Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Sir Wilhelm, are you serious?"

Time and again, Crusch was shocked and her face was full of sorrow as she looked at Wilhelm with bitterness.

No matter how talented Hachiman Hikigaya is, how could he possibly have progressed to a level comparable to the Sword Demon in just three years?

Compared to Hachiman-sama's refusal to submit to her command, and even his willingness to turn his sword against her, Crusch has now shed that numbness and despair. She is now filled with panic and fear that something might happen to Hachiman-sama.

“This…” Wilhelm thought for a moment, then sincerely reassured her, “Please rest assured, Lord Crusch, I’m sure I will show some mercy.”

"That would be best."

Crusch shook her head and sighed bitterly. If she had known that her future might involve everyone beating up Hachiman Hikigaya, she would have preferred not to see it at all; at least then she could have some hope to imagine.

"……oh!"

Unlike Crusch's worries in the other world, in Class D of Advanced Education High School, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's eyes lit up, and he became excitedly focused, "Let me see your ability in direct combat. Although you are good at strategy, necessary physical self-defense methods are also indispensable."

He never thought that Hachiman Hikigaya was a weakling in martial arts. The reason why his strength was relatively low in the official history was because he simply didn't have enough time to train.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji would only speculate about what level Hachiman Hikigaya had reached, rather than thinking about "whether he could" or "whether he could do it." After all, that was an opponent he respected, someone he admired.

Now that things have come to this, he has gained all sorts of feelings because of Hachiman Hikigaya. How could such a worthy opponent not be good enough?

"Clang!"

"The moment Hachiman Hikigaya drew his sword, Wilhelm was like a powerful wild leopard. The force of his thigh muscles caused the paving stones under his feet to sink dozens of centimeters into the ground. His speed was so fast that he was almost a blur, making it impossible for anyone to catch his eye and leaving them dazzled."

"With unparalleled technical beauty, the longsword transformed into a killing light and shadow, slashing down with fierce momentum along with the whistling air. However, what it touched was not Hachiman Hikigaya's fragile neck, but the equally indestructible steel."

"The piercing sound of clashing weapons reached his ears, and a smile of satisfaction and relief visibly spread across Wilhelm's lips."

"It seems I really am getting old."

"After three years of sparring, your various attacking habits have long been etched into my subconscious"—Hachiman Hikigaya thought to himself without saying a word.

"He can't fight Wilhelm by brute force; that's impossible. Wilhelm can talk during a fight with ease, but if he dares to be so arrogant, his breathing will immediately become disordered once he opens his mouth, and he won't have enough oxygen in his lungs, and he will be defeated instantly."

"The parrying blade twisted at a tricky angle, striking the incoming weapon. Then, the sword light flashed, and Hachiman Hikigaya moved his feet. He was acting entirely with the goal of killing Wilhelm."

"Although I am so incompetent, I am not so incapable of seeing through such a direct sword light trajectory!"

"With his seasoned combat experience, Wilhelm pulled back his right hand and flicked his wrist at the last second when the sword tip was almost touching his nose. The hilt of the sword struck the blade, deflecting the attack and causing Hachiman Hikigaya's body to sway as well."

"Hasten caught off guard, Hachiman Hikigaya immediately shifted his entire body, his sword blade slicing through the air before slicing upwards and then clashing with his other blades. At the same time, Wilhelm delivered a powerful kick, which was blocked by a prepared elbow."

"Whether it's physical fitness, strength, experience, or technique, Hachiman Hikigaya is completely inferior. The only reason he can maintain a stalemate is because he's so familiar with Wilhelm that it subconsciously helps him."

"The powerful clanging sound and the dense clash of swords echoed incessantly in the courtyard, the wind overwhelming the air and creating a blank space."

"...If you're at a complete disadvantage in terms of physical fitness, strength, experience, or technique, then rely on the privileges of youth, utilize the advantages of youth, and switch to extraordinary speeds with all your endurance!"

