The battle begins.
Vlov shoots a lot of ice shards from his back, I guess they were created by his [Idea Blood] from him.
I dodge a couple, and while I turn on my own feet, I calculate the distance between my right hand and the mobiles in order to be able to drill one by one, the points located in the middle of these ice fragments to be able to destroy them at once. instant.
I feel the cold running through my wounds, because it was not easy at all to come here after killing Nrvnqsr.
Ciel was also involved in this battle by sight, and she has her own problems.
Because of this bastard, we lost Noel-sensei, somehow, Noel-sensei herself became a [Rank VI] among the [Dead Apostles]. Ciel was unwilling to kill her, and she doubted what she had to do. But at the very least, he's fighting her.
Touko-san stayed behind to support Ciel, while Ryougi-san went to search for the origin of this dome of death, in order to eliminate it.
On my way here, I was able to understand that what was happening was of a much greater magnitude than I thought.
This is going to bring a lot of problems for those of us involved in fact. But it's not like we can do much either way.
What done is done.
That so many people had to die is not our fault for acting late, but the fault of the bastards that are Vlov Arkhangel and Nrvnqsr Chaos.
Finishing off the ice shards, I looked at Vlov.
As we stared at each other, we both took appropriate postures, and with all the silence in the world, I started running towards the vampire.
Vlov's spear was thrown in my direction.
He flew, cutting through the air completely.
I focus all my senses on Vlov, completely ignoring the spear, just doing the slightest bit to avoid the weapon that was thrown at me.
But it was too obvious, the spear was just a distraction.
Vlov disappeared from my sight for an instant, only to later reappear on my back.
I felt death girdle my body, and my body acted of its own accord immediately.
I turn at full speed, and without doubting my movements, I point the knife at the vampire.
He thought it was going to be a fatal blow, but as expected, he had already foreseen it.
He avoided my silver blade, and immediately, he threw a punch to my stomach. My consciousness flickers.
The next second, I was, flying through the air after taking a full-force blow from a vampire.
─Agh...!
I vomit blood.
My speed is too high, if I hit a hard enough surface, that will kill me without a doubt.
Dammit!
My head is being sent to a wall of ice. If I hit that, if I don't die from a neck tear, then I will from a concussion to the brain. So I start acting at high speed, sending as much [Magic Energy] as I can to my [Magic Circuits].
I use [Magecraft] in the air, in order to change the tangibility of it in a small area, and create a surface on which to lean.
In the same way.
I readjust my posture in the air, and finally, I am able to stop my impending death.
Only to immediately move towards the ground once more, as Vlov launched himself towards the place where he was a moment ago. He was going to finish me off if he didn't move.
I shoot out with all the strength of my legs and start running to get away from Vlov, who does not miss the opportunity to throw ice shards again.
But this time it is not in my direction, it is someone who is beyond me.
Coward...!
─Time Alter, Double Accel! ─. I call out the appropriate incantation without hesitation, and my perception of time is reduced.
In that way, while I prepare the [Magic Circuits] of my legs to propel myself like I did with Ryougi-san. I also memorize the location of the ice shard points.
I take one, two steps.
I'm ready.
I deactivate [Time Alter] the next second, and moving the knife in my right hand deftly, I step on the throttle of my propulsion.
My speed increases from one moment to the next, so that in just an instant, I became able to reach the front of Arcueid. I took my knife with an inverted grip, and like a silver glow, coming from my right hand, I pierce one after another, with pinpoint precision, each and every [Points] within the ice shards.
This time I could not afford to avoid even one, so I had no choice but to receive a couple of these fragments in my body, to prevent them from reaching Arcueid.
Annihilating all the ice shards, I yell at Vlov in complaint:
─You are a coward, don't involve Arcueid in this! It's just you and me, one of us will kill the other!
Silently, I touch my stomach, there is a shallow wound there. It was one of Vlov's ice shards that produced it.
I still find myself bleeding, but that is not going to stop me in any way.
