My youth story cannot be a knight war

"I also believe that people become particularly brave when they have no way out, so I took the initiative to help you cut off your escape route. I also look forward to your desperate efforts."

「──W-What are you doing!?」

The important figure whose shoulder he had tapped suddenly snapped out of his daze. He looked at the two other scrapped helicopters before him and let out a sharp, terrified roar.

"Are you crazy? Why did you do this? Do you know what the consequences of doing this will be—"

"I'm well aware of the consequences of doing this... Councillor Wisteria."

The hand that had been patting his shoulder suddenly clamped down on his neck, physically blocking whatever Shido was about to say. As the other dignitaries watched in horror, Kousaka leaned closer to the councilor's face, which had flushed crimson from his grip, and spoke expressionlessly.

"All of our police officers are ready to fight for Tokyo, but at this critical moment, you and your cronies have chosen to abandon the citizens and flee, even planning to embezzle the remaining limited military resources... Does this kind of dragging your feet sound familiar?"

"Isn't it very similar to the day when you pressured the police to compromise with the terrorists in order to conceal the scandal between you and your mistress?"

[“——Hmm!?”]

This statement instantly changed Councillor Shido's flushed face. The color drained from his plump cheeks, leaving a bone-deep paleness. Councillor Shido stared in horror at the pair of eyes so close to him. The bottomless darkness within them made his hair stand on end.

[“…So you understand? Why did I do this?”]

The palm's force gradually increased. Councillor Shido felt his brain gradually become dizzy due to lack of oxygen. He struggled frantically with his limbs, but was completely unable to break free from Kousaka's palm.

[Just as he was about to pass out, Kosaka took the initiative to loosen his grip, causing Councillor Shido to fall to the ground.]

Looking down at Councillor Shido lying on the ground before him, Kousaka's eyes were icy cold, devoid of any emotion. Every word he spoke was like two icebergs colliding, releasing a chill that froze the hearts of all the important figures present.

"You should be thankful... I'm a police officer now."

He spoke indifferently, then turned and stepped into the helicopter behind him without hesitation. None of the important figures present dared to stop him, and could only watch helplessly.

"Please return to your respective posts. This city needs you, and so do the citizens."

The blast of the propeller cutting through the air suddenly intensified. As the helicopter slowly ascended, Takasaka no longer cast his gaze towards the important figures below.

[Even though these people were his undoubted "enemies who murdered his father" morally, it was just as he said.]

[——Kousaka is now a police officer.]

【The police are the group that maintains social law and order.】

[Just because he couldn't break the law and kill people didn't mean he couldn't allow those corrupt officials who wanted to embezzle power and run away to stay here. Even after the reckoning, no one could find fault with Kosaka.]

[And so, as all the important figures on the rooftop watched with deep resentment and fear, the helicopter flew off into the distance with a whirlwind and a loud roar.]

"Mr. Kosaka, what should we do next?"

Gosuke, who was sitting in front of Kosaka, said this. Her pretty face was now pale and her eyes were filled with extreme nervousness. This was her first time on a field mission, but the situation she faced was far more terrifying than many police officers had ever experienced in their lives.

Even the flames blazing across Tokyo couldn't shake the coldness from her body, and Kousaka simply stared silently through the open hatch at the wall of fire outside, a look of resentment surging in her eyes.

"...We'll first head to the vicinity of the fire wall and carefully examine the damage there. We'll primarily focus on gathering information. Remember to keep your distance from the fire wall."

After a fierce inner struggle, Kousaka gave the order in a low voice.

He certainly didn't want to do this, but his battered physical condition didn't allow him to continue rashly. He had to gather enough information about the disaster and the culprit before making any plans.

【"clear."】

[Takasaka tilted his head and looked towards Shinagawa District in Tokyo.]

In his sight, a crimson pillar of light shot up from that direction. The aura of this pillar of light was already powerful enough, but compared to the wall of fire that surrounded the entire Tokyo, it was as insignificant as an ant trying to shake a giant tree.

