Chapter 55: Goal to New World
"It's fine if I only have one important thing."
I ram a current through the chain of Apocalypse Blasts, causing even the inner shell of the Ancient Dragon to start cracking as a series of blue explosions light up the entire school grounds.
"GGGGAAAAGH!"
The Ancient Dragon tears through the grounds, killing off more Louise copies. Every time it happens, I flinch, as a spray of blood and gore flies through the air. Even though I know it's not the real Louise, since the runes know, it still makes my heart skip beats.
By now, there's at least twenty dead corpses of Louise on the ground with various degrees of damage. All to keep the illusion running. Everyone further sells the trick by screaming every time one of the Louises dies. It does help no one knows which one is the real Louise.
…I'm going to make sure Louise is okay after this, because seeing yourself die in twenty different ways must surely hurt your head or something.
So far, it's really only been Louise and I dealing damage. Everyone else is just playing distraction for now, annoying and agitating the dragon so it can't focus on Louise as much.
The storm that I saw earlier is also now over the Academy, which I drain from constantly. I guess the magic's fucking with it or it's a small storm, as there's a crack of dawn all the way off in the distance while this dry storm is passing over us.
"DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME!" I roar, cranking the motorcycle to the max and dashing right for the Ancient Dragon, materializing an Omegawatt Blade. I deliver a slash right through the middle and cut deeper into its shell.
"Insolent WORMS!"
"Shut up!" About ten Louises yell out before unleashing Quadruple Giga. The Ancient Dragon attempts to dodge, but still takes four of them head on. Holy fucking shit, how powerful is this thing?! And how the fuck did Brimir seal it?!
He was a lot more powerful than any mage today, Kurt! Myz shouts as I drift around debris to vanish again. It's only because of technology and your experimentation with magic we've held out for so long!
Damn!
As I rush for the Ancient Dragon again, I see its purple inner shell crumbling, revealing yet another black layer. Fucking son of a bitch!
This is the last layer! Once you break through it, the magical core should be within it!
Okay, thanks for the reminder, Lif!
"LAST LAYER!" I yell. Everyone… or at least, who's left fighting out of everyone's morale seems to rise up, knowing the end of the battle is near.
The battle to slay a god, or at least the freaking equivalent of one, is almost done.
Just a little more to go!
The Ancient Dragon unleashes another desperate barrage of rocks, but I use an Electromagnetic Hurricane, the sheer force hurling them all harmlessly away.
"Kurt!"
I look up and see Guiche, preparing a punch. "What is it?"
"Mind giving a hand?"
I see that now, his stance is actually similar to mine in fighting. Heh, all right then.
As I ride towards the Ancient Dragon, engine roaring, I manifest with all my concentration, a massive Omegawatt Blade around Guiche's left hand, with which he tears into Ancient Dragon. He unfortunately misses, only managing to nick part of its neck. And holy shit, that melted part of his Valkyria's hand!
Guiche sighs before Valkyria slowly melts into the ground, vanishing. He's picked up by Montmorency, who starts helping him hobble away. A final, finishing blow? That must've been the extent of his willpower, or maybe he—oh no, he's definitely just too physically tired.
Rest easy, Commander Gramont. The sacrifices you and your men made, fighting through the dark hours of the night, they will not be in vain!
"KARIN, TABITHA!" I yell out, the two of them flying low. I can see that their familiars are getting tired.
"What is it?" Karin asks as soon as she's within speaking range.
"One last attack, please. Then, leave the rest to me."
I bring the iron dust along the ground here together with magnetic fields, then heat it up using a flowing current to eventually weld it all together into a spear like shape.
"I'll launch this guy right after an air drill from the two of you. Karin, you'll be casting, Tabitha, chain support."
The two of them nod before splitting off, as the Ancient Dragon launched another beam attack at us, but I move my makeshift projectile back before raising a Polarity Defender to block the attack. As soon as it dissipates, Karin and Tabitha fly back low and shoot their own attack.
"HYYYYYAH!" I scream, launching my makeshift railgun projectile, though it went a lot faster than I thought it would…?
Off on the only remaining tower of the five that surrounded the now fallen central tower, I see Ronaldo flashing a smile while on makeshift crutches, his secretary trying to get him to sit down along with Agnes, her left arm in a sling. Thanks…!
Either way, the Ancient Dragon takes another huge hit, staggering. Almost… there…!
"QUARDRUPLE GIIIIIIIGAAAAA!"
My vision goes white for a second as I almost hiccup, as if something was just ripped out of me. Oh God…!