─Oh? So, you wouldn't mind dying in order to protect the [Princess]. I see you are... weaker than I thought.
─!
All my alarms go off.
I turn around once more, and prepared for what was going to happen, I manipulate my knife in a skillful and precise way, in order to cut three ice spikes that were created from the ground in order to attack Arcueid.
I launch myself towards Arcueid, and take her in my arms.
All I knew in the next instant is that I was lifted into the air by a pillar of ice.
Dammit!
─Shi, ki...?!
Arcueid sounds surprised at the strength I apply to my arms to hold her, but I do this to make sure she doesn't fall. She looks too fragile right now, but it's not merely the current problem.
I look up from our heads.
At fearful speed, we are approaching the roof of the dome. The temperature drops dramatically, numbing my fingers and senses.
I can't think rationally right now.
─Arcueid... I'm sorry I came so late.
I apologize to the blonde vamp with a small smile.
She and I make eye contact, I can see small tears forming at the corners of Arcueid's eyes. But she immediately cleans them with her little hands.
─You're an idiot, Shiki... I thought you weren't going to come back alive.
She sounds a little annoyed with me, like wanting to reproach me.
I guess she's better this way.
I have to act, fast.
There is not a single identifiable point on the surface of this ice pillar. That's a disgrace, I only see lines.
That gave me a brilliant idea that could end in suicide.
Come on, you should have found it by now...
If Ryougi-san doesn't find what I asked for in time, we're going to die here. It will be the end of the road.
But knowing that woman, I know that right now is going to be the moment when she is going to execute him.
I look back up at the ceiling, which is getting closer and closer, and then...
Just meters away from us hitting the height limit, I could see how one, then two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, more and more times, was fragmented until it became sleet.
The entire ice dome was destroyed in an instant, falling on us like small pieces of ice.
Way to go!
I knew that I was able to trust Ryougi-san!
─Arcueid, I'm counting on you for the descent!
─What...?! Uh, ah... Okay!
Putting strength on my feet, I find myself destined to leap from the ice pillar that propelled us nearly forty meters above the surface.
I thought it was a suicidal idea, but as such I could have waited, Arcueid had no problem reducing our down time without any problem.
Finally in the whole night, I was able to see the city from here.
I am momentarily fascinated by the scene, while I have Arcueid by my side, who is helping me down smoothly.
The havoc caused not only by the [Dead Apostle Ancestors], but also by their servants and family members, has reached catastrophic levels. Series of entire buildings were almost completely destroyed, and a huge mountain of corpses is found there.
In the middle of this disastrous city, there is only one person who can take care of all this.
We hit the ground again...
─Arcueid, please stay away from here. I don't want Vlov to use you as bait to use against me.
I see Arcueid. With a serious expression.
She looks at me the same way.
In silence, she closes her eyes and tells me...
─Can you do it all on your own? Do you swear to me that you are not going to die? ─. She maybe she asks to be sure.
Well...
I do not know.
I have done very dangerous actions only on this day, I think I would be an idiot if I did not realize it.
I've been on the brink of death a good number of times, seriously. If it was someone else, he might have given up long ago, but I'm not like that.
I finally have a purpose in which to spend these bestowed eyes.
I will do everything possible to protect Arcueid.
That is why no matter what happens, until I die, I will not go back a single step to fulfill what I set out to do.
Once again, I put a hand on Arcueid's head and ruffle her hair.
─It's okay as long as he doesn't end up dead, right?
─That's right and... don't do this without warning, you idiot.
Arcueid, who sounds a bit adorable, replies to me that way.
I stopped stroking her head. And taking my knife with twice as much force as before, I get up from the rubble that surrounds us, and I only leave the following sentence:
─Then I might end up with one foot on the grave... please make sure you don't let me die.
─Mhm... you still have to make up six days of service for me, silly Shiki.
A smile is drawn on my face for a second.
The murderous look that I have worn so far remains in my expression. Lines and points are defined above all objects as if they had applied a filter on my visual perception.
