My youth story cannot be a knight war

【"——Daguba!!!"】

43. Pegasus Ascension Arrow (6K)

[At the same time, in a forest somewhere in Nagano Prefecture.]

A strange white mist spread through the pitch-black woods. Many insects and small animals that originally inhabited the woods fled in panic before the mist reached them. Clouds of pitch-black crows flapped their wings and flew out, their unpleasant cries echoing throughout the surrounding area, a kilometer or so away.

Undoubtedly, the sixth sense of danger, developed through long-term survival in nature, enabled these animals to sense the approaching deadly danger. The fear of death embedded in their DNA took control of their bodies at this moment. Even the newly hatched chicks frantically tried to escape the protective nest, hoping to escape the terrifying threat.

A wheezing sound like a demonic wind drifted closer, and a massive black shadow loomed in the white mist. With each tread of its paws, the trampled weeds turned pitch black after its feet left their path, then spontaneously combusted without fire.

As the figure advanced, a trail of grayish-white footprints, left behind by the burning weeds, was left behind. Like the representative of death, everything in its path spun into silence, its life swiftly stripped from everything.

“Number Zero…!”

Looking at the familiar figure that appeared again on the screen, Zaimokuza clutched the clothes on his left chest with his right hand and called out the other party's code name word by word.

No matter it was the video or the light screen, from the beginning until now, every time this figure appeared, Zaimokuza always felt as if his heart was being pinched by a cold claw. The cold breath penetrated his bones, but another opposite heat was burning in his blood. The contradiction was beyond words, and he could not find words to describe this strange feeling.

It was not until recently, after "Yukinoshita Yukino" deduced the possible close connection between Kuuga and Zero, that Zaimokuza finally understood what the name of this feeling was.

The name of this feeling is fate.

The ethics of the Gurongi are completely different from those of humans. For them, although the connection between bloodlines is not important, what really matters is the source of each other's power. But if Kuuga is really a warrior created by the ancient Rindo to imitate the Zero, and part of the materials used to create Kuuga came from the Zero, then from this perspective, "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" and the unidentified life form No. 0, there is probably no existence in the world now that is more closely connected than these two.

"Brothers", this title can be applied to these two people without any sense of incongruity.

They have the same source of power, almost identical identity totems, and even the power they possess and the distribution of enhanced nerves in their bodies may be the same. The only difference is their identity.

One turned into a Gurongi but insisted on fighting these terrifying monsters to the death in order to protect everyone's smile. He is the strongest guardian of the human side so far; the other released all the Gurongi with his own hands, bringing pain and terror to mankind, spreading death and despair in modern times, and is the culprit of all disasters.

The peculiar connection and the positions between the two determine that these two closest people in the world are as far apart as the two poles of a planet. There is only one name that can describe them.

Enemies, this is the best summary of the relationship between Kuuga and Zero.

Zaimokuza has never been so sure that in the future he and Zero will eventually meet on the battlefield. Whether it is "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" or Zero, they are each other's ultimate opponents, and no one can change this reality.

For the first time in his life, Zaimokuza truly felt the existence of the word "fate".

In fact, "fate" is not what many people think, which is to control the entire process until reaching the irreversible ending. Instead, the benchmark for everything has been determined from the beginning. Therefore, no matter how you move forward or how the process changes, the final result will always be the same, just like water will always flow downwards, no matter what path it flows through, the final direction will always be "down".

So the moment he put on that belt, "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" was destined to face No. 0 in the end; it was just a matter of time.

And when the battle between the two comes, perhaps it will be the end of everything. Everything will end because of the same reason it started. Zaimokuza has a hunch that the other Gurongis don't matter, but only by defeating Zero can this "story" truly come to an end.

That day should not be far away.

"Number Zero, it should also be heading towards the ruins."

Hikigaya couldn't help but frown as he watched the ominous figure disappear on the screen.

Number Three was heading towards the ruins of Jiulangyue for some purpose, and Number Zero was now also heading there, probably not only to snipe Number Three, but also for the purpose of Number Three's coming.

Number 34 is not important at all in this incident, at best it is just a superfluous thing, but after solving it, "Zaimokuza Yoshiteru" and "Kousaka Kyosuke" will also rush to Kurodake in Nagano Prefecture. By then, the highest combat power of the human side and the Gurongi side will gather together... Although it is only a sign, an atmosphere of impending storm has almost become substantial through the light curtain, lingering in the hearts of all viewers.

