Manowa - Chapter 365

Then Jinrai finally understood. He understood what that being in front of him was……

「In short, you’re my enemy?」

「That’s right, I’m your enemy.」

Jinrai remembered that right arm. Even if he didn’t remember that face, he wouldn’t forget the arm that used to be with him. Even if it was dyed black, he wouldn’t mistake the arm he could see through the gaps in the armor.

He didn’t understand the reason, but Jinrai could somehow understand that the being in front of him was another version of himself. That reason was『sufficient』. The thing that was stolen had returned. In that case, there was no choice but to take it back.

「Yumika, I’ll take on this guy. Can I leave that dragon to you?」

Jinrai whispered, and even though Yumika groaned, she nodded. She didn’t understand the true character of the old Jinrai before her eyes, but she could somehow understand that his strength was equal to the Jinrai currently by Yumika’s side. Yumika also thought that in that case, they shouldn’t let him and the dragon fight alongside each other.

「If the situation gets bad, we’ll run away.」

「That’s fine. Please do it.」

Jinrai agreed to his disciple’s words and went forward.

「Well then.」

「Let’s kill each other.」

Then both Jinrais started running. They simultaneously positioned their two spears and simultaneously thrust their two spears.

The tips of their spears collided, and their Fighting Spirits also collided, generating shock waves. The ground cracked when it was struck by those shock waves, and window glass started breaking around them.

The two Jinrais at the center smiled at each other with their canines exposed. Those were the smiles of carnivores eager to devour each other, mutually rejoicing that their prey had leapt toward them.

Then the black dragon Hagasu rapidly passed by that confrontation. She didn’t plan to steal her master’s prey, but it seemed she was planning to『dispose of the leftovers』.

「Hey, Jinrai-kun!?」

When the double Jinrais suddenly started fighting and the Black Dragon Hagasu approached, all members of the White Party in the place were flustered; Louise raised her voice, but they didn’t have the leeway to care about that.

「Black Dragon Hagasu…… there’s no way it’s the genuine article, right?」

『No, but…』

Tiara and Mefirus’ words aroused tension in the people around them. The size of the dragon before their eyes was smaller than they had heard from the legend, but aside from that, it certainly looked exactly like the Black Dragon Hagasu who once existed. However, while that might be true, that didn’t mean they would be killed without doing anything. Right now, they needed to pragmatically deal with her. And while watching the dragon, Yumika called out to everyone.

「Ahーdammit, everyone move back. Jin-san, go forward. Louise-san, Tiara, please support us.」

『Leave it to me!!!』

「Roger!」

「Ok!」

Then Yumika and Jin Bahar started running. Aiming to split the enemy’s attention, Tiara scattered her Flame Knights around the area. Louise started resummoning her Lightning Sphere to join the battle. It would be different if Zacks and the others had anti-dragon equipment, but unfortunately, they weren’t useful fighting power at the present point. While being on guard for devil Hirukos, they started protecting the rearguard.

However, perhaps due to seeing Louise and the others start to take action, the black dragon took a deep breath, expanding her dewlap.

(Not good!?)

Yumika shuddered. She was confident that if it was just her, she would be able to avoid it, but the rearguard weren’t far enough away yet. If fire was breathed at them now, it might reach them.

「Jin-san, do you have some technique to defend against Breath?」

「No.」

After Jin Bahar’s brazen response, Yumika scratched her head, and immediately after she thought about using her Complete Wolf Transformation,

「Leave it to me.」

She heard a voice from above.

Then, the dragon’s black hellfire raced down the city street, and immediately after…

It was cut.

「Huh?!」

Yumika’s eyes opened wide. The same was true for Tiara, Zacks, and the rest. Then an old man jumped off a roof ahead of them and landed on the ground.

「Ougi-san!?」

Seeing the old man Ougi, Yumika raised her voice. It was partially due to his sudden appearance, but it was also because the old man in front of her had just slashed Breath. Just like she heard from Jinrai, it seemed he was a swordsman who was unusually skillful with a katana.

「GUGyaAAAAA!?」

After the flames were sliced, they spread to the surroundings; Hagasu was engulfed in her own flames and screamed as she tumbled. With a sidelong glance at that, Ougi turned towards Yumika.

「Yo, Yumika-san. Kazane-san isn’t with you?」

And while calling out to Yumika, Ougi’s expression was unchanged from when they met earlier. While being vigilant of Hagasu, Yumika replied to Ougi.

「Ah, yes. We were on our way to Kazane.」

「Hmm. Well, now doesn’t seem to be the time for that.」

Ougi replied to Yumika’s words, then,

「Incoming!」

「Ahーcome on!?」

To avoid the dragon arm swinging down from above, both jumped away from that spot.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

「Alright, around here should be fine.」

『Well, as long as we aren’t directly hit by that Breath, we should be able to manage somehow.』

「Oh my, Anglais-sama and Elizabeth.」

Behind where Yumika and Ougi were fighting against Black Dragon Hagasu, Anglais and Elizabeth joined Tiara and the other rearguard members.

