consumed a lot of energy, she ended up exhausted.
Destroyer began to move towards Maria.
The reason is because you were harmed by me?
Or because you’re just trying to eliminate the enemy in front of you?
It let out a counterattack against Maria.
First, it greatly opened its mouth; it was a bombardment.
Maria, who extended her hand towards the beam that was fired from there, deployed a barrier by energy.
She blocked the beam.
However, Destroyer wasn’t going to give up with that.
It pulled the arms with pincers attached to them and pushed them out towards Serivia vigorously.
– … !
The pincers penetrated not just the deployed barrier of Maria, but even her body.
*Cough*, Maria vomited blood from her mouth.
– Maria!
– Don’t come…!
Energy was released from the capsule.
Maria raised her voice to Liza who made her energy body appear on the deck and moved like warping near Maria.
– Maria, you…
Maria answered Liza who turned eyes like saying “this is what you were referring to, huh?”
– I’m fine, I also have this.
Then, eight shining spears appeared above the head of Destroyer.
Spears made of energy.
– In any case, I can’t be saved. I don’t plan to be saved. My revenge ends with this.
Together with those words, the eight spears were fired at the same time, they rained incessantly on every conceivable part of Destroyer, piercing it.
Maria, who witnessed that, raised her voice while grinning.
– Explode in tiny pieces.
The spears of light exploded one after another, making sounds of explosions while shedding intense light.
Because of that, the body of Destroyer was left in pieces, almost reaching a core-only state.
The pincers that pierced Maria were also disappearing.
But, her wounds didn’t recover.
The energy used didn’t recover either.
– Fufu, I did it. I didn’t finish it completely, but if you do something now that it’s in that state, then something should be done, no? With this, I??
She wasn’t able to regenerate that body or even maintain it.
Although she seemed to be in pain, the body of Maria who showed a complacent smile became thin and began to disappear, becoming particles.
During that, she looked at Liza and Hayato and continued speaking.
– … Liza, and, Kisaragi Hayato. Since you defeated me, you should be able to destroy that core??finish it off??and, my, wish??
– Understood.
Liza answered.
She immediately warped to the side of Hayato and hugged him from the front.
Coincidentally with that, the body of Hayato got hot.
– Hey, Liza! What are you doing to my Hayato!?
Emilia raised a voice as if protesting.
Liza promptly apologized.
– I’m sorry, Emilia. But, I think it’s the best to do this. And Serivia too, that’s what I understood when our names came out.
Hayato immediately understood the meaning of those words.
He realized that his energy was recovering.
In other words, it was something like saying him to deliver the final blow, to destroy the core.
– Kisaragi Hayato, let’s go and make this come to an end.
– … understood.
Hayato nodded, understanding that it was that kind of thing.
– I’ll do it with all my strength, with whole-body armament!
The eyes of Hayato who said so shone in golden color.
At the same time, golden particles wrapped up his body and a thick armor covered the body of Hayato.
It was the whole-body armament of Hayato’s Chevalier-type Hundred Hien,
Moreover, the design was different.
Probably because of Liza’s influence.
She was integrated with Space Ride; a golden radiance could be seen here and there.
– Let’s go, Kisaragi Hayato!
– Yes!
Hayato and Liza started to move and headed to the core while drawing two golden traces with energy in the space.
The almost disappearing Maria muttered while looking at that scene.
– This is fine…. Isn’t that right, Irina??
– … Mari, a…?
That was inside the spaceship.
An audible voice was in Irina’s head.
That was Maria’s voice??.
Maria continued her words with a sweet smile as if responding to the murmur of Irina.
From here on, I entrust to you the Florence family. Send my thanks to Kikka as well. Thank you for, taking care of, me???
– ??Maria!
She shouted, but there were no more replies anymore, she couldn’t see her figure either.
The only thing she could see was the Hundred that became her heart, floating there??the cross that wasn’t emitting brilliance anymore.
– … Maria….
Irina muttered with a sad expression.
However, this wasn’t the moment to lament.
Because Hayato and Liza continued pushing their way to the core.
(I beg you, Hayato-san, Liza-san. Please destroy the core of Destroyer!)
Above all, this became the mourning for Maria’s ?death?.
Irina was staring at Hayato and Liza while wishing so from the bottom of her heart.
It was during that when.
– What is, that?
Hayato came to notice that something was there.
The core was covered with something like tentacles.
Furthermore, the tentacles were wriggling on its surface.
– It seems that it’s about to start regenerating.
It was Liza who answered.
He in no time understood the meaning of those words, the core was being enveloped by the tentacles little by little and continued expanding.
Moreover, it was quite fast.
The situation looked as if it was being shown in fast forward, the cells where dividing over and over again; it was regenerating.
– Kisaragi Hayato, we must absolutely settle this!
– Yes, of course!
Otherwise, Destroyer will end up regenerating completely.
In that case, they will probably not be able to do anything by themselves.
They won’t be able to make Maria’s wish come true nor respond to her favor.
(I absolutely have to finish it here! It’ll regenerate at this rate, but in no way I’ll let it do so!)
The eyes of Hayato shed a strong light.
The eyes of Liza shed a strong light in the same way.