"His arms were already aching terribly, but amidst the clash of swords, he managed to force an opening. Wilhelm's near-perfect sword circle showed a brief gap, and Hachiman Hikigaya charged in. He didn't need to consider the risks or whether it was a trap. Charge, charge! He just needed to seize the opportunity and charge straight in."

"What should I do if I encounter an enemy of Wilhelm's caliber, Julius?"

"Run away. Please run away, you can only run away, Hachiman-kun. Of course, if it's Mr. Wilhelm, then that's a different story."

"Because—"

"If the enemy is Wilhelm, then he's invincible from the start!"

"—Whoosh!"

"The sharp wind from the sword stung my hair, but the blade remained fixed above my head, never to fall any further."

"Wilhelm, who seemed to have become a statue, was unharmed in any vital area that could have been fatal or fatally wounded. Hachiman Hikigaya's blade failed to penetrate that fleeting gap in him."

"...However, if his sword were to fall, his arm, his thigh, he would surely suffer a serious injury."

"I lost."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's tone was exactly as expected, without the slightest hint of regret. He shrugged, as if he was about to sheath his sword."

"—Clang!"

"Wilheim's sword twirled in the air, and the end of the twirling blocked the final, full-force attack from Hachiman Hikigaya, who was holding both hands in a sneak attack."

"His wrist was trembling slightly. The power of this sword strike was immense; even the legendary Sword Demon would have to bear it."

"You are already an excellent knight, Lord Hachiman."

The old man, a smile playing on his lips, sighed with delight, gazing up at the moon. Suddenly, his hand loosened, and his heavy sword fell to the ground. He raised his hand to shield his head, lamenting, "It seems I am no match for you now. How pathetic. If you were in your current state, you could surely protect yourself anywhere in the world."

"Hachiman Hikigaya, having truly sheathed his sword and gently shook his head, stepped out of the courtyard without any hesitation; he was about to leave this mansion."

"...Help me apologize to Phyllis, Wilhelm."

"These were his last words in this mansion."

220. Crusch Route: The Best Knight of Revenge

The battle between Hachiman Hikigaya and Wilhelm came suddenly and ended just as abruptly.

Crusch glanced at Wilhelm, who had turned his face away, trying to avoid the situation and pretend nothing had happened, with a complicated expression. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she was too confused to say anything.

Anastasia confessed her feelings, and all sorts of people under her command took turns helping her; she just wanted to keep Hachiman-sama, but Wilhelm openly and brazenly let her go.

She had even worried that Wilhelm might go too far and felt sorry for her own Hachiman-sama beforehand, but what a joke!

"Anastasia, Anastasia, ah... sigh!"

If before it was merely annoyance and anger, now her mutterings are truly filled with hatred.

"Well, although he held back a bit, Wilhelm still used at least 80% of his strength. To be able to hold his own against Wilhelm at 80% strength for a while, in this timeline, Hachiman Hikigaya should be the strongest in the Lugnica Knights, besides Marcus and Julius."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji commented with satisfaction. Suddenly, on a whim, he threw several punches into the air with all his might. The sound of air being torn apart exploded, leaving Horikita Suzune and the others standing nearby dumbfounded.

"I can't beat Hachiman Hikigaya anymore, hehe, not bad, not bad at all, that's how it should be, give me more passion, give me more pressure to move forward, Hachiman Hikigaya."

Is this person a monster?!

In Class D, everyone, including the proud Koenji, felt their scalps tingle. This wasn't another world; this was Earth. Could normal Earthlings really be this powerful?

While high intelligence is understandable, this physical body is even more outrageous and unbelievable!

"Sister, sister, Mr. Wilhelm is a good man!"

"Rem, Rem, don't forget to get revenge on that disgusting cross-dresser!"

On the way, seeing her beloved safely pass through this ordeal, Rem breathed a huge sigh of relief, exchanged a glance with her sister, and revealed a cute smile.

"here you go!"

At the Shinomiya family residence, Kaguya Shinomiya cheered with joy. She supported Anastasia, while Crusch and Anastasia were polar opposites. The more miserable Crusch was, the happier she was.

