Vortigern once again faced something she could not comprehend.
In her long life of six thousand years, she had not been unfamiliar with things she could not understand, but this time, she faced it twice in a row.
—Naoki who continued to fight her even though he knew he was at a disadvantage and in absolute dire straits.
—Naoki who should have been dead but rose again and launched a suicidal attack on her.
Incomprehensible.
Truly incomprehensible.
Why could he go this far?
*CLANG!*
The Holy Sword and the Fairy Sword clashed. The blade of light condensed by Mana shattered in one attack. The broken fragments were swallowed and engulfed by countless swarms of insects, turning into food for Vortigern.
This was a scene that had been staged many times.
The light of the Holy Sword was no longer anything to fear. No matter how many attacks came, she could destroy and swallow them. The Holy Sword user was no match for her—Vortigern was absolutely convinced of this.
But why?
"Haaah—!"
Accompanied by Naoki Number Two's angry shout, the re-formed blade of light was swung again!
Why?
Controlling the swarm of insects to swallow the light of the Holy Sword, Vortigern asked in a loud voice: "Why haven't you fallen yet! Holy Sword Bearer?"
Mana was continuously swallowed, the Holy Sword was continuously swallowed, and power was continuously swallowed.
Despite having everything swallowed, Naoki did not hesitate to burn his life to stand up again, facing total engulfment for the second time—why was he doing this self-destructive thing?
Why could he still continue to fight? Why wasn't he afraid? Wasn't he afraid of truly dying? Know that every Mana he used now was converted from the burning of his own life! If he continued to let that Mana be swallowed by her, he would surely die!
"Answer my question! Holy Sword Bearer!"
"Why!"
Countless swarms of insects poured out from behind Vortigern's skirt, transforming into a storm, besieging and sweeping Naoki Number Two from all directions. The pitch-black tornado frantically compressed the space around Naoki Number Two!
"Why?"
Naoki Number Two smiled faintly. After focusing Mana into the Holy Sword, he forcefully slashed a crescent moon in one direction! The emitted blade of light instantly made one storm shift from its original course!
Immediately breaking free from the opening, Naoki Number Two shot towards Vortigern—
*CLANG!*
Behind the Fairy Sword, which was being held by the Holy Sword, Naoki Number Two looked at Vortigern: "Who knows? Why I can't fall, why I can still stand, why I must continue to fight—I don't know any of those things at all!"
There was only one thing Naoki Number Two knew: to complete what the Main Body asked before his existence completely vanished.
After all, he was an individual who should not exist. If he had not been awakened, he should have slept until the moment he disappeared, and perhaps would not even have realized that he had disappeared.
But now, though not of his own will, he was asked for help. So, do his best before the deadline arrives.
As for Vortigern's question, if it were the original Naoki, he might have said—
"I only know, that at least right now I absolutely cannot lose to you before my eyes!"
*ZING!*
The Holy Sword unleashed a dazzling light at zero range!
(The last light of a dying person before their death)—This thought suddenly crossed Vortigern's mind.
(Useless! Just a dying struggle. I will still just swallow light like this!)
Swarms of insects poured out from behind Vortigern, biting the Holy Sword's light like a giant python, tearing, destroying, and swallowing it bit by bit until it was gone!
The situation was the same as before.
Although the operator had changed, the power difference between Naoki and Vortigern was not something that could be resolved merely by a change of person. Compatibility was the most fatal thing, and in the compatibility relationship between the two, Vortigern completely overwhelmed Naoki. Even due to the field conditions, she also directly blocked Naoki's trump card.
"It's over. This time it's truly over, Holy Sword Bearer."
Swallowing the last light, Vortigern looked at the Holy Sword, which had returned to being completely dim, and Naoki, whose body looked withered like an old man, controlling the swarm of insects to raise the Fairy Sword high.
This time, she would not kick him down. To ensure her victory, completely destroying his body felt more reassuring.
"Goodbye."
The Fairy Sword slashed down boldly!
Seeing the sword blade rapidly enlarging in her eyes, Naoki Number Two felt a slight relief in his heart.
(All power has been swallowed. With this, everything has been conveyed to you, Main Body.)
(Vortigern doesn't know, but I know, you are still fighting inside her body. So I cooperated with you to give you all the power—my task is done. Although it wasn't the task of stalling for time, this is the same, right?)
(Although for two thousand four hundred years I kept hating you, kept harboring resentment towards you, honestly, when I met you again, all my feelings disappeared. It turns out humans really can't be that cruel, hating themselves from the bottom of their hearts.)
(So...)
Although he didn't even have the strength to smile, Naoki Number Two still tried to move the corner of his mouth.
(The rest, I leave to you.)
*CRACK!*
A cracking sound suddenly echoed in Naraku's space.
The Fairy Sword suddenly stopped in mid-air. Vortigern's triumphant expression froze on her face, and quickly vanished, replaced by slowly dawning disbelief.
*CRACK!*
A cracking sound was heard once again. Vortigern hurriedly held her arm, as if trying to hold something back.
But—
*CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!*
Cracking sounds continuously emanated from her. Countless cracks appeared and spread across the surface of her body. And from those gaping cracks like wounds, streams of light like blood flowed out, then all flowed back into Naoki's body, refilling life and strength into that withered body. Visibly restoring his vitality.
And then—
*BAM!*
A powerful Shoryuken punch was launched!
Vortigern, who was at a very close distance, had no time to dodge at all. Her jaw was instantly shattered, and her entire body was sent flying far away, soaring through the air for almost a hundred meters!
"Thank you for your hard work."
Amidst this low voice, Naoki lowered his fist, bent down and picked up the dimmed Holy Sword, making it shine again for the third time. At the same time, his entire body emanated a brilliant white platinum light, instantly illuminating the entire dark Naraku!
Power returned completely.
Light shone again.
Life that had been burned to mere dregs, instantly rekindled with the return of everything.
"Come on, let's start our third round, Vortigern."
"This is the final round."
"As you said, this will be completely over."