At the same time, a golden aura surrounded their bodies and became more intense.
(This is, the end!)
It’s fine if I can’t use my ability anymore.
It’s fine if I use up all my strength.
I have to destroy Destroyer here and now!
And??
Live, and return to the Earth!
That being the case, there’s no problem in using my strength.
(If the world becomes peaceful with this, then??!)
Liza and Hayato thought the same.
– It’s already trying to get back to its original form. But if we do it now, we should be able to destroy the core and all??
It was just a bit more until they reached Destroyer that began to regain its original form.
Liza, who was sticking closely to the body of Hayato, turned into particles.
She became one with the energy that was covering Hayato’s body and made the energy covering Hien expand even larger.
The radiance of the energy released by Hayato’s armament was rising up even more intensely.
This should definitely be able to destroy Destroyer with core and all!?
The voice of Liza resounded in his head.
Hayato raised Hien overhead, aiming at Destroyer’s core.
Then, voices were heard.
– Do it, Hayatoooooooooo!!
– Do it desuwa! Kisaragi Hayato!
– That’s right! Decide the game with it, Hayato!
Emilia and Claire.
And Latia??.
The rest of the Slayers also raised their voices as if they pushed Hayato’s back one after another.
– Do it, Hayato!
– You can do it, Hayato!
– If it’s Hayato, then you can do it!
Krovahn, Nakri and Nesat.
– Hayato-san, please do it!
– Decide it here!
Ryuuto and Aila.
Sakura and Karen who continued singing desperately while spreading sweat in the space also cheered in their hearts.
(Hayato-kun!)
(Nii-san!)
(Go for it!)
(You can do it!)
Charlotte and Irina in the spaceship??.
And Fritz, of course.
– Hayato-kun, end it here!
– Please, Hayato-san!
– End it here, Hayato!
Properly speaking, the people in the control room, including Charlotte, should be thinking that what was going to come next was hopeless.
Because that was their job.
But, that was unthinkable now.
They were convinced he would end it here.
Like up to now.
Even now.
(That’s right, I’m sure that if it’s Hayato-kun then, he should do it)
That was the genius’s??.
The conclusion of Charlotte Dimandius.
What came to him next was a voice he didn’t imagine.
Hayato-san! If you can hear this voice, it’s because we were able to put a device that prompts the delay of the playback!?
Even though it looks regenerated, it can’t move right away. Don’t worry about its defense. Decide it with all your strength while you can!?
Those voices came from inside Destroyer.
Those were the voices of Miile and Diff??.
– Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
Hayato made his eyes shine violently while receiving the support from everyone on his back and converted all their thoughts into power and struck Destroyer with Hien.
Emilia was saying.
If the world is??.
If the universe is at peace.
I want Kisaragi Hayato, the hero, to graduate.
In other words, “I want you to retire as a Slayer”.
And, “let’s live with the children in Yamato”.
(That’s not a bad thing, huh…)
What I should do is??.
My Noblesse Oblige might not be fulfilled with this.
This perhaps might be the end.
No, that’s not it.
This will be the end.
I don’t want to cause the people I love to worry anymore.
I’ll do what I have to do after this.
My only one destined person.
The girl I met in the Kingdom of Gudenburg.
With whom I fought together and brought me up to here??.
I’ll live for my loved one.
For that purpose, I’ll finish it here.
Haaaaaaaaaaaa???!?
The yell of Liza was heard as if happening simultaneously with his voice.
Even Liza had the same feelings as Hayato.
She didn’t want to make her older sister to do the unreasonable anymore.
Claire’s Noblesse Oblige mustn’t move to the next phase.
– That’s why??
That’s why we will???
– Make it end here!
Make it end here?
The outer shell and core of Destroyer were very hard.
But Hayato’s attack accompanied by Liza’s energy were superior to those.
– UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Eventually, Hien cut off the outer core and reached the core.
And then, the radiance held in the core ??.
Light began to overflow from the core and made a big explosion.
Destroyer’s core did a big explosion, the light that had filled the whole area disappeared.
The body of Kisaragi Hayato was floating there, where the core was smashed up, his armament was cancelled.
His Variable Suit got worn out .
Emilia spotted his figure and immediately made a part of her Arms Shroud to transform into a thruster and injected energy into it??.
She accelerated and got where Hayato was floating in the space.
– ??Hayato!
Emilia, who arrived at his side, kept calling out to him, while trying to embrace Hayato’s body in her arms who seemed to be unconscious.
– Hayato! Are you okay, Hayato!?
– Hmm, mm…
It seemed that the voice of Emilia reached Hayato well.
Hayato slowly opened his eyes and raised his voice.
– Emili…a…?
– Yeah, it’s me, Emilia! I’m so glad, I was worried because you used all of your energy when you destroyed the core of Destroyer.
– … that actually, happened, huh…
When the core exploded, an N-barrier was deployed surrounding his body, but due to its power, he wasn’t able to defend against it with something of that level.
Of course, no other barriers or the like were deployed.
He couldn’t afford it, he ran out of energy.
Despite this, it was a miraculous thing that he merely resulted with barely any damage.
– Was it thanks to Liza?
