The sky was gradually turning deep purple.
As if ink had smudged through the back of a paper, the stars were starting to appear in the sky. Right now, there were two or three lights. In another 10 minutes, the sky would likely be full of stars. The stars wouldn't start shining when it was night time, more accurately they were always shining, but didn't really stand out because of the sun. Thus, as the sky grew darker, the first class stars, second class, third class, and so on would all appear in the sky.
As the glow of the night sky was about to appear.
Oriana Thomson glanced around and saw the light of the flames that covered the slightly dark sky.
"STIYL!!"
Kamijou noticed this abnormal change as well, but the other person carried a smile that was different from Oriana, a cynical one, and without turning back, shouted out his own magic name. As if it was responding to him, the intensity of the light increased.
"!!"
Right now, Oriana was facing a pursuing Kamijou, as she continued to retreat. At this moment, the large humanoid figure got behind her, and made a sound that indicated that it was consuming oxygen. Its large orange arm swung down.
"This nee-chan…has no interest in getting tortured by a candle!!"
She moved aside, dodging Kamijou's fist, and using this movement, moved to Kamijou's right.
As if she was planning to use the boy as a shield, Oriana moved Kamijou around, using him to block the incoming flame god that was coming in from another side.
"…"
Stiyl, who was standing slightly farther away, frowned.
"Die together."
"WAAHHH!!"
Kamijou frantically backed away, and after that, Innocentius' right arm swung to the side. The abnormally long arm burned the back of Kamijou's hair, aiming towards Oriana's upper body.
Even though the boy was in a position where he would definitely be consumed by the flames.
"Wha…!!"
At the moment when a really surprised Oriana jumped back,
"THAT'S DANGEROUS, IDIOT!!"
This time, Kamijou swung a right hook at the giant flame god's right arm. The large arm was extinguished, but it then continued on in an abnormal manner.
3,000 degrees Celsius, hellish flames that would melt any skin on even the slightest contact.
(Ugh!!)
Even if she knew that it wouldn't hit her, Oriana's movements froze as the flames moved in an unexpected manner. In the meantime, Kamijou took a huge step and moved in front of her.
(Oh no…)
Just as Oriana was about to use her hand to block.
The fist that had all of Kamijou's weight on it was swung towards her defense. Because of the explosive sound just now, Oriana had no time to dodge. Numbness and pain could be felt in both her hands.
"!!"
Oriana thought, this was really bad.
Oriana, who would normally maintain this distance and fight back with magic or physical objects, didn't want this to become a simple grappling or punching match. Though she disliked the difference between genders, facing someone whose style of combat was to use his own fists, it was foolish for her as a female to fight physically when she normally fights intelligently.
Oriana was unable to interpret Kamijou's movements, so she continued to move backwards, as if she was bending her body back.
"Ash to ash, dust to dust. Squeamish Bloody Rood!!"
A new flame blew everything apart.
Stiyl, who was holding a red flame sword in the right hand, and a blue one in the left hand, rushed in fast to Kamijou's back.
(Oh no…!)
Oriana bit her tongue. Though being hit once or twice by the boy's fist wouldn't cause any critical injury, the flame swords were different. Their explosiveness was much more dangerous than their cutting capability, such that she would be reduced to nothing with even the slightest touch, not even her bones would be left.
(I should first settle that magician—)
Oriana's concentration moved from Kamijou to Stiyl.
"Eh…?"
Another one followed up.
As Stiyl continued to run, he tripped because of the debris on the asphalt floor.
"Go back home, you stinking magician!!"
Kamijou shouted as he extended his fist towards Oriana.
Oriana, who was stunned, immediately regained her concentration and protected her face.
"Shut up, amateur!"
Stiyl, who had fallen behind Kamijou, knocked the flame sword onto the ground. With a loud explosive sound, a large and strong gust surged forward like a wall. Kamijou, feeling the pressure come in from behind, lost his balance and missed his target.
The fist passed through the gap in Oriana's defense.
It hit somewhere slightly below the face—the middle of her chest.
Dong! It sounded like someone stamping hard onto the ground.
"Ke…Ah…AHHHHHH!!"
Oriana's breathing was interrupted, as she backed off and fell. She couldn't breathe properly as she continued to roll backwards, trying to maintain the distance. She wanted to tear a flashcard, but her mouth was trembling so much that she couldn't do it properly.
It was a direct hit.
The reason was simple, because she couldn't anticipate Kamijou and Stiyl's movements.
If they were just working individually, Oriana would definitely read them, lure them, counter them, and win without even a scratch.
But—
"Innocentius!"
Stiyl gave the instructions, and the giant flame god continued to advance. Just as Oriana was about to turn around and dodge, Stiyl moved in from behind and chanted a new spell.
"Kenaz (Flames). Purisaz Naupiz (A gift of pain for)—"
This was the spell that he needed to chant in order to create his main weapon, the flame sword. Just as Stiyl was about to pass by Kamijou, however,
"Stop blocking, idiot!"
