Chapter 61: The Ultimate Team I Always Dreamed Of!!

"Divine Punishment."

The word, uttered in a hollow, mechanical tone, bypassed my eardrums to vibrate directly against my spine. It released a chill so profound my knees began to shake, a primal shiver of terror.

"Ngh...!"

"What incredible bloodlust..."

The pressure wasn't just hitting me. Even Asuna and Alter, standing on the same field, seemed to hesitate, as if even drawing a deep breath was too dangerous.

---!!

"He’s coming! Half a step to the left—"

"Too slow."

A wet slice.

The sound was far too light to signify the loss of freedom, yet Asuna's left leg—having been just a fraction of a second too late to retreat—was severed halfway through.

"Asu—!"

The lethal blade immediately tilted toward Alter. Despite her seeing the future and standing at a distance she was certain would be safe, the blade gouged her side even as she twisted away.

"Rabbit Moon Style, Day 22: Kamitsuki's Reverse Crescent—The Sakana-ka Tomoe!!"

Maintaining her balance by a hair’s breadth, Alter unleashed a sword trail mimicking a half-moon right between herself and Blue. It was a miraculous feat; swinging from her shoulder while her eyes remained fixed forward, she managed to parry only the blade that Blue had thrust into her, protecting herself from further harm.

"Agh!? Rabbit Moon Style... Moon-Skip!"

"Day 37: Polar Opposite Phantasm Moon!!"

Alter, still within close range, used the Rabbit Moon Style to shove Blue back, followed immediately by Asuna’s follow-up thrust. It was a two-hit combo with zero delay—a low-aimed strike so perfectly mirrored from an overhead stance that it felt like looking into a glass.

"Tch."

Even Blue lost a bit of his composure, drifting out of the danger zone with a wide, sweeping movement.

"Ha... ha... dammit...!!"

"That was close. If my left leg had been firm, I might have actually gotten hurt."

"This bastard... he went straight for Asuna's pivot leg!"

"I’m not taking chances. White, the Machine-Tinkerer, is the perfected form of the Phantasm Girl. Far more so than those of us who became S-Classes but got distracted by our special abilities halfway through, wouldn't you say?"

Using a piece of rubble he’d picked up without anyone noticing, Blue aimed a "Finger Bullet" at Asuna as a surprise attack. Fortunately, Alter had already read the move and thrust a submachine gun into the line of fire, neutralizing the threat.

"I like it. Using my fingers to flick these is much more accurate than a handgun."

"Heh... ha... you sure seem relaxed, don't you!?"

"Hmm. I just said I wasn't taking chances, but it’s true—I can't imagine a future where I lose from this point. How about it, Jester Ash? What does the future say?"

"You’re getting ahead of yourself, brat! As long as my partner Asuna and I are alive, the path to victory is infinite!!"

"Truly comical, isn't it, Newbie? Is it really part of your calculations that the path to defeat is multiplying for eternity???"

To think the world's greatest brain would say something so disappointing.

Is this... the end?

"Ni-ha-ha."

"Asuna?"

"Ni-ha-ha, ni-ha, ni-ha-ha-ha-ha!!"

"Good grief. She’s finally lost her mind."

"Ni-ha-ha... let him talk, Alter. And tell him: he’s right. We really don't have a path to victory anymore."

"Asuna..."

"Hey now, don't make such a pathetic face, partner. Looks like I need to remind you of something."

"Don't you think the bill is finally coming due for all those shots you’ve been missing?"

Blue, now cautious, leveled his handgun at Asuna, a weapon that would hit with absolute certainty.

"Stop it, just stop! It's dangerous to wave that around. Besides, your formula is all wrong."

"Huh?"

She spoke as if reading a line from a play. The sudden, absurd dialogue shook the silence of the battlefield, utterly out of place in such a tense atmosphere.

"Honestly, don't you know? It’s Levi-o-sa, not Levio-sa!"

"Are you mocking me? Or has your brain actually fried? Fine. I'll kill you right now."

"If you think you can turn this around, I’d love to see you try."