Damn, I should've considered the cost of those Quadruple Gigas being part of the illusion as well!
How are doing on power?
I'll estimate maybe twenty, thirty max of the spells before it starts cutting into your life span.
Should I communicate with Master? Myz asks.
No.
…Don't tell Louise. Just let her know to ease up on the usage and aim for critical points rather than a pure washout.
Understood.
Kurt…? Sasha asks, slightly concerned.
I won't die.
And Lif, if it cuts into my lifespan, let Louise know then. But until such time, let her decide what to do.
Huh, it's retreating?
Probably to lick its wounds. It's a prideful beast, after all. While it seeks a good fight, it hates losing.
Hmph. How pitiful.
As I race after it, I see Colbert with Kirche hanging around his neck. She's slightly burned, but it doesn't seem to be horribly serious. I nod at him, Colbert raising his staff up high once again.
GENESIS SPARK!
"HELIOS!"
The fire snake wraps around the white beam of electricity that crafts tomorrow, racing towards its target. It strikes the Ancient Dragon head on, causing its retreating self to cry out in pain. Don't run away now!
I feel a sudden weight on the back of the motorcycle. Looking behind me, I see Louise with a glowing wand. She taps on Derflinger with it, unleashing the spell for him to absorb. The other Louises behind me vanish, with Louise finally cutting off the spell.
How much power, Lif?
A decent amount, but it's not like it'll be too useful for us.
"Give him hell. And come back to me. No matter what."
"Of course, Master."
She rolls her eyes as she uses Acceleration to warp off.
Okay, everyone.
You've helped me out a final bit and even fought this guy off for the entire night.
It's time to finish this.
I pursue the fleeing bastard all the way back to the volcano where it was originally sealed. It seems it's used its ability to take a human form as well to try to make it easier to escape. Come back here, you bastard…!
Watch out, now that its power is more condensed, it's like dealing with those layers all over again. However, it's weakened. You should be able to punch through the first layer without any problem and only after that will you have a bit of trouble. Myz informs me as I charge on.
Thanks.
"Foolish human, pursuing me alone!" It screams, its black hair twisting as if it were in a tornado.
Holy shit, what the hell is that spell?!
We'll take care of it!
The runes of Myz and Lif lose their glow as I see their figures pop out. What the fuck… the sky itself is turning purple?! What kinda shit is this?!
The Ancient Dragon roars again…
…oh fuck, this place is home to…
I'll deal with them!
The runes of Vin stop their shine as he pops out, preparing to deal with the newly risen dragons. It seems the Ancient Dragon has weakened significantly, since the amount here is nothing like its powers back at the Academy.
But either way…
I leap up into the air and have the motorcycle smash into Ancient Dragon's human form, manifesting the Omegawatt Blade in my left hand and drawing Derf in my right.
We need to let the others finish their tasks. That way, we can activate Hyper Accelerated Evolution at its highest form.
Highest form…?
Myz boosts the efficiency. Lif consumes life to make it better. Vin, by treating yourself as a beast, aids evolution. And I, to activate the ability.
I see.
Then we'll just have to hold out.
Getting up after being smashed, the humanoid figure that's completely black, as if it were a living shadow, the Ancient Dragon snarls, the place where its mouth is only revealing more black underneath it. It concentrates, taking the normal rocks it launches at us and forming it into two swords.
So that's how it's gonna be, huh?
I'll take you up on that challenge.
"HYAH!" With that, I bring down the first strike, the Ancient Dragon crossing its swords to block me. It uncrosses, shoving me off and throwing me into the air. "Tch, looks like you can take the heat."
I land on the ground and waste no time. I slide down low, cutting with Derf. When that doesn't work, I push up and hurl myself over its head, spinning while going for a neck slice. I succeed, cracking its skin shell a little.
Following up to that strike, I flip over and kick it in the back of the head, sending the beast flying as it was already off balance. Bouncing back off the ground, I immediately assume a defensive position as it turns it momentum into a running start before whipping around and striking with its blades.
I match it dead on, staring into its deep, purple, soulless eyes.
"Is this all you do? Fight, fight, and fight? Without purpose, only to destroy?"
"Hmph! Without purpose?!"
I give some slack when I notice its footing is off, causing the beast to move forward flatfooted. I respond with whirling slashes, all aimed for its head, but am met with a series of parries and guards that result in only me lightly scratching it.
"No, it is with purpose! To find and fight the strongest!"