"How about you get aside!!"
The duo's teamwork rating was 0, as both their powers were obstructing each other. But their messy movements were still directed at Oriana.
(I can't read them…!?)
She finally tore a flashcard after much difficulty and blocked the flame sword with the ice sword that she created. However, Kamijou knocked into Stiyl's back, and was absolutely merciless towards his own ally. No matter what, it looked like he was attacking Stiyl. With this increase in force, Oriana heavily bent backwards. At this moment, the flame sword that Stiyl continued to use broke.
It was one thing if they were just assisting each other, but in this situation, they were basically pulling each other down. It was like getting involved in their own battle. However, this made it harder to read.
As both sides weren't targeting Oriana, she couldn't tell when the real attack would come. The timing was extremely tight, it was like a bullet bouncing about in a small and enclosed room.
"WOOOHH…!!"
Oriana, who was still backpedalling, continued to swing her ice sword amidst this chaos.
She was aiming for Stiyl's waist.
However, this wasn't the real target. Even if the enemy could dodge the ice sword, she could instantly manipulate the ice particles and assimilate them into a sword, and redirect it in the direction where Stiyl dodged. In this situation, Oriana's wrists could no longer withstand the sudden change in center of gravity, and she nearly broke her wrists.
(Anyway, I have to hit you! Let this nee-chan's move render you weak on the waist!!)
The ice sword was attacking at a terrifying pace, piercing towards Stiyl's waist.
Just before that.
"!!"
Kamijou, who was behind, got in front and blocked the ice sword with his right hand. In an instant, Oriana's weapon was destroyed.
(Normally...they would be arguing. But to think that they would be helping each other even now?)
Before she could even express her surprise, Kamijou and Stiyl were already prepared to make their next move.
Kamijou Touma was bending low, readying his right hand.
Behind him, Stiyl Magnus was also clenching his fist.
Maybe both parties had no plans at all,
But this was a partnership formed by blind attacks on each other.
—Both of them were working together, launching their attacks at the same time.
Kamijou and Stiyl's fist were coming at the same time.
Oriana Thomson thought about which side should she be blocking, and responded too late.
Bonk!
Being punched in the face and abdomen, Oriana's body strongly flew back.
"Eh…ack…!!"
She slammed into the ground hard. She felt that she was showing an extremely ugly movement as she was knocked down. She couldn't breathe properly, her balance was unstable, and the strength was now gone from her legs.
In this blurry vision, Oriana saw it.
They were coming in from the front.
Obviously, she knew what the 'enemies' now would do if she was to let her guard down. Even if she knew this, Oriana couldn't get up due to the impact she had suffered. Her confused brain was unable to issue commands to her weak and powerless body.
(I lost…?)
She saw the flashcards which were attached to the metal ring, drop in front of her.
The flashcards which signified her power.
(I've…already…lost…?)
This fact made her hands even weaker. Amidst this blurry consciousness, she intended to hand her body over to this weakness that was striking like waves.
(The…solution, what would happen…)
A certain thing caught Oriana's attention, which was gradually heading towards darkness.
A doubt that she had repeated for countless times.
Oriana thought about it. She almost vomited it out, but swallowed it again.
She again reaffirmed the bitterness of that question.
(This…nee-chan…wishes…for an absolute solution…)
Regarding Oriana's actions, everyone had different views about them. Some were thankful, and some would leave in vengeance. What should she do? To not get the answer when she was troubled. Everyone had different views about it, what an individual did, somebody else would perceive it differently. No matter how firmly Oriana believed in her rules, not everyone would accept it, which would cause differences.
In this world, there was nothing that was absolutely correct.
As long as everyone had their own thoughts, this would happen.
(No matter whether it's the emperor, pope, president, fuhrer, prime minister, it doesn't matter. I want to fight for others…)
It was not that she didn't want to know the answer.
It was because there was no answer, that she decided to create her own answer.
An answer that nobody would doubt.
An answer that everyone would be satisfied with.
(I want to win…)
Oriana extended her trembling hand forward.
So she had been working hard till now. If so, what was Oriana doing here?
(…So, give me a clear guide. To be able to let everyone be happy, being able to avoid creating conflict due to the differences in values, I want such a wonderful world!!)
She again repeated this wish of hers.
Oriana opened her eyes.
The blood flowed into her head. Due to this reaction, her heart started to beat.
(I want to win…)
Oriana extended her trembling hand to the ground.
Her feet couldn't move, she couldn't support her own weight. Thus, she did something much simpler and yet more effective.
(I want to win, I want to create an answer! My…my name is—)
The flashcards attached to the gold ring were on the ground.
Oriana Thomson again grabbed the weapon which she had once let go of.
"—BASIS104, "FROM THE FOUNDATION TO CARRY"!!"