Road to Paradise (8) - 51

Bang-bang-bang-bang!

A battle unfolds in the Arius Basilica. It was a battle between adults.

Beatrice's individual strength might not have been that great. However, she had absorbed the power of numerous Saints before Sensei and his group arrived, increasing her power. She failed to obtain the power of the Chroma she originally desired by sacrificing Atsuko, but even so, Beatrice showed strength surpassing that of ordinary students.

Even so, she wasn't an unrivaled monster. She was an opponent they could handle. But, strangely, the battle was almost evenly matched.

Sensei used the Adult Card to summon versions of himself in the form of various students. However... there was one big problem.

Bang!

""Sensei!""

"Don't come...!"

It was defense. When Sensei was one person, Arona's protection was there, so there was no problem. However, with multiple Senseis, she couldn't protect them all.

Their strength matched their forms, but their defense was that of an ordinary person. Haruka (Sensei), hit by Beatrice's hand, staggers up. If it were the real Haruka, she would have gotten up with a smile as Problem Solver 68's best tank... but Haruka (Sensei) was bleeding from the head, her hat had fallen off.

Even with the students' voices, he doesn't allow them to help because it's an adult's fight.

Thud!!

Beatrice's attack continues. Mina (Sensei) is almost hit, but Tsurugi (Sensei) throws Yume (Sensei), who uses her shield to block it.

"Ugh, my arm is numb......"

"Sorry, but teamwork is... cool, right?"

"Stop saying that and fight, you idiot!"

Neru (Sensei) charges, scolding Mina (Sensei). There's a limit to the barrier, but it's not completely useless. Because it was Sensei, Arona applied the barrier to multiple people in time. Of course, the problem is that she can only do it for one person at a time.

Neru (Sensei) withstands Beatrice's attack and attacks at close range. Not just with guns, but also with kicks, he makes Beatrice's body tilt. Then, Tsurugi (Sensei) runs up, grabs the tilted Beatrice, and performs a German suplex.

Bang!!!!

Beatrice crashes into the ground, breaking it. However, that wasn't enough to take her down. Maybe it was because he had been hit by Beatrice's attacks several times? Tsurugi (Sensei) was breathing heavily, and as proof, her strength was lower than at the beginning.

Unable to be taken down in one blow, Beatrice twists her body and gets up, then throws Tsurugi (Sensei) away. Tsurugi (Sensei) crashes into the wall, creating a crater, and coughs up blood as she falls forward. Hifumi (Sensei) catches and supports her. Hoshino (Sensei) runs forward and shoots at Beatrice to keep her in check.

"Ki, hehe... hehehe......"

"Stop, give up...... You alone can't defeat me."

Tsurugi (Sensei) was bleeding. Despite Beatrice's taunts, she laughed.

Beatrice had something to believe in. The beings of Gematria were external beings that couldn't be easily killed. Beatrice could also escape and was confident that she wouldn't die there. Arius was already a resource that had to be abandoned.

Since her plan was thwarted by the students anyway, her current fight was out of spite. It was a determination and revenge to get back at Sensei. Even though she knew that she would lose if the students moved now, she didn't back down, seeing Sensei's determination.

Neru (Sensei) walks beside the staggering Tsurugi (Sensei) and glares at Beatrice.

"You don't get to decide that. We do. We create and grasp the hope of the future with our own hands. I, we... are adults who teach children not how to give up, but how to persevere. If you start something, you have to see it through, right?"

Beatrice, looking down at Neru (Sensei), feels annoyed and swings her claws.

Bang!!!

Yume (Sensei) protects Neru (Sensei), and Mina (Sensei) assists.

Neru (Sensei) jumps on Yume (Sensei)'s shield and throws a backkick with all his might, and at the same time, bullets are fired. Mina (Sensei) follows up with concentrated fire, and Haruka (Sensei) runs up and shoots.

Beatrice is pushed back, bleeding as she takes the hits all over her body. Breathing heavily, Beatrice gathers her mystic power to kill at least one of the Senseis. A Peroro-shaped bomb flies towards Beatrice's face and emits light.

Bang!

"Ugh!"

