114 War in the Forest 15 Light in the Forest 2
「We have arrived, Yomohira-san」
「……O~K~……good job」
The trainees were gathered to the base in a hurry according to the instruction from Kirishima Satsuki.
Even Hikawa-kun who was in charge of the extermination of Variants, carried Yomohira Miriya and flew to the hill where the base is.
「Yomo-chan, Hikawa-kun. Akai-kun and Kurasaki-kun are heading here, so that's everyone……I guess?」
「Ah……you can say so, but……」
Kazato Rie and Hiraga Genichirou looked around, and confirmed the faces of everyone. The 『Variants』 are attacking from all directions as usual, but the advancement speed have slowed down. To the extent that they have the composure to look around.
But Hiraga realized the people who aren't here.
「No……Ueki and Midou aren't here. They haven't come back yet?」
To Hiraga's question, Yumino Miharu answered while looking into the scope of the sniper rifle.
「……They are heading this way too. For some reason, they contacted me just now. They will reach soon」
「I see……Then, only Serizawa left, but……」
When Hiraga said the name, Kirishima Satsuki started a transmission to all of them.
『Everyone……Serizawa-kun won't come. Right now, just concentrate on defending yourself』
Saying that only, the transmission disconnects.
While hearing a silent transmission, beside Yumino who is shooting down the 『cores』 of the Variants within the range of 1 kilometer, Otonashi Sayaka looks up at the sky, and holds her hand out to the dazzling light ball.
「Even so……what on earth is that? Yumino-san……do you know?」
「……No, I don't. Even if I try to see it, it would burn my eyes. But……it is surely something dangerous」
A few minutes ago……at the direction where Instructor Kirishima chased after Serizawa Atsushi and Akai Tsubasa, a strange light orb appeared on the sky. It looks to be quite faraway, but it is burning our skin as if a small sun.
Right now, we barely manage to survive by hiding behind the clay shelter's shadow made by Tsuchitori, but everyone knows that the clay shelter won't last too long.
The base is already like a steam bath. Everyone is sweating heavily.
In such situation, Kirishima Satsuki's voice transmission reached again.
『……Hikawa-kun, have you reached the base? There is something I want you to do……』
「……Yes, Satsuki-sensei. What should I do?」
『Can you make an ice wall over there right now? We don't have much time left, but……create the wall high and thick as much as possible』
「……Understood. I can't guarantee it can defend from that, but……looks like I don't have a choice」
Hikawa who understood the situation, started to create 『ice wall』 outside of the base immediately. Although the air and ground cooled down for a moment, it starts to release steam immediately. The moment the ice wall was created, it dissolves into water. But still, while reusing the water, Hikawa creates a thicker and bigger ice wall.
「……It's really hot. Who on earth is doing that……? No, judging from that direction, as I thought……」
Behind Hikawa who works while muttering to himself, Tsuchitori Mayumi falls to her knees, and Otoi Tsutomu looks at her in worry.
「Hey, clay girl……are you okay?」
Otoi Tsutomu was concerned about Tsuchitori Mayumi unlike himself. That is no wonder……Tsuchitori is a Talent User who can activate her Talent by touching the ground. Tsuchitori is placing her hands on the ground to enlarge the clay wall right now, but the ground is hot as if it is burning. White smoke rises from her palms. It is clear that it is hurting her.
「Uhi~……! It's hard, but I need to endure it now~……!」
Tsuchitori Mayumi expands the clay wall as if covering Hikawa's wall from the inside by using 【Clay Manipulator】. The heat from the clay shelter is cooled down by the ice, and it starts to plays its role as a shelter. The clay and ice gradually mixed into a two-fold shelter.
Shortly after that, Kirishima Satsuki, Akai, and Kurasaki returned to the base. When Kagura Mai saw him in the base, she called him out.
「Akai! Are you alright!? Is your body alright?」
「……Kagura. Ah, thanks to you……I want to thank you properly, but now's not the time for it……!」
When Akai turns around and looks at the sky, the light orb looks bigger than before. Although he gotten quite far from there, he still remembers the shiver when the heat rays burn the surroundings.
「That is……really bad……!!! What a thing to create……!!!」
I know that the heat is abnormal because I'm a fire user. The light orb has an exceptionally high temperature compared to the flame that burned my body. How can he create such heat source? When Akai stared at it for a while, Hikawa Takeru spoke to him.
「That is…………as expected, Serizawa-kun's doing, right, Akai-kun?」
「Ah……I don't have a positive proof, but it's most likely so. ……It's slightly unbelievable, though……」
Despite Hikawa Takeru putting out the ice wall, the strong light burns our bodies.
Serizawa Atsushi created that. That shouldn't be wrong.
But we left in order to protect everyone, and yet……he's exposing everyone to danger right now. What's going on? ……He shouldn't be someone like that.
Although he's a little coward, he's not a guy who can't see his surroundings. Although he will take bold actions at the critical moment, he's basically a coward and cautious guy. That Serizawa is creating this kind of situation……I haven't know him for a long time, but I don't think he's a guy who would do this kind of thing.