What else could possibly exist in that ruin? Thinking of this, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel even more solemn.

He once thought that the only meaning of the ruins was to serve as the background for Gurongi's resurrection at the beginning of the "story". Other valuable things were the ultra-ancient mechanical beetle Gram, who was Kuuga's partner, and the inscriptions that recorded ultra-ancient information. But it turned out that Hikigaya's idea was too simple.

Whether it was the "Alpha Obelisk" that appeared later, or the number three that was obviously rushing here for something else, all of this proved that the water in this relic was much deeper than everyone imagined. It was like an ancient well that was small enough to enter at a glance, but the bottom was so deep that it was frightening at the sight of it.

And now in this "story", the strongest fighting forces representing both good and evil are all rushing here... Is this the prelude to the final decisive battle?

This is where it all began, but could it be that even the final battle will begin here?

【Tokyo, Ota Ward.】

【 03:23 PM 】

【boom--】

A dull engine roar echoed across the highway. Zaimokuza, driving the Leaping Gram with Zazaru, who was restrained and lying on the front of the car, drove the wrong way along the highway. The speed was so fast that the side of the Gram, which was integrated with the motorcycle, rubbed against each other and produced intense sparks as they turned.

[This is a special case. Under normal circumstances, Zaimokuza's daring driving in the wrong direction on the highway would have resulted in his driver's license being revoked by the Ministry of Transportation.]

He was now the only one driving along the entire highway. To ensure the success of his plan, the Metropolitan Police Department had closed all the entrances along the way. All toll booths and police posts along the way gave Zaimokuza the green light to run amok, and the staff dared not even attempt to stop him.

【“#@Buddy#@￥is#@itchy￥#!”】

Graham, who was restraining Zazaru, could only speak by shaking his head upwards vigorously due to his horns, expressing his dissatisfaction with Zaimokuza's rough driving style.

"Sorry, Graham, please bear with it!"

As time passed, Zaimokuza's worries about Nagano Prefecture gradually grew on him. Passing a toll booth, he lowered his head and comforted Graham.

"It's almost there," Zaimokuza thought, looking at the coastline looming at the end of his sight.

……

"Yihui, you must remember what I'm going to say next. Don't be like you did in high school when I tutored you. I'd explain the formula for one problem, but you'd forget it completely for the next one, okay?"

[“Uh… Hime, can’t you just have a little faith in me?”]

[“Hmm~”]

【“…Please go ahead.”】

"Listen carefully. Based on my analysis of the liquid left behind by No. 34 at the scene, which Kosaka-kun had previously sent here, I found that it does not possess any chemically infectious properties. This means that the toxin secreted by No. 34 is not a chemical toxin, but a biological toxin within the biological toxin category."

"What do you mean? What's the difference between chemical toxins and biological toxins? And biological toxins sound the same as biological toxins. Why do you say it's a biological toxin among biological toxins?"

["Yi~hui~"]

[“…I’m sorry, I thought I was still in class. Please continue.”]

"Alas~ It seems you've really returned everything you learned in high school chemistry class to your chemistry teacher."

[“…(I don’t dare to speak).”]

"To put it simply, in terms you can understand, Yihui, chemical toxins are highly polluting and difficult to dilute, and they can easily cause severe damage to the environment. Biological toxins, on the other hand, are different. While some are as deadly as nuclear radiation, they are not as difficult to dilute as chemical toxins, and their ability to pollute the environment is also very limited."

「So…!?」

"Indeed, it seems you finally understand. Just as you thought, although the toxin No. 34 is extremely toxic, aside from its corrosive properties, it doesn't have the ability to cause large-scale pollution. In other words, this toxin can be diluted by water, especially seawater."

"Tokyo lacks everything, but because it's a coastal city, it has plenty of seawater. Therefore, while the explosion of Unit 34 will release a large amount of highly toxic gas, the ocean's purification capacity means that diluting this toxin will be a mere drop in the bucket. Therefore, it's best to kill Unit 34 by the sea, minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment."