I feel the rush of wind from its dodged power attack that when he strikes the earth, it shakes and cracks the ground. Exploding with speed, I then attempt something of a dual-sword iaido strike, slicing twice through him. The Ancient Dragon doesn't even bother blocking or dodging, simply tanking the hits.
Letting out two quick Radar Pulses, I sense that it's coming up for an attack from behind. Creating a Apocalypse Blast, I step forward and allow the explosion to catapult me back into the air. I soar over the Ancient Dragon and kick myself into a backflip, creating another Apocalypse Blast that I hit, shooting me straight towards it. For added hurt, I wrap myself in a Lightning Crash, slamming right into its back.
"What a terrible reason for fighting!" I yell as it recovers into a roll, though I don't give any quarter and continue slicing as fast as I can. "What a pathetic reason to keep existing! You cannot even live for yourself!"
"You DARE?!"
"Yes, I do fucking dare!" I roar as the Ancient Dragon launches a beam of fire at me from one his earthen swords, but I raise Derf and absorb everything it's got. To his credit, he only lets out a raging shout. Myz—
Shit! Never mind!
I charge again, crashing our blades again. Derf tries to absorb the magic in the swords, but it seems the Ancient Dragon just keeps supplying more and more of it so the spell is never completely negated.
"I do fucking dare, you bastard! I dare because I was like you!"
We part blades and I attempt another crushing blow. Derf roars as he takes the hit again, screaming that he'll never break.
"Before, I couldn't even live for myself! I lived for the quest of a girl who died for my sake! I couldn't even make that reason my own! I lived saying 'Her belief and dream are something I must achieve'! But not anymore!"
Getting the Ancient Dragon off balance with a good feint followed by an elbow to the face, I bring a crude power attack to one of his swords, shattering it.
"Today, I'm living on my own terms! Her belief? Her dreams? They're just fuel now! They're not my goal—they are my motivation! They are the motivation for me to reach my dream! To reach out beyond it! You have to live for the strongest! You can't live for your own, finding yourself to be the strongest person! No, no! You have to keep hunting for someone else because you can't just be content with what you are!"
"You arrogant BOY!"
I cross blades, blocking the Ancient Dragon and I stare into its eyes.
"You seek the strongest because you can't even see yourself as the strongest. You can't live and assert 'I am the strongest'. So you exist, moving about because you need to find someone who believes them to be the strongest and defeat them. But if there's no one left, what are you? Are you the strongest? But who will validate that if you can't?" We match blades in a tornado of flashes one more time, but I force him to look at me in the eye. "Only you are left. But you can't, even right now, live for yourself to the point that you can say 'I am the strongest'. Me? I used to live like that. I would only be able to live if she said 'You redeemed yourself'. I couldn't muster the guts to tell myself that I was a good guy at heart. I couldn't think and live for myself on whether or not I redeemed myself. Today? Well, let me SHOW YOU MY ANSWER!"
I throw Derf into the air and coat my hands in Apocalypse Blasts. I push my arms as hard as I can, slamming the Ancient Dragon right in the face. Two massive explosions of blue ring out as I leap back, bringing Derf over to me with magnetic fields.
As I do so, I feel a power enter me. Vin?
The dragons are dealt with. I do not know how well my powers shall aid you in the midst of combat, but I shall do as I can.
That's all I need.
My arms surge with power as pain starts flooding through me. Cranking up the heat on my electricity, I launch barrage after barrage against the Ancient Dragon of both sword attacks and electricity blasts.
"What's wrong?! Can't refute me?! Do you know that I'm right and you're just too afraid to say shit?!"
"You know not what you speak of, nor the power I hold!"
"Ha! I could say the same to you!"
Vin, I'm going to try something! It might just be condensed magic, but it's still a dragon-beast-thing!
Anything to win!
My vision becomes filled with white light as I attempt to use Vin's power while coming to meet the Ancient Dragon's attack head on. Be unsure of your answer! Know that it is I that will defeat you!
It stumbles, if only for the slightest amount. Glaring at me as I get a free attack, shredding its back and more revealing its powered second layer, it lets loose a feral growl.
"You but delay the inevitable!"
"Fuck inevitability! We shall create our own path!"
I reach into my pocket as my Omegawatt Blade dissipates, yanking out six coins. They float into the air as I lock eyes with the Ancient Dragon, right before barraging him. The molten streaks of metal make marks into him and leave burning grass since I shot a few near his feet that must've caused it to ignite. Also the lightning discharges did leave a few small flames that flicker in background.