"My bad, my bad. I found some old movies recently... well, I guess they're pretty old by now. Kids today probably don't even know what a Blu-ray disc is. Anyway, just sit back and listen. Here comes the magic spell... Wingardium Leviosa."

"Whatever."

The gun roared.

I could only watch, as if in slow motion, as the lethal bullet accelerated toward Asuna's chest. It wouldn't even take a second to end her life.

"Is that really your idea of a hobby?"

But a metallic shield slid into place, intercepting the bullet.

"Blues!!??"

"What!!?"

"Did you say it would hit with absolute certainty? Then let's see which is stronger: your hit, or my Rejection!"

"Give me a break. I don't have time to deal with small fry like you!"

"Oh dear, my, my... what a coincidence."

The shield and the bullet-spear seemed to push against each other like opposing magnets, maintaining a fixed equilibrium.

"I am absolutely certain that after this, there will be a lot of rubble to clean up because of the mess you made. I'll make sure to tidy it up for you, so you'd better behave, or I'll have to scold you."

"Do you really think you can interfere with an S-Class and survive?"

"No, I don't."

The smile she had been wearing vanished, and she instantly shifted into a combat stance.

"Even with me here, this bullet would eventually pierce my shield and kill Asuna. But we aren't alone. We have comrades!"

"It looks like you failed to account for two more factors."

"Don't move."

A bullet came from outside his awareness. His body refused to move, and the shot inevitably pierced his throat.

"Scarlet!"

"Gurgle... you... gah...!!"

"Oh my."

"It seems you still don't understand basic math. Go back and relearn your multiplication tables. There's one more."

"Thor's Hammer: Told Nova!!!"

Blue was engulfed in a white light so brilliant his form vanished! While the damage was mostly superficial, the thunderclap flying from his blind spot was enough to shatter his equilibrium!

A sharp ping!

The bullet and shield that had been struggling against each other finally reached their limit. The round pierced the shield... and landed harmlessly in Asuna's coat.

"Don't screw with me!"

"Royal King Punch!!"

"Bandit!!"

"Tch!"

"Sunbol, sorry, but just take this hit!"

He was struck from both sides. Paralyzed by the shockwaves of sound, he couldn't dodge and took the full impact.

"Sorry I’m late! The King has arrived!!!"

"Shut up! If you're the King I recognized, act with more dignity!"

"I’m here to help!!"

"King, Noise, Lancelot..."

"Ni-ha-ha."

Asuna broke into a wide, visible grin.

"Newbie! Sorry for being such a pain, but I’d really like to be invited by you personally!"

"Ha! Looks like there’s room for one more at the table. What do you think!?"

Am I really enough?

I had always been chasing after Asuna... after the Phantasm Girls.

"Blues, front!"

"Yes!"

"Yellow, max output!"

"Got it!!"

"Scarlet, sorry, but I need you on the front line."

"Understood. Narrowing the range of the Mind Jack."

Before, this is where I would have stopped. But not today.

"King, midline. You have the best chance since you can warp space."

"Naturally! What kind of King would I be if I didn't lead the way!!"

"Noise, midline. If you can do it, do it. Don't worry about King."

"You got it! I'll show you the grit of a commoner!!"

"Lancelot, midline. You’re the one to break through his barrier. But it’ll be tough; you won't even scratch him without Heart-Scar Attribute."

"I... I think I understand now!!"

And finally!!

"Asuna, skirmisher! Your burst damage is off the charts. Conserve your energy and keep him off balance! Alter, command support. Move according to your own judgment, don't worry about me!! The two of you will join the fray as soon as your injuries are healed. Your mission is the final blow!!"

"Yes, Master!!"

Finally. I was finally standing beside them.

"How annoying. This is so incredibly annoying! Everything was peaceful until now, so why couldn't you just be satisfied with that? Think about how I feel, being the one who has to protect you..."

I know. And I won't let anyone complain... no, no one will even be able to.

"Let's go!"

In this very moment, the ultimate party was complete.