A holy aura drifted out from the tear in space and wrapped itself around the Ascalon that Xenovia held. “—! While keeping Durandal locked up in the space!? You’re taking out only its holy aura!”
Shinra-senpai was shocked as she understood. Xenovia smiled. “Yeah, I was suggested an interesting way to use Durandal. I somehow managed to achieve it in my training. Now, I can use it more than sufficiently.”
Buchou and Azazel-sensei had also highly regarded Xenovia’s Durandal. At the same time, they felt that it was wasteful that she couldn’t control the sword. Durandal was a holy sword that boasted a tremendous sharpness. Therefore, when its owner couldn’t control it, it became an assassin’s blade. In reality, Xenovia used Durandal, but it was also a fact that she was also considerably tossed about by its destructive power. She may become able to control it eventually. However, until then it was also dangerous to simply swing such an assassin’s blade recklessly. Therefore, sensei had an idea. “Can you not release only Durandal’s aura from the separate space? You could then clad it on Ascalon or a holy sword that Kiba creates.”
I was also wonderstruck by such an amazing idea of using Ascalon and my swords like this. Durandal was simply kept in that space and it continuously emitted its mighty holy aura. Only the aura was taken out from the separate space and the power was poured onto other swords. It wasn’t Durandal itself, but a power equal to its own was limitlessly poured onto a different sword. That—was the new power of the Ascalon that Xenovia held in her hands. The Fallen Angel Governor Azazel. He had showed all these possibilities to us. Such a fallen angel had been our enemy. I was delighted that he was now on our side. Xenovia attacked her opponent with Ascalon + Durandal’s aura! Giin! Giiiiiiiin! Silver light and sparks flashed in the darkness of the parking lot. The skill and sword possessed by the [Knight] Meguri-san were quite special, but she was gradually being cornered by Xenovia’s speed and power! “Take this!”
Not overlooking an instant of opening, Xenovia instantly cornered her opponent! She had got her! But, there was someone who stepped into the space between them—the [Rook] Yura-san! As she put out both of her hands in front of her—. “Reverse!”
Xenovia let out her attack, but the holy aura had disappeared and changed into a demonic aura! Xenovia’s slash became an attack trapped by momentum, and in that moment her sword was caught by Yura-san and flicked away. Yura-san tried to pursue her in that state, but Xenovia regained her balance and avoided her kick. Gasshaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! The kick blew away several cars with its force. A direct hit would be dangerous. I had become speechless from the phenomenon just now. A holy aura become a demonic aura!? Yura-san had called out “reverse”. In other words, she transformed a holy aura into a demonic aura? Was that Yura-san’s ability? Or a Sacred Gear? I didn’t understand the reason for it, but this was troublesome. It was a kind of those so-called counters. It’s a special case, but it would be bad if that counter was used while Yura-san and Meguri-san worked together. Ascalon’s holy power was reversed and turned into demonic power. Only ordinary damage would be given to a devil from demonic power. Since a devil’s origin was from demonic magic. It became just an ordinary slash. Xenovia also possesses incredible skills, but her battling would be disturbed because she had trained and fought based on holy swords. If she received a counter, even Xenovia would fall. …Well done, Sitri group. If it’s like this—. “Xenovia! Switch with me!”
By my shout, me and Xenovia switched places and exchanged our respective opponents. This was fine. With my holy demonic swords, the effect of their “reverse” would have no meaning. Because there was nothing to reverse when the power of holy and demonic were blended together. Yura-san also didn’t display her “reverse” stance, and she started to attack me along with Meguri-san. Next to us, Xenovia and Shinra-senpai had started slashing at each other. Xenovia’s furious attacks were intense and at last she managed to corner Shinra-senpai in front of a wall! —She had her! Xenovia, decide it instantly like that! As if my thoughts were transmitted to her, Xenovia raised Ascalon and entered a posture for the finishing strike! She can do it! If we take out the [Queen], the whole situation will become considerably easier! “With this—this match is decided!”
As Xenovia swung down the sword at Shinra-senpai and dealt a direct hit—at that instant. “—Sacred Gear, [Mirror Alice].”
A huge ornamented mirror appeared in front of Shinra-senpai! Xenovia’s slash continued without stopping and crushed the mirror. Zuooooooooooooooooon! “—! ?”
A wave was released from the broken mirror and attacked Xenovia! With a bewildered expression on her face, Xenovia spurted out blood all over the place. “When this mirror is destroyed, the impact on it is doubled and returned to the opponent. —I am a counter-user. Kiba Yuuto-kun, it was a mistake to send the Power-type Xenovia-san against me.”
Shinra-senpai gave a sneer. “Gahah!”
Lying on the road surface, Xenovia coughed out blood from her mouth in apparent pain. —They got us! Her ability was different from what I had heard. Had she accomplished change and growth and attained a new ability!? “The only one remaining is Kiba Yuuto. You’re the only one left.”
The three of them approached me. I picked up Xenovia and then swiftly hid myself within the shadows nearby. I placed Xenovia in the shadow of a car and took out the medical supplies we had gotten at the drugstore a short while before. We had completely lost just now. That she would station two counter-users here… It seemed that Sona-kaichou intended to completely crush us first. So she had naturally predicted that we would be the likely attackers. Certainly, they were a threat to just us who were quick on our feet and users of holy swords. Kaichou had supplemented for their respective weaknesses by having them team up against us and spurred us to use power. —Had she predicted everything to this point? Xenovia… was in serious condition. She had received double the power of Durandal and Ascalon. If Shinra-senpai’s Sacred Gear was a type that countered holy attacks perfectly, it would be an instant retire for us. If it was handled poorly, Xenovia could have died. With these injuries, her withdrawal from the battlefield won’t be long now. She’ll completely retire with the next attack. Buchou was the one who had the “Phoenix Tears”. We couldn’t use healing techniques here either. Xenovia grasped my hand as I treated her and spoke. “…Abandon me, Kiba. I’ll disappear from this place anyway when I retire soon because of these injuries.”
But I took my hand away from hers and continued treating her. “Yeah, I know that. But, you know, I promised that I wouldn’t abandon an ally so easily.”
“…How soft.