"Very well. I shall warp your path to your own destruction!"
"Try me, motherfucker!" I yell, flipping off the Ancient Dragon before my Omegawatt Blade reappears on my left hand, crackling with all of his hateful intensity. "I've warped a path six thousand years old just by printing a fucking load of letters onto paper. Like you could do much more by brute forcing it!"
I charge again, using Vin's power. However it seems I've pissed the Ancient Dragon off to the point it's no longer effective, or maybe it's because it seems to almost be more liquid-like, losing its "beast" state and more just because a thing of pure power. Either way, I'm going to destroy him!
Sparks fly as our weapons clash.
"Weakening already?! Pitiful! Your fellows lasted longer than you!"
"That's what I said to your mother last night!" I yell, blindsiding it with a shoulder check, sending the beast to the ground. It manages to roll away before I can impale it, getting back up on its feet.
It pauses, probably wondering why it's very educated and clever attacker who engineered a whole defensive operation against it dove so low as to make a mom joke, let alone decide to say such a thing while being aware that it had no mother. That allows me enough time for an Apocalypse Blast punch to the face, knocking it off balance once again.
"Heh, you're sloppy. I bet that's because you never bothered with any skill. After all, like there was anyone that could match you in raw POWER!"
I use an Apocalypse Blast to launch myself at rapid speed into the air, smashing into the Ancient Dragon's human form right in the chin. It's launched into the air, but I grab its ankles and throw it into the ground before unleashing a Lightning Crash foot first.
Before it can grab me, I leap away, turning around and facing the Ancient Dragon, flipping it off in the process. It sure as hell looks pissed, though.
"I'll show you just how powerless you are! The spell that even Brimir struggled to overpower! Eclipse P—"
Nope! Lif's voice calls as I feel two powers rush into me. I absorbed all of it!
Heh! And it seems we've absorbed quite a lot of power from its attacks! I'll take care of that!
As soon as Myz finishes her sentence, Derf suddenly has an unholy mix of fire, small stones, a small water stream, and some green wind surrounding him.
"Ha! It's been a while since I held this sort of power! Just a little bit of our Master's power and it'd truly be the Quadruple Giga, but it already rivals its power!" Derf calls out. "Let's go, Partner!"
I'll unleash the power Louise imbued in Derf when you call, but for now, use the power the Ancient Dragon foolishly gave you!
To the future, Kurt Bright!
Let's finish this!
To victory! Sasha finishes as I smile. Despite the injuries I have in our clashes in swords and that my clothing is irrevocably shredded, I can't help but feel happy.
You guys have my back. Everyone who was influential to this journey does! Their feelings… their prayers… their hopes… they will not be in vain!
All of their names flash through my mind. I can hear them speaking even now!
"Go ahead, Kurt! We've had your back from the start! Show this thing the power that took out that Ice Giant! No matter what, we're still your pals!"
I hear them, over the sounds of a chain of Apocalypse Blasts, clothing the world in a bright blue, that shatter the next set of rock spears that it launches at me.
Roy, Ashe, Kristen, the Conduit Kids… they were those who supported me even before I came to this world and started me on the long road to redemption. You were those who gave me strength and taught me what it meant to have a tried and true bond.
"Just a few more steps, then you'll make it. If you don't know where to go, we can always point you in the right direction. We might not be magic users, but sometimes a drink, a talk, and some advice are a magic on their own."
I hear them, over the sounds of the whirlwind of blades, the darkness of the void competing with the illumination of lightning, ending with us glaring into each other's eyes once again.
Marteau, the rest of the kitchen staff, Leo, Charles, Heather, Scarron, Jessica, the girls at the Charming Faeries' Inn, Siesta's family… those who were not mages, but people who helped me along the way in my journey by giving me advice and sometimes, just by encountering them… I developed a little more.
"You're a member of this Academy too, Kurt. This Academy helps its students, no matter what happens, we'll make it through together. To us, you're both a student and teacher. A person we can stand beside and a person we can stand behind. We're with you."
I hear them, over the sound of an Ionic Maelstrom—the final stage of the Ionic Vortex—in all its electric and windy glory howling with fury that comes to meet my enemy's own tornado, overpowering it and absorbing it into itself before slamming into the Ancient Dragon, chipping away at the condensed magic that forms its skin.
Guiche, Montmorency, Kirche, Tabitha, Sylphid, Tiffania, hell even Beatrice and the boy that came to help her… those who were at the Academy with me, those who stood the tests of war, of change, of persecution, helped me find something precious, and even rode the waves of change.