Nope, it wasn’t me?
Liza denied the words of Hayato who muttered.
However, the voice they heard wasn’t in the vicinity.
They heard it from the speakers equipped in the Variable Suit.
In other words, it was the voice from Liza’s real body.
It meant that it was a communication from inside?Charlotte No.1?.
Liza continued speaking.
If it was with just my remaining power, then I wouldn’t be able to protect him. The one that protected you was Maria?
– I see… Maria is…
Now that she said that, he felt, though vague, the remnants of her energy.
– Serivia protected, me…
Hayato muttered, like being surprised.
– She was saying selfish things until the end, but even when saying this and that, I can say that she was a good person.
– … you’re right.
Immediately after Hayato showed a smile, following Emilia.
I think that’s the same even for Diff?
What they heard there was Charlotte’s voice.
– What do you mean, Charo?
Emilia asked; she didn’t understand the meaning.
Charlotte answered that.
Not everyone was evil from the beginning. What I’m saying is that they ended up changing because of some reason?
Charlotte continued. At the end of the day, it depends on the circumstances surrounding one if one changes or not.
Everything was encounters.
Were we able to meet good understanding persons?
Were we able to put them in good circumstances?
And, am I able to put myself in a world that can love ???
It’s no more than luck that I was able to meet you guys like this, I’m sure that I had good luck. That I didn’t become like Diff or Serivia???
They probably understood those words because she was just about to get there.
Anyways, I think they were good because, in the end, both of them were able to thank the world in which they were born?
– I think so too
Such words were spilled from Hayato’s mouth all of a sudden.
In the end, Diff helped us.
Besides, all that happened to me until now.
I had a lot of luck.
As a result, I could enroll in Little Garden.
I was able to come there and meet not only Emilia and Claire.
But also good companions.
I was able to make everyone at the institution have a good life, and I was able to obtain peace for the universe.
Karen was even able to heal from her disease and became a singer just like Sakura.
If I had missed that, it’s certain that I would have had a difficult life if I was still living in that mountain.
I made a lot of efforts to stand in this place, and as a result, I was definitely blessed with destiny and luck.
With something like fortune because I had the power of a Slayer in the first place.
After that, I just made efforts to keep a place where I could be with the people with whom I had lots of good encounters.
And the result is: that I have finally reached this place.
– Anyway, this was the end desuwane…
Claire muttered with a growing, deep emotion as she stared at the empty space.
That’s right.
This was over.
They could beat the manufacturing base of the Savages.
Though there were Savages still wandering in space, to not mention the ones on Earth.
New Planet Notre Dame wasn’t going to fall into a critical situation either.
That was something that should be enjoyed from the bottom of her heart.
However, it didn’t mean that only rejoice was overflowing.
A sense of loss was gushing out from Claire’s mind.
Because Maria, Miile and Diff were the ones that ended up becoming the victims that came out of this battle.
But, she knew very well that this emotion wasn’t just that.
While it was the end of a battle, at the same time it was the end of her battle.
That sentiment was instantly overwhelming her.
A voice was heard there.
Can you hear me, everyone??
It was Miile’s voice.
Hayato and the others started searching for Miile’s figure, they were waving their heads to the left and right while showing a surprised state.
But, they couldn’t find her figure anywhere.
Still, only her voice could be heard.
The moment when everyone is listening to this message will be after the autonomous evolutionary-type destructive weapon??Destroyer??is destroyed, just as we wished. You really worked hard, everyone. And thank you very much ???
In other words, it seemed that Miile was working on this message so that it would play after Destroyer was defeated.
The message immediately continued.
And, this is a request from me. Please listen to what I have to say?
After that preface and a brief silence.
The message from Miile resumed.
Thanks to everyone, this will bring peace to the universe for a while as you may know. However, we don’t know how long it will last ???
Miile’s older brother??.
Not even the genius scientist Diff could reach the limits of space, not even in hundreds of millions of years.
No one knew what was at the end and beyond.
Probably they weren’t just greater menaces holding back.
That was what the thinking of Miile was saying.
If you, your children or your grandchildren were to become the cornerstone of evolution to survive at that moment, we will be thankful for our good fortune as scientists. That is why, please stay alive from on. Please continue living??in order to preserve the evidence that we lived in the history of this universe ??we beg you?
Yeah?
It was Charlotte who muttered like replying to Miile’s last words.
A big crisis passed. But, this means this is the start for the next crisis?
… be that as it may, such a crisis should not come for a while?
They heard next the voice of Irina.
In a couple of decades or hundreds of years??no, it may be more than that. However, let’s prepare for the day that will come someday, with both parties of the Earth and New Planet Notre Dame taking each other’s hands?
It’s just as Irina says. Do you guys think the same??
Not just Claire, who was positioned as the one leading the moon and the Earth as the leader, nodded to the call of Charlotte.
Hayato and the others also nodded firmly.
In this way, the conquest of?Planet X?aka Planet?ZERO?and the Operation Save the Universe were over??not, not yet.
Hayato and company returned to?Charlotte No. 1?and decided to go back to New Planet Notre Dame.
It was “operation complete” only after they have returned safely.
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