Chapter 31: Sandalphooooooooon!

A violent gale razed the woodlands that separated the north and the south sections of Arubi. The green leaves that signaled the advent of summer were ripped to shreds and sent flying, whirling in the air as if they'd been tossed into a blender. Slender trees were ripped out by the roots and launched like javelins. The act of a tyrannical Berserker. The incarnation of senseless violence, annihilating everything within reach. Who on earth could have imagined that the cause of this sudden storm was a massive quarrel between two girls? Amidst the chaos stood Hikaru resolute amid the tempest. Her long, midnight-black hair danced wildly in the wind, flowing like cascading shadows around her ethereal form. Clad in an astral dress that shimmered and fluttered in the gale, billowing around her like a veil of ethereal power. Despite the tempestuous winds that threatened to knock her off her feet, Hikaru stood firm, her arms crossed in front of her chest, her eyes scanning the area with a sharp intensity. Surrounding her like a pack of relentless predators, the robotic dolls stood poised to strike, their metallic limbs glinting ominously in the raging storm. Their glowing eyes were fixed on their target. With a swift movement, Hikaru broke her arms free from their crossed position, slowly lowering them to her sides. "COME!" Without hesitation, the first mechanical doll lunged forward, its metallic fists aimed at Hikaru. "...!" But in an instant, the robot found its target vanished from sight, leaving its swinging fists through empty air. Hikaru reappeared, already above the doll, her feet arcing gracefully through the air. The clash of metal against metal reverberated through the tranquil night as Hikaru delivered a devastating Axe kick, forcefully shattering the doll and sending it crashing to the ground. "Slow," she murmured with a hint of amusement. But there was no respite, for as her words trailed off, four more dolls swiftly closed in on her, launching simultaneous attacks from different directions. Undeterred, Hikaru's lips curled into a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Heee~" she let out a playful exclamation. As one of the dolls swiped its hand toward her. Without flinching, her body twisted as she deftly dodged the doll's attack. She grabbed the robot's outstretched hand and used its momentum to send it toward the other attackers, In a swift and fluid motion, the dolls were sent hurtling through the air. "Is that all?" Hikaru landed on the sandy beach ground, her feet sinking slightly into the soft sand. Her gaze swept across the mechanical dolls before her, their lifeless forms standing motionless as if weighing their next move. Hikaru's lips curled into a fierce smile as she extended both arms, stretching her fingers out wide, as if ready to grasp the very air itself. "I yearn for a battle that will ignite the flames of my warrior spirit! Show me the full extent of your formidable strength! I dare you to face me with all the fury and might at your command! Let us create a symphony of combat that shall echo across the ages!" she declared, her face glowing with bright blush and a wide smile that illuminated. As the words thundered across the night, the entire legion of 14 robots surged forward simultaneously, their metallic bodies hurtling towards Hikaru like an unstoppable tidal wave. "GOOD!" Hikaru's muscles bulged as she tightened her fist, she launched her fist at the ground beneath her feet. "...?!" The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the earth, scattering grains of sand in all directions. "Now! Let the hunt begin" In a swift and fluid motion, Hikaru lunged forward, she executed a roundhouse kick that shattered the first robot into a cascade of metal fragments. Without skipping a beat, she transitioned seamlessly into a spinning back-fist, obliterating the second robot with a devastating blow that sent sparks flying. As the third robot charged towards her, Hikaru deftly sidestepped its attack and countered with a perfectly timed sidekick, sending it hurtling through the air, crashing into its metallic companions. "3 down, 11 to go..." Leaping into the air, she delivered a flying knee strike that pulverized the fourth robot, reducing it to a twisted heap of wreckage. With a swift hook punch, she shattered the fifth robot's defenses, dismantling it with a single powerful strike. Moving with fluid grace, she followed up with an uppercut that launched the sixth robot into the sky, leaving a trail of sparks in its wake. Unleashing her front kick, she swiftly dispatched the seventh robot, sending it soaring backward with a resounding impact. Performing a graceful backflip, Hikaru evaded the eighth robot's assault. As she landed, she executed a cartwheel kick, striking multiple targets in a stunning display of agility and precision. Seizing the opportunity, she swiftly incapacitated the ninth robot with a swift and precise elbow strike, rendering it immobile. With a leap, Hikaru launched a jumping kick that obliterated the tenth robot, its metallic shell shattering upon impact. "ten down, 4 more to go..." She executed a spectacular butterfly kick, taking down two robots simultaneously with a whirlwind of devastating strikes. Utilizing her lightning-fast reflexes, Hikaru swiftly incapacitated the thirteenth robot with a precise sweep kick, causing it to crash to the ground. Seizing the fourteenth robot's momentum, she executed a flawless shoulder