"Sometimes you kids get way too ahead of yourselves. But that's okay, it's always good to push yourself beyond your presupposed limits. But don't forget that sometimes you need to take a rest. You might be the future, but we're still the present. Let us help you along the way—you needn't carry the burden of the world by yourself."
I hear them, over the blazing booms of a series of railgun shots, illuminating the sky brighter than the sun with their glorious molten streaks across the sky as they screeched louder than any banshee.
Osmand, Colbert, Matilda, Prince Wales, Doctor Nakai, Ronaldo, Eshmael… the adults in my journey who were there to support the young, unstable emotional mess of a boy I was with their experience and wisdom.
"War can be hell sometimes. Doesn't mean you have to take to it alone. We might not be your squad, but we're always here to pick you out of the mud. No man left behind and everyone's going to make it home if we can help it. Hopefully one day people like us can all peacefully have a drink, eh?"
I hear them, over the crackle of a Current Barrage and Electromagnetic Hurricane, sending a spiral of superheated electric blades surging into my enemy that cause sparks to fly all throughout the air.
Agnes, The Dragon Knights of Tristain, Derflinger, The Knights of Undine, Cid, even Jacques, Bleu, and Jeanne who I didn't know too well… those who were beside me in our insane wars and battles that we fought against nation and monster throughout the time I was here, making sure to help me whenever I was down and needed a hand for I was not a soldier, but just a kid playing war.
"To tomorrow, Kurt! It's not going to be a tomorrow without you, no matter what you say. You're someone who has to be there, live to see it! Aren't you curious about how things are going to be? Don't give up, because if you did, we wouldn't have ever banded together and done the most amazing things. There's a whole frontier past the sky we have yet to explore!"
I hear them, over the roars of Derf and I as we clash with the greatest magical power we've even encountered without even a hint of hesitation, ignoring the pain that runs throughout both of us as we duel with the Bringer of the End itself.
Bidashal, William, Luctiana, the whole of the Academy of Sciences… those who were by me in the quest for science to take off the ground, providing their minds and curiosity to a world that had been kept in a stasis for far too long and didn't let something like species get in the way of unity.
"Hmph. You might be a little crude on the outside and while you are far from refined in your actions, the same cannot be said for your beliefs. They have become the pillar you stand on, one made of unshakeable rock. Stand forward and proud, for we have put our trust in you and I am sure you shall not let that down."
I hear them, over the doubts that seep through my mind that tell me I can't win, but their voices give me determination and put me at ease, knowing that I shall find victory amidst the pitch black sea of despair.
Eleanore, Cattleya, Karin, Louise's father… the family of the Valleries that put their faith in me for their daughter and also taught me several things… especially you, Karin, for we learned how we cared for Louise and for my ideals to really come to a head.
"Brimir wanted to see this… if only he could have done this while he was alive. I think if he bore witness to what happened today, he'd shed a lot of tears. Tears of happiness, that someone could do what he failed to, despite his immense power. He had a dream and you took it up. For that, we're glad. You gave us peace and so too, did you do the same to the one we originally called Master. Now, let us end this together. The new day awaits!"
I hear them, over the intimidating roar of the Ancient Dragon, crying out alongside with me, yelling battle cry after battle cry as we shape the future their original master envisioned, praying for a one in a million shot in the six thousand years that he bought the world that someone could help.
Sasha, Lif, Myz, and Vin… the four familiars that Brimir entrusted to someone to guide the future. You entrusted me with the vision he kept wishing for even in death, relying on a six thousand year gambit to work. Thank you, for teaching me everything along the way, and for teaching me what it really meant to be free.
"Keep going, Kurt! We know you're going to give it your all. We don't need to, but we're still going to worry about you. You always tried to take everything on alone, never letting anyone inside your heart because you feared betraying her. But… we've come to accept that. Maybe we'll never replace her, but we don't want to replace Cynthia. We want to be someone else close to you and for that, we'll stand against even the end of the world as long as we're by your side, no matter what!"
I hear them, over the scream of a full blast of Genesis Spark that rivals the power of a Quadruple Giga as it creates a new dawn, colliding with the red blast that is launched at me, a massive explosion blasting off into the sky.
Louise, Siesta, Henrietta… the three young women that I so deeply came to care for. You three will always hold a special place in my heart, for being the ones when I was absolutely down in the dumps and needed someone to tell me it'd be okay. All three of you especially… for believing in the dream that Kurt Bright could one day be a good person.