「He was a little strange since a while ago, but……what's going on?」
「……That is still getting bigger. How much power did her conceal in himself?」
「……Ah……that's no longer something that's bad……」
Akai and Hikawa looked up at the sky.
When they look at it, the scorching light orb grows bigger and becomes brighter. At the same time, the heat emitting from it, increases, burning the surroundings even more.
The surrounding trees have already been scorched into ashes. The students in this base right now, are evacuating in this ice and clay wall, but at this rate, it won't last long.
「Hey, Hikawa…………Can't you make the surroundings cold?」
「You mean 『Absolute Zero』……? ……I'm already doing it」
「……What……? You're doing it……?」
When Akai looked at Hikawa, he can see that sweats dripping down from his forehead.
「Of course, with full power……And it's like this. Pouring water on a hot stone, is exactly this. Haha, to be this much……You're really incredible, Serizawa-kun」
「……Tch……!! This is really bad……!!!」
At this rate, we will be burned to death. I need to do something……!!
When Akai thought of that, a shout can be heard from behind.
「……No, Atsushi!! You must not go there-nojya……!!!」
When I turn around, I saw the falling figure of Shiro beside Kagura.
「……Shiro?」
「Shiro-chan!?」
Kagura holds Shiro up, and spoke to her.
「……Shiro!? Are you okay? What is wrong!?」
「…………Uu…………that's…………not good-nojya…………!!!」
She's not responding to Kagura's call. She's just raising a groan as if she's suffering. After a while, as if falling asleep, Shiro's body lose strength.
「……Shiro? What's wrong……?」
She's breathing. There's pulse. But she doesn't seem to be sleeping. Her mouth is moving as if calling out for something. But no matter how many times Kagura called her, she didn't wake up.
When Kagura became worried of Shiro's condition……it suddenly became bright.
「……What……is this……!?」
「……Hey, something's wrong with it」
「The light gotten stronger」
「……Hot……」
Everyone was bewildered by the sudden change, and Kirishima Satsuki raised her voice.
「Everyone!!! Don't come out from the wall's shadow!!! Don't even try to move!!!」
When I realized it, the whole sky became white.
A strong shadow drops at the surroundings' border, and places without shadow, release steam. The trees outside of the base, turned black and thin just like a burned out matchstick, and crumbled away. Right now, everyone is shrinking themselves behind the walls created by Tsuchitori and Hikawa. If someone step outside, he/she would become like those trees. That was clear in everyone's eyes.
「……What the hell……is that……seriously……!!!」
「Is this……really Serizawa's doing……?」
The surrounding 『Variants』 considered the light orb as a threat or perhaps an attack, as they head towards it. But their movements are slow due to being burned. Among them, there were those that had its body melted. The heat to the extent that it can even burn down the 『core』 inside the 『Variant』. Such powerful heat rays struck the surroundings.
「……Hot……I'm going to die……」
「……Uu……too bright……!!」
「…………Don't look at the light! Your eyes would get burned……!!」
The sky becomes whiter.
The blue sky up until just now, was already dyed in white. I can see that the Variants were being exterminated by it.
The air is already dry. The surrounding water has been evaporated completely, only Hikawa's wall remained barely. The light burning the surroundings, gets stronger, and the shadow disappears.
「Such……power. A power like this」
「Probably……Serizawa-kun is already the highest rank of Level 4……No, maybe even surpassing that. Haha……to be this much」
「……Serizawa-kun……!! ……No……this way of using power……!!」
Kurono Meria sat with the students without being able to do anything……while looking at the white sky. While feeling her own powerlessness, she just looked up at the sky. I can't do anything right now. Not even able to call out to him, or be beside him. ……What kind of guardian am I? Didn't I volunteered to be his supervisor to make sure that he grows up safely.
If he wield power like this, he shouldn't end up unwounded.
「……Please…………be safe, Serizawa-kun」
Feeling disappointment to myself, I can only pray for his safety right now.
I am really……powerless to the extent that I can only stay here and pray for him. Could I do something for him? I couldn't even do something for the students here. ……If I have more power……if I have the courage to wield power. This situation might not happen.
While thinking that, as expected, I can only pray for the possibility right now. I am thoroughly powerless and incompetent.
After thinking that much--I felt that the heat rays gotten stronger.
「……It is coming……」
Up until now is an omen. Only a harbinger of a greater destruction coming after this.
And--
Light fills out the whole space.
The light shines all around, even painting the shadow to white.
The next moment, the shock of tremor and roaring sound.
The clear feeling of the countdown to death. Kurono Meria stared at it, and spoke to the student sitting next to her.
「……Kurasaki-kun. Cover everyone with 『shadow』 right now」
「Fuhi…………it's weak to heat……I don't think it would have an effect against that, but…………just for a temporary peace of mind」
Kurasaki Yuuki said that, and he used his Talent to cover everyone with a black curtain. The world that became white, and black filled everyone's eyes.
Immediately after that, covered by the heat rays that blasted away the ice and clay shelter--
Along with the rumble in the ground, swallowed into the landslide, and collapsed.
First??
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter~!
ReplyDeleteAs expected, it's overkill