I advance step by step in silence.
My brain may be roasting right now, but I'm not about to take a single wrong step.
Much less now that I have such a good opportunity to kill my enemy once and for all.
Coming down the mountain of rubble, I am able to see it once more.
Vlov Arkhangel is there, he's got his spear back and he's ready for the final round of this fight we've been leading.
The one-handed vampire has a confident expression.
With every step I take, my blood falls to the ground. I am unable to stop this, and I may end up dying even before I finish off Vlov.
But I am ready for anything.
Without hesitation again, I start running towards Vlov.
The vampire freezes, already creating a third round of ice shards from him to kill me.
It could have been a problem before, but I've gotten used to the speed of this by now, I know where I have to dodge and when, so that way, I manage to beat the third round of ice shards without a problem.
Then Vlov's strategy changes, as he takes two steps forward and sets out to attack me with his spear.
The gigantic, bulky spear is approaching, marking a basically inescapable trajectory for me.
Nevertheless.
─Time Alter... Triple Accel.
"Creak", "Crack", "Crash".
The 3Cs were introduced at the same time, when after sliding slightly to the left, I drew above the lines of the spear in three repetitions, eliminating the lethal side of the spear in an instant.
The blade of the spear that was broken into three pieces falls to the ground. Vlov backs away, seeing that this has not worked.
My nose is bleeding for the umpteenth time tonight, but even at that, I don't stop at all.
Throwing what was once his spear aside, Vlov runs in my direction, so that for a moment, it disappears from my sight.
With the greatest acuity of my senses, I cover the right side of my stomach, which is where Vlov, exerted a powerful and lethal kick against me.
I don't get upset...
I put my knife in my mouth and like an animal on all fours of his, I brake the impact with [Magecraft].
However, there is a problem.
I was destined to move, but this time, a set of vines hold my movement.
Oh shit.
I guess these things are from Vlov.
─You have been too persistent to be a mere human. Your body is shit, I don't think you'll be able to avoid the next attack.
Confident that this is his victory, Vlov from a distance creates close to a hundred ice shards instantly.
I am able to keep calm.
Because I've already seen the person who will get me out of this unseemly situation.
Like a shadow, this person passes me, completely destroying the vines that were holding me back. In the next instant, I move my body as I had done before, at full speed, as if it were lightning.
Unmoved by my movement, Vlov still fires his hundred ice shards mercilessly.
The same person from before returns to my left and with the same precision as me, he begins to destroy as many ice fragments as possible.
Moving at tremendous speed only caused more of the wounds on my left leg and arm to reopen. But I don't think that matters to me right now, as my body is moving with pure intentions to assassinate Vlov.
So for that very reason, no matter how much it costs me, I'm going to kill this bastard.
Without stopping our steps as we cut through the ice shards, Ryougi-san and I kept advancing towards Vlov. I see [DAA] himself, who remains as expressionless as in the beginning of the battle.
I feel my eyes burn.
My perception of time decreases by itself without the need to activate [Time Alter].
For a moment, the [Lines] and [Dots] on Vlov disappear. As I feel my eyes continue to overheat, death begins to focus on a single point.
The lines return, giving rise to a new and unique [Death Point] that is large.
For the first time, I was able to get right in front of Vlov.
Sensing the danger on my approach, Vlov jumps back.
Seeing the situation in this way, Ryougi-san herself grabs my clothes to throw me towards Vlov. She knows it too, since her eyes must be burning the same way as mine.
This is the perfect time, the golden opportunity.
If I don't pierce that [Death Point] now that it has been presented, it will be impossible for me at another time.
The ability to "perceive" death only increases in potency when my own life is reaching the last edge.
Of course, with all the blood that I have spilled, I feel that at any moment I will collapse. But even if that's the case, I don't think for a moment about backing down. After all, I have to kill Vlov.
Being airborne, I manage to stay head-on against Vlov.
And with insane speed, when I am once again in front of the vampire, as my blood flies from all my wounds, I slash with my knife, seeking to pierce any of his lines.