"Go, go, Kurt! I know you can do it! My dream, now your own dream, to become a good person, is finally fulfilled. No, it was fulfilled a long time ago and perhaps you didn't realize it. You won't fall here, because Kurt never gives up. Not until he's accomplished what he set out to do. Kurt wanted to save this world, right? Then I know it'll be saved. Because that's how Kurt is. Even when you feel all alone and that no one's there, I'll be singing, okay? I'll give you the wings you need. I love you Kurt. Now… save those you hold dear!"
I hear her, over the catastrophe that is the end of the world, in all of its joys and all of its sorrows… the crashes of lightning, the roar of thunder, the force of destruction incarnate and the force that binds all creation clashing in one epic battle to the death.
Cynthia… the girl who started it all. You were the one who looked at a man so broken and defeated, who thought there was nothing but an empty void where his heart was and you said there was a light brighter than the sun. You were the one who inspired it all. This world has you to thank for being the reason I became its shining paragon, its leader forward, and all that has happened.
All of these people… I cannot fail them!
My mind clears. My heart is at a perfect calm. I know what must be done.
I feel it. Not just me. Not just the familiars in my head. The world itself shakes with our combined voices.
"HYPER ACCELERATED EVOLUTION!"
With every hit, I can feel myself evolving. From the beginning of it all, once again. I withstand the injuries from my crappy sword strikes just like I did against Karin, for every blow is softened by those that are with me. Their hopes and dreams are embodied through me and so as long as I have that, I cannot fail!
I see it once again. That tree, back when I fought Karin. I see myself advancing, marching to node after node, making it ever so slowly to the final destination of something that will absolutely destroy this thing and end it once and for all!
But as I keep swinging… something feels… off. Like I'm not going at the same pace I did as Karin.
What's going on?! Why aren't we going at full capacity? With the full power of the runes combined, there should be no reason for us to be advancing slower!
It's not on my end. Lif answers.
I'm giving it everything. Myz replies.
Nothing wrong here. Vin says.
…Sasha?
Kurt… you… if you use this, you could seriously die!
…Ah.
I don't… no, please not again… I… this is the first time in forever I've felt like this for someone! Please don't…!
Sasha… I know you don't want me to die, but this is what needs to happen!
But Kurt…!
Sasha, I've known from the beginning my death was a possibility! I've known that there's been a huge chance of me dying! But if we don't risk it all, then Brimir's plan is going to mean nothing! If we fail here, this world isn't going to get another chance!
I hear Sasha sobbing, knowing that by doing this, my life is going to get drained ridiculously fast.
The sheer rate of how much I'll have to evolve, the amount of power going into that, it's going to be near fatal, if not actually fatal to me.
But I have to risk it all.
Besides Sasha, I won't die right away.
I still have to make it back to Louise, right? And there's also that promise of mine…
F-fine…
This… is the reason I was summoned here. I think so, anyways. To unite the world and change it into the vision Brimir had.
So let's not let him, and all those who came before me, down tonight.
I feel the link start as the full power of Hyper Accelerated Evolution begins.
I, a human being, but yet an animal to the world at large.
I evolve.
Lif's power consumes my life after we run out of juice from all the power we absorbed from the Ancient Dragon's magic, turning it into raw power to fuel the familiar runes' powers. Myz's efficiency tweaking for the spells reaches absurd levels, letting them all do their jobs better and with less power needed so my life might be prolonged. Vin's power to control beasts makes me evolve to greater heights.
And Sasha provides the catalyst without hesitation…!
This power… it's not just Hyper Accelerated Evolution…! No… it's something far, far greater…! Something that is the representation of just what I've done to this world. All of the grand successes, all of the epic failures, all of changes as I went over the limits of the world…! It is everyone's prayers, it is everyone's hopes, for only with the power I absorbed from the Ancient Dragon that everyone helped me with, that I have access to this ability!
All five of us scream together the name of this ability… The name of the ultimate form of this power, to surge forth without regard and find the answer of how to destroy any barrier in our path!
"OVER LIMIT ACCELERATED EVOLUTION!"
I feel the sheer evolution happen.
One strike of my Omegawatt Blade.
Unlike Karin, where every hit made me advance a bit…
…just this one impact is enough to advance me a thousand years. Not just my blade, but the impact and all the movements my arm made. My stance is changed. The actions, movements, and everything about the attack is completely different than it was before. I see everything now. How I thought I was at the final stages of my power when it was nothing more than a billionth of the way to fully reaching its capabilities. Seeing the numbers, equations, and everything rush through my head as even the thought process used to manifest these blades was changed, I swear I saw symbols and other formulas not even known to me or the world I came from. In just one second, all of this has happened. Even the runes themselves, their power shifts, become greater and more potent just by nature of being a part of me and thus evolving alongside me.