"While it might cause a massive fish die-off in the surrounding waters in a short period of time, compared to the original estimate of corroding a Ginza-sized area of ​​Tokyo into a deep pit, this is more acceptable... Perhaps there won't necessarily be a fish die-off? After all, the fish around this country should have already been completely mutated by the years of secret nuclear wastewater discharge."

"So, a mere biological poison should be manageable...right?"

……

[“Ugh!”]

When the coastline came into view, Zaimokuza pressed the brakes, and Graham released his two horns that had been stabbing into Zazaru's legs.

[Under inertia, Zazaru screamed and flew away. After landing, his body rolled dozens of meters on the concrete embankment before he stood up staggeringly.]

[“KUUGA——”]

【"Super·henshin!"】

Zaimokuza's shout silenced Zazaru's venomous roar. A golden light emanated from the spirit stone he wore at his waist, enveloping his entire body.

A violent storm suddenly blew up on the seashore. Cyan particles poured in from all directions towards Zaimokuza, who was entangled in the storm. These were materialized wind elemental particles, and their power far surpassed the phenomenon that had occurred when Zazaru had attempted to activate his primordial form.

[If I were to use an analogy, it's like the difference between a grenade and a rocket launcher. This is the power of the fifth element. Compared to the other four elements, it has an overwhelming energy level.]

Two pairs of crystal wings, one large and one small, stretched out from the storm. The wings fluttered and waved, and the surrounding strong wind suddenly blew back along its original path, dispersing the whirlwind that enveloped the body, revealing Zaimokuza's current appearance.

The two pairs of wings resembled the primary and secondary wings revealed when a rhinoceros beetle flapped its wings. Patterns imbued with biological beauty covered the wings, and faint, shimmering blue particles drifted from them, resembling a swallowtail butterfly resting on a flower stamen, spreading pollen.

Its green body was streaked with golden stripes, and its pair of green compound eyes sparkled. Its feet and wrists also extended tiny wings similar to the two pairs of insect wings on its back.

[Kuga·Pegasus Form (Wind)·Level 2.]

【——】

[The moment he transformed into this form, Zaimokuza's senses were heightened to an unimaginable degree.]

He could feel the wind, previously invisible and formless, taking on a physical form. The dust and tiny salt particles mingled with the sea breeze—things previously invisible to the naked eye—became as clear and distinct as the lines on one's own palm.

As the wind blew, Zaimokuza's world of senses rapidly expanded. He could hear the oxygen exhaled by trees far away as they breathed, the insects feeding on branches, their straws piercing the trees; and the fish leaping from the distant sea, the feeling of the water flowing across their scales, and the oxygen rushing into their open gills, accelerating their blood flow—

In this form, Zaimokuza can see with his naked eyes what even the most advanced telescope cannot, and can hear the sound of blood flowing through the bodies of living things thousands of miles away. Wherever the element of "wind" is present, nothing can escape his senses.

[At the same time, it felt as if two sharp needles were gradually piercing his temples on either side of his head. His previously abundant physical strength was being rapidly depleted at an unprecedented rate. Zaimokuza estimated that in about two minutes, he would lose consciousness due to exhaustion of physical strength and energy.]

[So, having completed his transformation, Zaimokuza didn't hesitate at all. He quickly reached out and pulled out the right handlebar of the Jump Chaser 2000. The moment he grasped it, the handlebar began to rapidly transform, its shape rapidly elongating, and finally a huge bow and arrow appeared in his hand.]

However, by human standards, this bow was incredibly large. The combined length of the bow was almost as tall as Zaimokuza himself at that moment. One end of the bow was driven directly into the ground, securing the massive bow. A massive spirit stone was fixed in the center.

It's hard to imagine this being a weapon for humanoids. Just looking at its size, it's clear that it's impossible for one person to use. It would require at least three people to pull it apart, comparable to the crossbows used in ancient warfare specifically for shooting horses.

[There's also a gun-barrel-like structure extending forward from the center of the bow, like two straight blades welded to a bow. This weapon combines elements of both ancient bows and arrows and modern firearms, perfectly integrating them. Its appearance alone possesses unparalleled deterrent power.]

[Pegasus Ascension: Hurricane Extinguishing Bow.]

【"drink--"】

[Zaimokuza grips the bow with his left hand, pinches the bowstring with three fingers of his right hand, and pulls back with force while shouting.]

As the bowstring was pulled back, the bow curved inward, and a cyan wind totem flashed in front of the bow.

