Chapter 34: ACT.3 "Conflict"

I kick off the concrete ground.

Because of the short distance, I was able to leap into the silver-haired woman's space in a single breath.

I move my body faster, even faster than the woman—no, the vampire in the shape of a woman—can react.

In that fleeting moment, that single instant.

I push my glasses up slightly.

And my sight is filled with a world where lines writhe eerily everywhere.

The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

The supernatural ability I acquired when I first understood death.

It is what allows me to perceive the "death of things" as visual information and touch it.

I take on this "death of things" as visual information in the form of lines and points, and by touching those lines and points, I can kill the concept of "an existence's lifespan."

The targets are not limited to living things, but extend to all concepts of creation, the universe in its entirety.

That is how I was once able to kill Arcueid, a monster that humans could not possibly oppose.

But I remember.

Sensei (Teacher) taught me that this power is not a good thing.

I have a nagging feeling that it will eventually whittle away my own life and lead me to ruin.

However, for now, this power is all I can rely on.

Therefore, I swing my knife without a single shred of hesitation.

A horizontal slash.

The woman instinctively tries to shield her body with her arm, but it is too late.

I sever her elbow, and then, in a fluid motion, I run the knife along a "line" from her abdomen diagonally upward.

"Kof—"

Blood spills from the silver-haired woman's mouth just as her viscera leak out.

I succeeded in inflicting a fatal wound, but it doesn't end here.

I have no intention of giving my opponent time to rest.

I shake off the knife and immediately adjust my grip to a stabbing posture.

My target is only one thing: her "point," her heart—it's over right at the start, you vampire!

"Hah!"

Instantly.

A sensation travels up my hand, the feeling of a blade plunging into flesh.

I press the knife in further and pin the woman down.

This is another fatal blow.

I stabbed her hard enough for the entire blade of the knife to be buried in her flesh.

Blood seeped from the woman's white coat.

"Oh, r-really—?"

As if she finally grasped her own situation, the woman voiced a questioning sound, and her red eyes looked at me with astonishment.

"Did you finally notice? Hmph, a failing grade for an actor."

For a vampire who tormented Sion, this is a surprisingly quick end.

With this, the vampire who caused a stir in this town is defeated, and I can just return to my usual daily life—

"Aha,"

"What?"

That's what I thought, but the vampire was laughing.

She was still laughing, even after her 'point' of death was struck.

"Aha, ahahaha. You call me, a stage actor, insufficient, Tohno Shiki! No, you’re right, a mere magus would be an utterly boring opponent for you."

The vampire continues to laugh, looking up at me.

I can't understand how she can smile like this in the face of death.

And because I can't understand it, it feels unsettling, and a chill runs through my body.

No, calm down, Tohno Shiki.

The vampire will die here regardless.

That fact remains unchanged.

"Hmph, go ahead and laugh, vampire. You'll be dead soon anyway."

"Yes, you're right. That supernatural ability of yours is the strongest Mystic Eye that can kill even a member of the Twenty-seven Ancestors."

These eyes once killed even Arcueid.

Any supernatural ability, any owner of a monstrous form, is meaningless before these eyes.

Indeed, the woman I just killed is already scattering into ashes from her fingertips.

"Oh dear, but what a pity. I went to the trouble of taking this appearance because women shine brighter on stage than men. What a true pity."

She said something that concerns me. Yes, the implication that this form is only temporary.

The feeling of dread intensifies, despite the fact that I should have killed her, and then—

"Now, let's proceed to Act II."

In an instant.

The vampire's form flickered like TV static and vanished.

She disappeared from the spot without leaving any trace, including bloodstains.

Vampires turn to ash and disappear when defeated. Therefore, no body should remain, but this is different. This is different from when I defeated Nrvnqsr Chaos and Roa.

It's not over yet—!!

"Shiki, look out!"

Sion's warning.

At the same moment, I use my knife to knock down an object flying towards me from the front.

However, the impact completely paralyzes the feeling in my arm.

My grip on the knife is also vague.

"What is this...!!"

The flying object is a sword. It’s too long for a throwing weapon and would require a specific wielder, but I know who favors this kind of weapon—it’s Ciel-senpai.

But I can't understand this. According to Senpai, this is an armed object for fighting vampires, yet a vampire is using it.

No, I don't need any unnecessary thoughts right now. I must focus only on fighting the enemy in front of me,

"Too slow, Tohno Shiki."

"!!"

He was right in front of me.

Unbelievably, a tall man, nearly two meters tall, appeared and lunged at me faster than I could react, unlike the silver-haired woman before.

He was less than a meter away, with his vertical stance fist clenched near his waist, poised to strike in a fraction of a second.

And that stance is Bājíquán. It looks exactly like the old quack doctor from Jinan. But his was for health, while this technique is purely for destroying humans.

When his fist touches my chest, it will destroy the flesh and bones from the inside out, causing my internal organs to spew from my mouth.

"――――――!!!"

Sion is shouting something. I need one more second to hear what she is saying, but the possibility of me surviving one second from now is infinitely low.