But in return…
…because every action has an equal and opposite reaction…
…with every movement forward, comes a push back. Something must be the opposite of forward. I can feel it, as if something is being torn out of my being. Like my heart skipped a beat or several hundred. No, rather, they were stolen from me. Right, my life span. The longer I keep doing this, the less I'm able to live.
I might not even be able to complete that promise to Henrietta…
But it's fine with me. If I gave up here, I'd be just like how she was during that night in the storm against the revived Wales. I will not throw it all away because of some madness mistaken for love.
I'm not sure if I really do take a calming breath, but I can feel myself clear my mind of any doubts. I know what must be done.
As a single human, I'll take on the burden of this endless risk by myself. I'm here to pay the colossal price of tomorrow.
The Ancient Dragon notices it too, that I've wildly changed. It doesn't seem to panic, but it seems on guard just after that one strike.
I hit again.
More precisely.
More powerfully.
Flat out better than before.
It finds its defenses completely shattered. Like I had devoted a thousand years to breaking its guard. My movement with Derf is almost perfect as well, with him nearly cutting the Ancient Dragon.
But it's not just my attacks either.
My body is evolving, too. And so too, are the runes. In fact, they've changed shape. I can't even recognize the symbols anymore, sort of. They look the same, but much more… potent, or something like that. They're improving alongside me, for Over Limit Accelerated Evolution seems to target my entire being.
This means all the inputs are taken into account. I can even feel the way the Ancient Dragon moves by the vibrations in the air. The hairs on my skin feel the oh-so-smallest vibrations, letting me know exactly how he plans to come in and attack. By the time he even makes a fraction of a movement towards his original end, I've already played it out hundreds if not thousands of times, knowing exactly what I should do. My mind automatically has me counter further, striking once again.
Every nanosecond my Omegawatt Blade touches the Ancient Dragon, I learn. I see all sorts of equations go by, symbols that would send me spiraling over the edge of insanity be created and implemented, and feel my very own mind changing. My blades automatically reconfigure themselves with the knowledge I've gained, sacrificing my lifespan in order to learn faster. The beast that craves knowledge that I've raised inside me hungers, so my life pays the price for its exclusive meals without regret.
And it's not just when I attack. Whenever I dodge, too. My entire existence is evolving. Even the runes' power, they're changing to be better as well.
I realize it partway through this onslaught.
Six thousand years wouldn't have been enough, not at our rate. Maybe the elves could've done something if we had only made contact with them sooner.
When I've hit the fourth time, I've probably already advanced four thousand years in evolution, but my blades still aren't enough for the final piercing attack I need. I have yet to fully and utterly penetrate through its final layer to destroy it, which its skin seems to be made out of.
And…
…I don't even know if I'm me anymore.
How to move.
How to attack.
I don't even know myself anymore.
My mind doesn't feel like mine anymore.
I feel just like a puppet on strings, commanded forward with the sole intent of killing this beast. As if the way I'm moving is someone else's. As if the method of attacking isn't mine.
But because they're there beside me, I think I can make it.
Because everyone believes in me…
Because everyone believes in Kurt Bright…
Because everyone believes in the man who can bring some good to this world…
…I'll do it.
I see them. All of them. All the broken hearts, all the shattered pedestals, all the destroyed minds, all the ruined lives… because I came into someone's life, somewhere somehow. Their numbers…
I don't know how many I've hurt so far, but I have to move forward.
We keep exchanging blows, or perhaps I should say I am giving them, as the Ancient Dragon has no way to compete with a being who has advanced ten thousand years ahead of it in the matter of a few seconds. In fact, the entire world feels like it's moving so slow right now. In the time it takes for me to even take one step, literally a million thoughts went through my head.
Can I be a good person?, is the first one. Even now, knowing what I'm fighting for, I still have that small lingering doubt. No matter what happens, humans will always doubt themselves.
But I've known the answer from the beginning.
Though I always tried to avoid it for the longest time, wallowing in self-pity and self-serving excuses, thoroughly thinking that I couldn't be a good person because of what I'd done in my past, before I decided to stop thinking about being a supposed "good person" and just did what I thought needed to be done, moving forward without a second thought. Now, I decide for myself what that means. No one else will define it for me.