「Yo, Tiara-san. Ladies and gentlemen, good day to you. Would you allow me to stay here with you all?」

「Ye, yeah. But, it’s dangerous?」

Tiara said, but in front of her, Anglais shook his head while denying her words.

「I’m sorry to say that this is the safest place in the city right now. The mansion is also overflowing with Hirukos.」

『Besides, if the dragon and man in front of us are the culprits of this incident, isn’t it likely that we’ll end up killed in the end unless we gather our war potential and defeat them?』

「It would be tough for Ougi alone.」

While saying that, Anglais’ gaze turned toward the dragon.

「Hm. Black Dragon Hagasu…’s summoned body? Compared to the legend, she feels considerably inferior, however.」

Anglais’ merchant eyes evaluated.

「You know?」

Tiara, who had trembled after recognizing it was Black Dragon Hagasu, asked Anglais anxiously.

「Yes, of course. I’ve seen paintings and statues of Hagasu several times, and I understand the states of dragons to a certain extent. Well, judging from appearances, she should be somewhere in between an Adult Dragon and a God Dragon. Naturally, she’s not an opponent we can be careless against.」

Anglais’ gaze turned to Ougi and Yumika, who were farther ahead.

「However, with the『Katana God』and『Bloody Berserker』together, won’t we be able to manage somehow?」

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

And at the same time that the battle between Yumika’s group and Hagasu started, sparks were scattering in the city due to the clashes of two men.

「Gunu!」

「NuooO!!」

They looked just like a storm as they freely flitted about in the gaps between the houses while thrusting and slashing at each other. The people who were running about to try and escape were dumbfounded as they watched.

「Is that your newly obtained artificial arm? It has power, but it’s rough!」

「Such things can be compensated for in other ways, so that’s fine.」

The battle between Jinrai and Old Jinrai had already moved quite far away from the dragon into the alleyways.

Their abilities were evenly matched. Though with that said, they were both still feeling each other out. Old Jinrai’s physical specs surpassed those of humans, while Jinrai’s prosthetic arm and its auxiliary arms surpassed Old Jinrai, so the situation was truly an ebb and flow.

「Grr. Those little arms are restlessly moving. Are you a spider!?」

Old Jinrai showed his annoyance at the auxiliary arms, which absorbed the shocks when Jinrai landed and assisted his movements as he flitted between the houses, but after being told that, Jinrai couldn’t keep silent.

「Stop fussing. You’re also being enhanced by that armor, right?」

Old Jinrai laughed after Jinrai spoke.

「You noticed?」

「That armor and those spears are made from Black Dragon Hagasu’s materials, aren’t they? That’s why you were able to summon that dragon.」

Without responding to Jinrai’s words, Old Jinrai smiled. In other words, he was smiling affirmatively. Jinrai knew that armor made from monster materials enhanced the body and could even allow one to summon something. Therefore, it didn’t take long for him to understand.

「Though compared to the original, that one’s abilities are much lower.」

「I don’t know where you obtained that, but it’s too powerful for you. Right here, I’ll quickly defeat you, the master, and make that dragon exit the stage!」

After Jinrai shouted that, Old Jinrai smiled and assumed a stance with his spears. It was at that time.

「What?」

「Mu!?」

It was only for an instant, but something passed by in the sky. It was something that looked like a single sword. And Jinrai, who noticed at the same time as Old Jinrai, smiled at him.

「Hmm. It looks like everyone’s assembled?」

「What are you talking about?」

Old Jinrai asked questioningly, and Jinrai smiled even wider.

「Well now. That means I mustn’t lose either.」

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King, Liberator

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor (True), Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, White Magic Accumulator (Revised) ×2, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring, Angel Bracelet

Level : 38

Health: 152+20

Magic Power: 340+520

Strength: 72+45

Agility: 78+39

Endurance: 43+20

Wisdom : 75

Dexterity : 51

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』『Rabbit Speed』『Flare Mirage』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior’s Memory: Lv2』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog’s Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv4』『Aegis Shield』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition: Lv2』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『High Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Devil King’s Intimidation』『Stone Minotaur: Lv2』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-Silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur: Lv2』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』『Boost』『Monkey’s Strong Arm』『Two-sword Style』『Boobies Plus』『Living Armor』『Alarm』『Six-sword Style』『Mental Attack Complete Protection』『Spider Web』『Wire Cutter』『Flexible』

Yumika: 「Anglais-san said that with a smug face, but it might be a little tough this time.」

Kazane: 「Do your best.」

Yumika: 「Eh?」

Kazane: 「ShibiShibi…」