throw, hurling it through the air with incredible force. ... As the dust and sand settled, revealing the carnage left in her wake, Hikaru stood tall amid the fallen robots. She wiped her hands as The robots lay scattered around her like discarded toys, their once-mighty frames now twisted and broken beyond repair. "you can come out now" Her voice resounded across the storm. "You thought you could take me down with mere metal and gears? Pathetic!" As Hikaru's commanding voice echoed across the beach. As if on cue, a figure emerged from the shadows. Clad in a formal jet-black suit His hair is dark ash blond, and he has a pair of sharp eyes as if a knife was used to cut slits on his face. The color of his eyes is dull blue and gives off a lifeless look that is only strengthened when complemented by his extremely pale skin. The figure chuckled. "You truly are a force to be reckoned with," Hikaru's instincts flared as she regarded the stranger. Something was off about him; his very presence seemed to set her on edge. "Who?" she demanded. "Hmm, who?... it appears the inverse lacks the memories of the original," the man mused, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Answer my question," The man shrugged. A nonchalant gesture that only served to irritate her further. "I don't want to," he replied simply. "..." "Well then, let's meet again, Hikaru-chan," he said, turning his back to her and waving casually as he walked away. Her fists clenched tightly as the air around her crackled. "DO YOU REALY THINK I AM GONNA LET YOU LEAVE JUST LIKE THAT!" "yes... this is nothing but a mere hologram after all" he stated with a smug tone, vanishing into thin air as if he were never there. "..." Hikaru was left in stunned silence. Found herself at a loss. Uncertainty crept into her mind as she pondered her next move. "Well, he got me there," she admitted, resigned to her fate. "I suppose I must confront those two—!" "... Like I'd let that happen!" But before she could complete her thought, a resounding proclamation echoed through the air. The voice seized her attention, halting her steps. A quizzical expression danced across her face as she turned to face the source, only to behold two familiar figures. "Nee-san and the boy...?" As she approached them, her eyes caught sight of something that made her heart skip a beat. "Is he wielding Sandalphon?!" she gasped, incredulous. "Dammit! God dammit! This has to work! If this keeps up, they'll—" "Boy!" Hikaru's voice echoed through the air, cutting off Shido's words. Tohka and shido turned towards the newcomer, surprise evident on their faces. "Hikaru?" they uttered in unison. "I have many questions, but now is not the time. Your expressions reveal all," she announced, approaching the duo. Her eyes drifted upwards to the sky above the forest where trees had been flattened in a circular pattern, revealing Kaguya and Yuzuru locked in fierce combat. Shido gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword. "At this rate, they're going to end up—" "You're a good person, but you're also foolish," Hikaru interrupted him. "What—?" "The Angel in your hand won't work just because you command it," Hikaru explained. "It appears only in times of great need, boy." "time of need?" "Mm. she right shido."Tohka nodded in agreement. "Sandalphon's no ordinary sword. It's an Angel that manifests due to the wish of someone with Spirit power. Maybe if I had my full Spirit powers, but Sandalphon was summoned because of your wish, meaning I can't use it." "But that's—then..." Shido lifted his face, despair in his heart. In the sky above, the two Spirits were still mercilessly going at each other, no holds barred, in their battle to let the other live. "let's do it together then" Tohka guided Shido's hands around the hilt of the sword. Then she slipped behind him and wrapped her arms around his body so that they were gripping Sandalphon together. Hikaru's voice chimed in, "Don't forget about me." She swiftly approached them, grabbing onto the other side of the hilt. "...?!" Noticing the surprise on their faces, she quickly withdrew her hand from the hilt. "Oh sorry...This is your special moment, and I shouldn't impose myself... Ha ha, it seems I got a bit carried away," she trailed off, preparing to retreat. However, Shido caught hold of her hand. "Where do you think you're going? You can't just join the party and leave like that." "But just now—" "That was just because we didn't expect you to do something that embarrassing. You're kind of tomboyish after all..." Shido teased, offering her an invitation. "Oh..." "Now come here fast, we have someone to save," Shido said, taking charge once again as he turned to face the sky. Setting aside the wail of the wind beating on his eardrums, the gale whipping his hair up, and even the warmth of Tohka and Hikaru against his hands and chest, he pictured one thing in his heart. Kaguya and Yuzuru. The Spirit split into two by chance or by necessity. Beings forced to reckon with the destiny that one of them would disappear from the moment they were born. But knowing what fate awaited them, they each fought with all their might to let their beloved other half live. The blade of Sandalphon shone above their heads, a powerful blue aura enveloping it. However, "...!!" Shido's shock-filled gaze widened as the color of the aura surrounding the blade began to transform. In a mesmerizing display, it shifted into a thick and majestic golden hue, expanding around them like a