But… maybe, just maybe, if I had thought to myself earlier…
Surely, I'll turn this around.
…then things might have turned out differently.
But for now, it'll just have to do.
Forty seconds in, and I've advanced so many years I can hardly even count. I think my life might be at its limit, as the changes in my abilities… they far outpace my body. Every shock attack with the Omegawatt Blades I use sends pain throughout my nervous system, probably destroying parts of it. I know I'm damaging myself with the amount of power needed to destroy the Ancient Dragon, but there's no other choice.
But my life still hasn't been completely drained yet.
So I'll do it.
I'll rewrite the future that was in store for Halkeginia, of fear and of terror, living under the threat of the Ancient Dragon! I will part the storm that hung over Halkeginia, over Brimir's regrets, over this world for six thousand years, and bring forth tomorrow!
I can still do this…!
I give myself up, fully and completely, to the force of evolution. I don't even know how much time is passing anymore at the sheer speed I'm going at, both physically and through evolution. My abilities are so much more than what they were that it might even be said I've surpassed gods.
There were rumors before, that I wasn't a man. That I was more like a force of nature. Those words might very well be true now.
Flashes of blue and white streak across my sight. Even if my eyes can keep up, that's what my abilities look like now. The blades no longer have their definitive shape. Rather than a "blade", it's as if it's become a "concept" of "cut the enemy". Such a concept has no need for a form.
Every unnecessary movement, every unneeded twitch, I'll delete it from myself. What will be left of me is nothing but a being designed to kill this thing.
The Ancient Dragon is sure to lose.
"It's… your victory…"
It says this, knowing that there is no hope of defeating me. I'm just too much. It's at the point where trying to deny it would just be beyond pitiful.
But it's not just yet over. Knowing its defeat, it'll only fight harder.
One by one, I'll remove everything in my being that doesn't need to be there, and advance forward. To the future of tomorrow…!
Pouring everything I have left, I see it once again. Just like when I fought Karin, the millions upon millions of points of divergence along the path of evolution forming a massive tree if one were to gaze upon it above show themselves again. I swear I can see someone smiling at the end of this path… I'll definitely reach for them…! Cynthia…!
White, blinding light consumes everything as my arms go into something beyond human movement. I can feel myself wanting to cry out in pain, but I hold it in and grit my teeth.
It's fine if I only have one important thing.
And that thing will be tomorrow.
I traverse that tree diagram I saw again, heading forward at breakneck pace. I give my everything and more, drawing strength from somewhere, despite having none left in me.
My legs are tired. My arms are sore. My entire body, despite being so advanced, already still feels the aches and pains of battle after exerting itself for so long.
But whenever I want to put my arm down, I see figures.
Some of them I do know. The people closest to me, helping me to fight on, by being my legs or helping me by taking my arm forward.
Some of them I don't know. The outfits of these people range wildly. Some are dressed in modern clothing from all around my home world. Some are dressed like medieval knights, peasants, or magicians. Some are dressed like they came out of a sci-fi movie. Some are dressed like they were in the desert or other harsh environments. They too, help me with determination in their assistance.
Seeing the end result, I move towards what should be my final attack.
I feint an attack, but at the same time, slide tackle between its legs, turn around, and come back up all in one fluid motion, slicing its back. I utilize my momentum and launch myself into the air, over its shoulder, grabbing its neck and turning around again to throw it into the air.
For the finishing move…!
The Ancient Dragon's figure is in the air, swept up by me, falling upon both Derf and the Omegawatt Blades which now easily tear through its broken form. For a brief moment in time I think I see hundreds of others holding Derflinger alongside me. My shared memories with Sasha and the others let me know in a single instant that these are all the previous bearers of the runes who helped me reach today, the strangers I could only see in a blur now becoming familiar to me. And directly in front of me is Brimir, a worn but proud smile on his face.
"…ama… zing…"
I wordlessly shoot off the Quadruple Giga stored in Derf and whatever the something-thousand year advancement of Genesis Spark is into the air as the Ancient Dragon falls upon my blades, finally impaling it and consuming the magical core we were hunting all this time. The beam continues on for a full minute as I discharge everything I can.
As the light dims down and the Ancient Dragon is no more, I simply let myself fall down onto my back, seeing the sky turn orange. No more clouds, huh…? Looks like a brand new day is here…
Closing my eyes, I only smile as tiredness consumes me. The grass tickles the raw skin of my back and I can feel my cuts already healing.
Wake me up… when I have my speech for the Academy…