As the totem flashed, a fierce howling wind suddenly surged from the front, rapidly converging in front of the bow. A sharp friction sound spread across the coast, like the clashing of saw teeth.

[“Hmm!”]

[Zazaru, who was in front of Zaimokuza, was also affected by the incoming whirlwind. He felt with shock and anger that the space in front of him had turned into a black hole, drawing him towards Zaimokuza, who was holding his bow and arrow ready.]

Despite Zazaru's desperate efforts to steady himself, his feet continued to scrape against the ground, dragging him forward. If he let go, he would undoubtedly be swept like a fallen leaf into the whirlwind that was forming in front of Zaimokuza. The violent hurricane would cut him into a bloody pulp like a razor's blade.

While attacking, the aftershocks can also exert a controlling effect on the enemy. When Zaimokuza first awakened this form, he used this to restrain the mid-air Unidentified Lifeform No. 27, rendering its superior aerial maneuverability useless in the raging hurricane, effectively killing it in one blow.

As Zaimokuza stretched the bowstring to its limit, the windball directly in front of the arrow shrank from the size of a basketball to the size of a ping-pong ball, and the storm that had been blowing completely subsided.

Because all the wind blowing in this area has been completely absorbed by this wind ball, all the energy is compressed inside, and the mass inside is so dense that it is unimaginable.

【Om—】

The wind ball spun quietly, but the space within it was accompanied by a strange humming sound, as if it were being constantly sliced ​​and diced. Just looking at the wind ball, I felt a chill as if a sword were upon me.

[And when the wind ball was completely formed, Zaimokuza suddenly released the bowstring.]

There was clearly no arrow in his bow, but the moment he let go, a violent whistling wind erupted, resembling the roar of thunder in this windless place!

The wind ball suddenly flew out, hitting Zazaru's abdomen before he could react after breaking free from the whirlwind.

In the next instant, a millisecond too short, Zazaru was unresistingly driven backwards by the kinetic energy of the wind ball that hit his abdomen. He didn't even have time to scream, and there was no other movement. The scene looked like a colorful ink painting, absurd and silent.

Its body sped away from the coastline, gliding almost parallel to the surface of the sea. The aftermath of its flight drew a long line across the surging sea surface. From above, it looked like a peerless swordsman striking a fierce and unbridled blow.

After traveling nearly five nautical miles, the slash suddenly stopped. The immense kinetic energy had no time to transform into ripples on the seawater before the sudden, spreading storm swept the water away.

From Zaimokuza's perspective, a massive storm, stretching from sea to sky, rose above the immeasurably distant ocean. Countless seawater, swept up by the storm, poured downward, filling the air with mist. Sunlight refracted through the mist, forming a magnificent rainbow, like a bridge arcing out from the sea.

[And below the rainbow, countless fish carcasses emerged from the sea in dense masses. Beneath this extreme splendor lies the silence of death. This scene contains an indescribable Zen meaning.]

[That was the result of the toxins that fell into the seawater after Zazaru was shattered by the hurricane. To minimize the impact on the waters near Tokyo, Zaimokuza used all his strength in this attack, sending Zazaru thousands of meters to the surface before detonating the compressed energy in the attack.]

[“Huh—Huh—”]

The massive bow fell to the ground, transforming into the short handlebars. A pair of distinctly pointed hands pressed down on the ground, and beads of sweat dripped down, wetting the concrete embankment.

Zaimokuza, sweating profusely, lay prone, panting heavily. This blow not only drained all of his strength, but also caused him to lose his transformation.

[This is also the main reason why Zaimokuza dislikes this form of his. Just to maintain it consumes a huge amount of physical strength, and basically after launching a single attack, he is powerless and can only be slaughtered by others.]

[And based on the degree of energy consumption within his body, Zaimokuza will basically not be able to use the power of the fifth element again within today. If he were to force it, his overwhelmed body would even collapse before it.]

[And without even a moment of excitement about defeating this powerful enemy without any injury, Zaimokuza must immediately rush to the next battlefield.]

Gritting his teeth and forcing his exhausted body to stand, Zaimokuza grabbed the handlebars, plugged them into the motorcycle, turned them around, started the engine, and quickly turned the motorcycle towards Nagano Prefecture.

"Bushige, Totsuka-san—I'll be right there!"