Kosaka certainly knew who this beam of light represented, and he was also aware of what was happening in Shinagawa District, but he couldn't act rashly. The entire Metropolitan Police Department depended on Kosaka's dispatches.

[“…Please, hold on.”]

His palms clenched silently, gripping the fabric of his trousers at his knees.

【“Zaimokuzu.”】

54. The Angel of Destruction (6k)

[“Number! Zero!”]

Zaimokuza's shoulders trembled violently from the surging fury. Daguba's evil deeds had completely shattered both his rationality and his emotions. Rage caused the mouth on his face to open sharply, and his roar transformed into sonic waves that distorted the very air.

Daguba stood quietly there, his chain sword-shaped cape swirling behind him as the sound waves rippled through his body, but his body remained motionless like a rock amidst the turbulent currents, a delighted chuckle escaping from the edge of his open mouth.

Unable to bear it any longer, Zaimokuza exerted force with his feet. His red figure transformed into a flash of red light amidst the shattered asphalt road fragments thrown up by his footsteps. He charged towards the white figure with a force that seemed to rip apart space. He was completely enraged.

[And in the next moment, the raging flames engulfed everything in the area.]

For the two present, their sensitivity to time was far superior to that of ordinary people. To Zaimokuza and Daguba, a second felt like a minute, and this "short" period of time was enough for both sides to launch more than a dozen offensive and defensive countermeasures.

So, facing Zaimokuza charging towards him with murderous intent, Daguba simply "slowly" raised his right hand, spread out his five sharp, pale fingers, and then gently closed his palm towards the crimson figure.

The raging flames engulfed everything in the area. Along the direction Daguba's palm pointed, the windows of all the buildings along the way shattered and shattered simultaneously. Screaming tongues of flame burst forth from within the buildings, transforming every building, regardless of height or size, into giant, man-made torches.

Even the accumulated rainwater on the ground was instantly evaporated into white mist by the high temperature. Countless cracks appeared on the tarmac ground, and an ominous red light, swirling with extreme heat, burst out from each crack.

Looking down from above Tokyo, everything from Shinagawa Ward toward Ota Ward was ablaze. The successive bursts of flames spread out at an obtuse angle exceeding 180 degrees, like a giant ancient fan crafted from flames.

Zaimokuza's vision was also engulfed in flames and red, and raging flames ignited from his body. This sudden change forced Zaimokuza to stop rushing towards Daguba.

[“Hmm!?”]

Zaimokuza, who had previously been unacquainted with the word "burn," felt an unexpectedly sharp pain radiating from all over his body. He growled in pain and subconsciously used the elemental manipulation power corresponding to his omnipotent form to extinguish the fire engulfing his body and the surrounding affected area.

However, the result was completely beyond Zaimokuza's expectations. Having now grasped the true meaning of the four elements, he should have been able to control the element of fire as easily as exhaling air from his mouth. Extinguishing the flames on himself and the surrounding buildings should have been a piece of cake.

However, the raging fire around him and himself hadn't been extinguished at all. In fact, the fire was rapidly growing, and the pain was beyond Zaimokuza's endurance. In the agony, he let out a terrible roar from the depths of his throat.

[“Uhhhhhh!!!”]

Zaimokuza, completely engulfed in flames, half-knelt on the ground. He grasped the melting asphalt beneath his feet with both hands and clenched his teeth tightly.

[Besides the pain, disbelief surged within me. How could this be possible?!]

What the hell is going on with this flame! Why can't I control it at all? Wait! This isn't just a flame!

As the pain gradually consumed his sanity, Zaimokuza's critical wit allowed him to detect the subtle signs of this strange phenomenon. The reason his elemental manipulation abilities had no effect on the flames was because the enveloping flames were merely superficial.

