The Fiercest Warriors

Metal clashed and sparks flew as Kotaro struck at Lilith, each attack blocked by her chains.

He was furious after having to listen to Yukari’s insults; each strike had the force of a storm behind it.

But Yukari grinned wider with each attack.

He attacked harder and faster, switched between different weapons, but none of that mattered anymore…

Just like a fly who hopelessly tries to escape a spider’s web, he too would be mercilessly devoured.

***

Riko had gotten back in the tank (which was still in the middle of the lobby), but Ritsu was sticking out of the top, manning the machine gun.

They had cut off every exit, Chiaki would have to come by eventually, and the Chairman wouldn’t be far behind.

Chiaki was just around the corner of the second floor stairwell. She was able to see enough with her demon’s ability.

She could maybe get off one clean shot with Gabriel before Ritsu started firing back, and if she got caught in that machine gun’s line of fire, she’d be torn apart.

Taking a deep breath, Chiaki whispered, “Gabriel.”

Gabriel drew her bow, barely peeking out off cover.

Ritsu immediately saw her and started firing.

Just as the flurry of gunfire arrived, Gabriel let go, sending the arrow flying through the air.

It shined through the air, shattering the machine gun and burying itself in Ritsu’s stomach.

“Argh!” Ritsu cried out as the machine gun split apart into pieces.

But he wasn’t the only one hit. Chiaki moaned as a few rounds struck Gabriel just before she flew back into cover.

“Damn it…!” Ritsu clutched his bleeding stomach as he retreated into the tank.

Chiaki fell to the floor, still keeping her sight on her opponents.

This battle had only just begun.

***

“Damn it! Damn it!” Ritsu slammed his fist on the metal walls of the tank, blood pooling beneath him. “That girl, she has to be able to see through walls or something!”

“That very well could be the case.” Riko peered through the periscope. “And if it is then we’re at a stalemate. We can’t attack because it puts us at much greater risk, so we have to stay inside this tank, but that also means she can’t attack us. I suppose we might just have to wait for the fire to consume her.”

“Yeah, but we might not have time for a war of attrition. The fire is spreading fast, but reinforcements will be here soon too.”

“Hm… Quite the dilemma…” Riko smirked. “Should we go with Plan C then?”

***

Chiaki waited with bated breath for her opponents’ next move.

Whatever it was, she had to counterattack. The fire was closing in fast.

The Chairman was safely tucked away in a room a fair distance away, so she could focus all her attention on this fight.

However, her heart almost stopped as she heard the engine of the tank roar once again.

The treads cranked as the vehicle began to reverse.

Chiaki couldn’t see the tank itself, but she could see Ritsu and Riko inside it moving.

Her fear quickly turned to confusion. Were they trying to flee?

But that fear returned much too soon as it stopped…

And began accelerating forward.

Aiming right for Chiaki…

She realized it too late. If they couldn’t fire at her, they would topple what remained off the structure she was standing on.

Chiaki jumped up, and tried to run, but as the tank collided with the walls and supports, the floor caved in, and she fell down into an avalanche of debris.

***

Chiaki had passed out in the collapse, but she was quickly awoken by a tap to her forehead.

Her eyes opened, seeing Ritsu standing above her, his gun pointed right at her.

Ritsu lowered his gun slightly. “Tell us where the Chairman is and we’ll let you go, okay?”

“And don’t think about summoning your demon.” Riko held up Chiaki’s phone, its screen completely shattered.

But it’s not like that even mattered now.

She was far too weak to summon Gabriel.

Chiaki grunted as what little energy she had left her body.

She had failed yet again.

“Protect the people”? Is that what she said to the interviewer?

She hadn’t protected anything.

But still.

She would not give up now.

Her face filled with defiance, she choked out, “I’m not telling you anything…”

Ritsu scowled at her. “Just do it!” He pressed the barrel of the gun right up against her forehead.

“I won’t…”

“I’m not joking around!” He pushed down hard, his finger on the trigger.

“I’m not either…”

Ritsu clenched his teeth, gripping the gun even tighter. Riko had turned away.

But it was fine. Even if Chiaki died here, that would be okay.

She did what she could to make the world a better place. To save people.

And she was happy with that.

Ritsu let out a frustrated scream, pressing the gun even harder into her forehead.

But that scream was cut short.

“Lux Ferre!” Naoki sent out a shining ball of light.

It directly hit Ritsu’s face, burning it beyond recognition in an instant.

Riko screamed at the sight and fell down.

But Naoki ignored her, immediately running to Chiaki.

Falling to his knees, he cradled her in his arms. “Chiaki!? Are you okay!?”

“Naoki…?” She smiled. “I’m fine now…”

“Good. Can you stand?”

“No, that doesn’t matter.” She pointed to a room on the second floor. “Go there, that’s where Chairman Konishi is. You have to save him.”

Naoki looked over and then back to Chiaki, nodding. “All right.”

Immediately, he jumped to his feet and started making his way up there despite the treacherous path.

Chiaki laid her head down, her eyes looking over to the side.

“Ritsu…! No…!” Riko was kneeling beside the body of her brother, her tears falling onto what remained of his face.

***

Yukari was very close to her limit, but Kotaro was hitting harder than ever. Even after all this time, his resolve had only grown stronger and stronger. Yet despite that, Yukari’s smile hadn’t faded, her grin was wider than ever.

Because even as she was on the backfoot, even as her energy was nearly depleted, even as she was still bleeding profusely from her stomach, everything was going according to her plan.

All she needed was to be patient and wait for her opportunity.

And that’s when it came.

With the fiercest battle cry Yukari had ever heard, Kotaro launched his final attack.

He switched his weapon back to his katana and sliced it down, aiming for what he thought was the slightest gap in Lilith’s defenses.

But there was no such gap.

If he was in the state of mind he began the battle in, he surely would’ve seen through such a trick.

But alas, he was not.

As the katana made contact with Lilith’s chains, she parried the attack perfectly, knocking Kotaro off balance.

This was all Yukari needed.

“Lilith!” Yukari commanded her demon to kick Kotaro. Lilith’s leg shot out like lightning, hitting his torso with a crunch.

Kotaro gasped at the impact and was thrown to the ground.

But Yukari couldn’t afford to let up. Lilith immediately pounced, wrapping her chains around his neck.

Kotaro gasped for air as the chains tightened. Yukari’s grin widened as her prey was finally within her grasp and taking its last breaths.

She tightened the chains even further, listening to Kotaro’s choking.

But as Kotaro’s consciousness faded and the life that remained began draining from his face, Yukari felt something inside her shift.

She loved the Ghost, but all of his followers were just rabble.

Could she really say the same about this man?

She remembered the fury, the conviction, the righteous indignation that covered his face during their battle.

And she saw how she had snuffed it out.

She had no moral issue with it, but…

For whatever reason…

She felt compelled to release him.

Lilith’s chains disappeared as Yukari called her back.

Kotaro’s unconscious body fell to the floor, still breathing.

And Yukari sat down.

Now that the battle was over, she was really starting to feel lightheaded. She winced as she placed her hand on her gaping wound.

She opened her phone and messaged the SSU for assistance.

Help would soon arrive.

But as her own consciousness started to fade.

She thought about what she did a bit more.

He’d probably be sent to rot in some cell for the rest of his life.

It would certainly be humiliating for a guy like him. Probably would’ve preferred a glorious death on the battlefield.

But…

If he ever got out…

It would at least be interesting…