Vlov himself, to protect his head from him, uses his dysfunctional arm to block me.
Just what he expected me to do.
The knife draws over the line on his arm, and cuts it in half without resilience.
My expression... is obvious.
"You're dead," I have written all over my face.
Vlov, use his only functional hand as a group of claws from an animal seeking to kill me.
I twist my body, to take most of the damage to my stomach.
My blood comes out like a red fountain at full power. The brightness of the [Death Point] increases most of all, contrasting my vision of all other objects immediately. All figures are painted in a black color.
Vlov... retrieving what remains of his spear, attempts to strike me a more deadly blow than he could have dealt with his claws.
─... checkmate.
That word comes out of my mouth, when taking full advantage of this opportunity, I drive my knife deep into Vlov's chest.
Then all of Vlov's actions stop.
Shocked, the vampire doesn't seem able to fully understand what I just did.
Pulling my knife from his chest, I jump back to walk away.
─N, no... this can't be true... you, you're just a child... This can't be true, it's impossible!
Strength begins to drain from my body, but I manage to stay on my feet as I watch as the blue flames begin to consume Vlov Arkhangel's body.
Like me, the strength seems to be fading from Vlov's body.
─How did you do it...?! This isn't... someone like you is supposed to be able to achieve, uh...! First to Nrvnqsr, and now to me, Vlov Arkhangel, the nineteenth [Dead Apostle Ancestor], the one who killed his predecessor!
The truth... I don't even know it myself.
My eyes burn horribly...
I feel like my consciousness is blurring, but I'm doing my best to stay stable.
Blood comes out of my wounds, nose and mouth.
My fingers... feel cold.
There's not much blood left in my body anymore, damn it...
I use [Healing] momentarily, and for a very short period... as this seems to be the last straw.
My [Mind] is hit hard.
And my [Body] falls to the ground just like that.
I haven't passed out yet... but I'm about to.
─YOU... WHO ARE YOU REALLY?! THOSE EYES OF YOURS ARE OF THE VERY INCARNATION OF DEATH!
─Shut up.
Ryougi-san seems to have finished taking care of Vlov just like that.
I keep my eyes... he stares up at the sky.
All threats have been eliminated...
After I fell to the ground, a blonde girl appeared in my vision who has a surprised expression on her face.
─Shiki, you didn't die. ─. She tells me like it's the most normal thing in the world.
A bitter smile is drawn on my face... ah, I really feel like a puppet whose strings have been cut.
But I think I still have some strength to stay awake...
─... I promised you... that I wouldn't... ─. I reply, feeling pain from even saying just those words.
Arcueid who looks at me from above pouts as he says:
─Even though you broke your previous promise, Shiki...
I don't know if it's the blood loss, but I think I saw a pair of cat ears on her head while he was telling me that.
Ah shit...
It was a very difficult night for me.
─Ha, ha... I am, a man of my word Arcueid... I never intended to break the promise I made to you... ─. I say in a hoarse voice.
Seriously.
It's hurting me to say all these words... I feel like I might as well die at any moment.
She had said that to annoy her.
But instead... Arcueid smiles a little. She seems pleased.
With that same smile, she declares again:
─I will try to trust Shiki a little more from now on, I hope to continue to be in your care, Shiki the Killer.
Ah...
That smile... fuck, it's so beautiful when she smiles...
I feel like I can relax for a moment, since Arcueid is not going to let me die anyway...
I sigh a little.
Relieved.
And just before closing my eyelids and resting from the [Lines] and [Points] again... I reply:
─Don't call me that, it's degrading.
Only for later, fall asleep in tranquility.
My forces were almost completely exhausted, after all.
I am still a human.
No matter what Arcueid or Vlov said, whether I am death incarnate or not, that does not matter to me.
As long as I don't lose my way and remain Shiki Tohno to the world. No matter how many times I have to wield the same knife, I will continue to do so to protect those I love, without a doubt.