protective field of immense power. Simultaneously, the once azure crystal embedded within the sword underwent a metamorphosis, transitioning from its original blue radiance to a resplendent shade of gold. "Tohka, is this supposed to happen?" Shido questioned, his voice laced with uncertainty. Tohka, too, sensed the difference but remained resolute. "No... I still sense my power in it, but there is something different. A new power merged with the sword..." she replied. Amidst the confusion, Hikaru appeared to be the only one unaffected, though not due to her understanding of the situation. "I feel drained", she murmured, her voice barely audible. "as if the sword is siphoning my power..." Hikaru's words escaped the notice of others, as she struggled to be heard. Ignoring her plight, she mustered what strength she had left. "Boy, let us conclude this swiftly," she urged. "...Right, let's do it," Shido felt a hint of unease, sensing something amiss with Hikaru, but he knew time was of the essence. There was no room for further delay. When he readjusted his grip on the hilt, Tohka and Hikaru tightened theirs along with him, and their head dropped forward. Shido lifted his face once more and looked up at the two awkward idiots brawling in the sky. "Sandalphooooooooon!" With a mighty roar, he brought the sword down in a graceful arc, and a massive beam of pure energy shot forth from the tip of the blade. The beam carved through the air like a knife through butter. It easily cut through the bastion of wind blowing high above and plunged through the air, passing between Kaguya and Yuzuru. The roiling clouds were split in two, and the hidden moon showed its face. The squalling storm stopped as if it had never been, and he heard two baffled voices. "Wha—?" "Unease. What is...?" Facing each other with lance and pendulum, Kaguya's and Yuzuru's eyes grew wide, and as if searching for the origin of this slicing attack, they turned those eyes downward. When they saw Shido there, they frowned. "Shido...?! Was that you just now?" "Shock. Impossible. That was amazing Spirit power." Shido plunged Sandalphon into the ground like a staff. He was about to shout calling from them. "...!" however, his voice caught in his throat as his attention was drawn to Hikaru, who collapsed onto the ground. His eyes widened with concern and his voice was replaced by silence. Reacting swiftly, Tohka intercepted Hikaru's fall, catching her just in time. "It seems she has lost consciousness due to exhaustion. Don't worry, she will recover. You can continue," she assured Shido. "..." Shido took a moment of silence, gazing at Hikaru's unconscious figure before nodding in understanding. Turning his attention back to the two sisters in the sky. (...) In a sterile hospital room, Hikaru slowly stirred from her slumber, her mind emerging from the murky depths of unconsciousness. A wave of disorientation swept over her as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. "Have I lost consciousness again? It seems that every battle I undertake leads to the same outcome... I must be in a hospital..." she mused, her thoughts swirling in a haze. She summoned her strength and attempted to open her eyes, only to be met with an unexpected and confounding challenge. Her eyelids stubbornly refused to part, as if sealed by an invisible force, shrouding her in darkness. "the fuck?" she exclaimed in frustration. She tried to move her limbs, but they felt heavy and unresponsive as if bound by invisible chains. Hikaru grappled with the realization that her body seemed unyielding, refusing to obey her desperate pleas. "....!" she felt someone touch her. The touch was gentle, though, and it seemed to be focused around her chest. "Wow, Tohka was right. Her chest is huge!" "Agreement. It's so soft and smooth." Slowly, the touch became more insistent, and she felt someone squeeze her breast. "Why is everyone so fixated on my breasts?" she thought as she tried so hard to move. Desperation drove her to summon every ounce of her strength, willing her eyes to open despite the stubborn resistance. With an arduous effort, she forced her eyelids to part, unveiling a surreal scene before her. There, sitting beside her on the hospital bed, were Kaguya and Yuzuru, their hands inexplicably cupping her bosom. "What the hell?!" she exclaimed, trying to sit up. "What are you doing? Get off me!" The girls, who she recognized as Kaguya and Yuzuru, looked at her with innocent expressions. "Oh, you're awake!" Kaguya said. "We were just checking something." "Checking what?!" the girl demanded, trying to cover herself. "Tohka said something about your chest being bigger than both of us," kaguya said, her hand still resting on the girl's breast. "We wanted to see for ourselves." "Complaint! She's not bigger than mine, it's for Kaguya thought" "HUH? What does that man" "Advise! Sometimes you have to face the truth, sister." "Why you!" As the tension escalated and another confrontation seemed imminent, Hikaru's mind spun with disbelief. "What kind of conversation could have led Tohka to tell them something like that?" As she was about to sink deep into her thoughts, Kaguya's voice cut through the air, capturing her attention. "Oh, by the way," she said with a mischievous tone. "I can sense a tremendous amount of mana within you. Has Shido not sealed it yet?" "Like hell, I would let him do it," she muttered under her breath, her voice too quiet for the others to hear. "I'm still a man inside..." "...?"