"Damn it... Think of a way to make Hachiman change his mind, Crusch."

Miyuki Shirogane bit his finger, feeling a bit frustrated. His first choice was Emilia and Rem, the original couple, but in the main storyline, they were already in a strong position to win. In these different timelines, since even Anastasia could win, he certainly didn't want his favorite Crusch to fail.

"The earth dragon beneath him was galloping wildly, and at his waist was the sword Wilhelm had returned to him under the pretext of stopping him."

"The bruises on his face did not diminish Hachiman Hikigaya's imposing presence. He did not deliberately seek to say goodbye to Crusch, because he knew that he would definitely encounter this dashing king on the street or near the gates of the capital."

"His every move could not escape Crusch's intelligence network."

"...Thinking this through, however, what lay before him in the deserted and desolate city gate, in this area where an evacuation order had clearly been issued, was Julius, with purple hair, wearing the uniform of a knight, and with piercing eyes."

"This once-honored knight of Anastasia now serves under the new emperor of Lugnica."

"Please don't misunderstand, I'm not waiting here because of Lord Crusch's orders."

Julius smiled and said, "My presence here is of my own volition, Hachiman-kun."

"Stroking the docile earth dragon, Hachiman Hikigaya, who had just landed, tensed up, ready for battle at any moment. Just as he admired Crusch, he also greatly appreciated Julius's character, but that did not prevent him from preparing for the worst."

"I heard you're going back to live with Lady Emilia, is that right?"

"...I am going back to find Emilia, that's true." Hachiman Hikigaya rejected the second half of the sentence. He didn't think that he, who had betrayed her once, had any right to live with Emilia. At best, it could only be considered as going back to atone for his sins, to see her daily life with his own eyes, and to alleviate his unease.

"If that's all, I would send my blessings to you and Lady Emilia. However, according to Phyllis, you seem to have no intention of coming out again after returning, and you won't receive any guests. Is that right?"

"..."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's silence says it all."

Julius nodded slightly in understanding. "Is that so? I understand... Unfortunately, this was my own selfish decision."

He bowed slightly and apologized, "For the next few decades, I still wish to spend them with my dearest friend. Having failed in my efforts to assist Lady Anastasia, if I were to lose even my beloved friend, I would have nothing left."

"Now, I've relinquished the title of the best knight; I'm nothing more than a selfish and petty person. Let me start by trying to win back my dearest friend, by relearning the most basic knightly duty."

"I'm truly sorry for taking advantage of someone in their time of need."

"The polite conversation came to an end, and Julius, breathing slowly, slowly drew his blade, the weapon he used to fight his enemies. Now, for his own selfish reasons, he would clash with his trusted friend."

"Perhaps, this is also for revenge... revenge for making Lady Anastasia fail, for making Lady Anastasia disappointed and sad. It seems that I, who once called myself the best knight, am actually a shameless and despicable person."

"If you dare utter those self-deprecating nonsense again, I'll slap your face until it looks like I do now."

"The unique intimidation emanating from Hachiman Hikigaya startled Julius for a moment, and then, realizing what was happening, he couldn't help but give a wry smile."

"So, in your presence, I always seem so despicable and shameless... my dearest friend!"

""Come.""

"What Wilhelm just said is now being used by Hachiman Hikigaya."

"Thank you, Julius..."

"Julius leaps into the air, Hachiman Hikigaya leaps into the air."

Then, Crusch's strategist whispered in his heart, "Thank you, Wilhelm."

"Leave the study, leave the Karlsten mansion, leave the capital, leave Crusch's camp, leave everything Emilia fears."

"Now is the time to give it our all in order to achieve the third stage!"

"Bang—!"

221. Crusch Line - Reciprocity

"Passing five passes and slaying six generals, Cao Cao and Guan Yu, so that's how it is!"

At the Nakano residence, Nakano Miku, suddenly realizing what the sense of déjà vu she had been vaguely feeling all along was, finally understood.