It’s too close to dodge, and I have absolutely no time. My grey brain can only imagine a future where my bones and flesh are crushed, and I depart to the other world.

No, there is a way. I still have my hands, quite literally. It’s a make-or-break chance, but it’s all I have right now!!

An impact, and my body flies.

I hit the ground and roll repeatedly. My entire body hurts; it seems several of my ribs are broken.

But I'm alive. See?

"Shiki, Shiki—!!"

I can hear Sion's voice. Yes, the future that arrived one second later was survival; I won the gamble.

"………………"

The man, in contrast, stares intently at his severed arm.

It’s true that I couldn't move my entire body to dodge, but I barely had enough time to move my arm and sever his.

The result of cutting off his arm with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception before his fist reached me has snatched this future.

"—Hmm, my arm was taken. Good, the physical technique has been reproduced well. I never expected to borrow the form of an Executor, but this is good. I'm surprised by your trick, but since Tohno Shiki is already combat-incapable, there's no problem at all."

As the price of survival, I can no longer move.

I succeeded in severing his arm before his fist touched me, but the fist struck my chest before the severed arm fell off. The force was reduced, but it was more than enough to inflict a fatal blow on my fragile body.

Currently, my vision is distorted, and my thoughts are slowing down. Even breathing is painful, and the sensation of the cold ground drawing away my body heat is progressing.

"Then, I will deliver the finishing blow."

The man walks toward me. Meanwhile, I can’t even stand up.

"You won't."

My blurry vision is stained purple.

No, Sion has stepped forward, shielding me from the man.

"Hmm, I don't understand. As an alchemist, you should attempt to escape from this situation. Isn't running away while Tohno Shiki is the target the most rational choice, Sion?"

"I am a magus, and although I may have fallen because of you, I am a noble who values honor, TATARI."

Due to my blurred senses, I feel as if I am listening as a third party, despite being directly involved. It makes me involuntarily think, A noble who values honor, huh? Sion is an Ojou-sama (lady) just like Akiha.

"No, that's not right. You speak of honor, but the truth is different. Yes, just like the sense of incongruity you feel about yourself, you are deceiving yourself. With a body that can no longer turn back and an enemy that can never be defeated, are you not already giving up and seeking a place to die?"

"What are you saying, TATARI! Shut your babbling mouth!!"

I caught a few important words. TATARI—that seems to be the vampire's name. And I could tell that the relationship between TATARI and Sion is deeply rooted.

"High-speed thought—Agh!?"

"Just sending out malicious information, and you're already like this."

Sion deployed Etherlite, but she seems to have been attacked by TATARI and is now on her knees on the ground, breathing heavily.

She probably can't fight. It looks like this is truly the end—

"Checkmate here. What a disappointment, Sion. Since you've been pursuing me for years, I was excited to see what methods you'd use to defeat me, but I am truly disappointed."

TATARI makes no effort to hide his disappointment.

Ordinarily, I would be attacking him for his remarks, but I can't move.

"Farewell, Tohno Shiki. And what a pity, my descendant, Sion. Die together happily here for the realization of my Sixth Magic."

The vampire declared this, aiming his Black Keys at me and Sion.

I can't die in a place like this; I can't extinguish the life that Akiha and Sensei saved.

My head understands this, but my body can't move a single finger.

In contrast, Sion stands in front of me, spreading her arms to protect me, forcing her trembling legs to stand.

It's a meaningless act. I can see the future where the Black Keys pierce both Sion and me. I know she has no strategy to overcome this situation. And even if Sion shields me, we will both still die here.

"Then, the curtain closes."

Just like Ciel-senpai, the vampire throws the Black Keys. I don't need to be told; the future that will arrive in a few seconds is the sight of Sion and me being impaled. I have no power to change that future now, and all I can do is silently accept it.

—How pathetic.

Immediately after, a fierce metallic clang echoed around us.

All the Black Keys aimed at us were blocked by other Black Keys flying in from the side.

"Just in the nick of time, Tohno Shiki, Sion Eltnam Atlasia."

For a moment, Senpai's name came to mind, but that's wrong. Instead, I heard a voice very similar to the vampire I was confronting.

"Hmm... I never thought I would have to fight myself."

"No, but you should favor such an event, Kirei Kotomine?"

"...Heh, you know everything, vampire."

I hear the conversation through my distorted vision. The two seem to be the same person as the vampire, but he doesn't seem to be an enemy.

Because, look.

"Tohno-kun!"

"Shiki! Shiki!"

It was the person who was with Ciel-senpai and Satsuki. I feel terrible for worrying the two of them, and I want to apologize, but my mouth won't move.

And it's not just the two of them. My sister Akiha, Kohaku-san, Hisui-san, and Arcueid. Everyone must be worried—I am truly so pathetic.

"Alright... I can cover you with first aid! Yumizuka-san, you handle the healing, and I will deal with TATARI!"

"Understood, first the bleeding, and the bones..."

But I survived. So, I will apologize fully later. Akiha and Arcueid are scary when they're angry, but since this was my carelessness, I will accept their wrath.

I feel bad, but I'll leave TATARI to the two of them.

Right now, I'm just a little, sleepy.