Having many eyes became a disadvantage, and Beatrice tightly closed all her eyes. Above Beatrice, Tsurugi (Sensei) and Hoshino (Sensei) were bleeding and grinning.

Bang bang bang!!!

Tsurugi (Sensei) steps on Beatrice's shoulder and fires concentrated shots at the top of her head. Hoshino (Sensei) does the same. Beatrice struggles in shock and pain. However, Tsurugi (Sensei) holds Beatrice's head tightly with both hands and bites it with her teeth. Hoshino (Sensei) stabs a military knife into Beatrice's head and continues to shoot.

"Hold, her tight!!!"

Chareureuk~!

Neru (Sensei), despite her battered body, runs quickly, jumps, throws a chain, wraps it around Beatrice's neck, and tightens it. Then, Neru (Sensei) shouts and pulls the chain down strongly.

Unable to withstand the force, Beatrice falls forward. Mina (Sensei) and Haruka (Sensei) stab their guns into Beatrice's face as she falls forward. They shoot directly at her eyes.

"Kyaaaaaak!!!"

In pain, Beatrice bleeds and struggles, twisting her body to the side and falling. Without missing the opportunity, Hoshino (Sensei) puts the muzzle of his gun into Beatrice's mouth, who turns her body to the side, and starts firing.

Bang bang bang!!!

Beatrice reaches out to grab and throw Hoshino (Sensei), but Yume (Sensei) runs up and blocks Beatrice's hand with her shield. However, Yume (Sensei) is caught along with the shield and thrown away.

Paang!

Hoshino catches the flying Yume (Sensei).

"Ugh, Yume-sen─Sensei."

"Haa, haa. Sorry, Hoshino-chan."

"────────."

The word 'sorry' reminded Hoshino of the memo Yume left behind in the past, and her PTSD resurfaces. Behind Hoshino, Yume (Sensei) runs forward with her shield.

Hoshino reaches out towards Yume (Sensei), who is moving away. However, Yume (Sensei) kept getting farther and farther away.

Watching the fight, Wakamo and the other students clenched their fists tightly. They wanted to jump in right now, tear Beatrice to pieces, and protect Sensei...... but seeing Sensei fighting with a determined look to fulfill his duty as an adult... they couldn't dare to interfere.

But......

"I have to do it."

Azusa, who was among the students, ran forward past them. She wanted to respect Sensei's will and intention. However...... she couldn't stand to see Sensei risking his life any longer.

She, as a traitor to Arius, couldn't stand idly by as Sensei threw himself to save Arius.

Beatrice struggles, making her last stand. Her red beam, gathered with mystic, is fired, and Yume (Sensei) stands in front of everyone with her shield to block the attack.

Azusa runs to Yume (Sensei)'s side, pushes her away, grabs the shield, and stands in front. All of Sensei's gazes turned to Azusa, and Azusa smiled faintly at Sensei.

Baaaaaang!!!

A huge light engulfs the room, and an impact occurs.

Azusa stands in front of everyone with her shield. Next to her, Hoshino was also blocking with a shield.

"I'm really...... sorry, Sensei. But I couldn't stand it either."

Hoshino looks back at Yume (Sensei) with an apologetic, bitter smile. Seeing her battered but safe figure, tears welled up in Hoshino's eyes. Biting her lip, Hoshino looks forward. It seems that Azusa didn't suffer much damage thanks to Hoshino, and she takes out her gun.

But, perhaps there was still some damage? Unlike Hoshino, Azusa staggers and kneels on one knee. As a child who was guided and saved by Sensei, who only received... at the very least, she wanted to end the root cause with Arius's hand.

Seeing Azusa like that, Hifumi (Sensei) takes out the Adult Card.

Just as the students were running late to help Sensei, the strong light subsided, and something was visible.

Beatrice, with a huge hole in her chest, collapses, and a girl stands in front of everyone. It was a bullet that severed all of Arius's bad ties. It was the end of Arius by Arius's hand.

Mina (Sensei)'s form disappeared, and another Sensei appeared in her place, bringing an end to the adult's fight.

"I won't make children murderers. Because that's the role of an adult."