Even if the power gap between the two parties was too great to win the battle for elemental manipulation, it's impossible for them to not react at all like they did now. This is the only explanation.

Thinking of this crucial moment, Zaimokuza once again withstood the onslaught of fire and pain with his willpower. He struggled to stand up, clenching his trembling hands tightly.

【Om—】

He raised his head and roared loudly towards the ignited night sky. As he roared, golden light blossomed from the Yamadam spirit stone at his waist. Countless golden veins, like veins, spread from the belt to Zaimokuza's upper body.

[“~Hmm?”]

A dazzling golden light erupted from Zaimokuza's body, instantly dissipating the flames burning on the ground in the area like a sand castle destroyed by a hurricane. Daguba, observing the light and sensing the aura within, paused in his actions and watched with interest.

The light quickly faded, and the transparent, gorgeous cloak fell from his waist as the light faded. Zaimokuza's hands fell to his sides, and heavy breathing mixed with hot white air escaped from his open mouth.

【Empty Self·Ultimate Sublimation·Sage Form】

[Having transformed into his strongest form, Zaimokuza immediately reversed his previous decline and shattered the fierce mysterious flames. Sparks flew from his body, illuminating the golden Philosopher's Stone on his chest.]

[At the same time, he also verified his suspicions. It wasn't fire at all, not even an element.]

After transforming into this form, Zaimokuza, who had complete control over his own body, instantly understood the truth. The essence of the flames was the energy released as his body was broken down by a powerful force into microscopic particles, even smaller than atoms, protons, and even quarks.

[Matter was transformed into pure energy, releasing an incalculably high energy flow in the process, manifesting as a flame that could not be extinguished at all!]

“That’s how it should be~”

Daguba, however, appeared even happier than Zaimokuza, having escaped his predicament. He tilted his head as he gazed at the warrior before him, a gesture he had never seen before. His words, filled with joy, faded into the scorching night air.

[“This is the battle I’ve been waiting for. Come quickly~”]

Zaimokuza ignored Daguba's words. His white compound eyes surveyed the surrounding hell. He suddenly clenched his right hand into his palm, blood flowing from his clenched fist.

He now heard, saw, and even felt the plight of countless people living in this city.

A towering wall of fire surged from the city's edge toward the interior. Countless people screamed and fled, but in the process, they inhaled large amounts of high-temperature air, burning their lungs and causing them to collapse. They struggled in agony on the ground, engulfed by the oncoming wall of fire, their bodies reduced to charcoal.

Even those hiding within the buildings were not spared. The wall of fire transformed the tall buildings into giant, blazing torches. Similarly, during Daguba's attack, many people within the area were engulfed in flames. These flames were even more terrifying than the white phosphorus in napalm and were impossible to extinguish.

They could only howl in despair and agony as their muscles, bones, blood vessels, and nerves burned through. They couldn't even fall unconscious during this process. Even if they jumped into the water out of unbearable pain, they would find no way to survive. Perhaps their only chance was to drown before being burned to death, their bodies slowly turning to ash at the bottom of the gradually boiling river...

[Despair, madness, and wailing have become the only main themes of this city today.]

Tears were the only thing on people's faces now. The smiles of the past were gone. Everything that everyone had protected with all their heart over the past year fell apart in the blink of an eye.

A brilliant rainbow of light bloomed from the palm of his right hand, and the Elemental Sword was suddenly grasped before even the hilt could take shape.

[Every muscle in his right hand, gripping the sword, tensed. Zaimokuza was no longer able to speak, and he didn't need to.]

[The only thing he needs to do now is to roar and——]

【Kill the culprit who caused all this. 】

“——Aa ...

The roar of some ancient beast, more like a human than a human, resounded through the sky, a roar devoid of even a hint of rationality.

Zaimokuza did not let his anger consume his soul and drive him mad. With his ability to control spiritual elements, his spiritual clarity had reached the highest realm of "freedom" defined by Taoism. It was impossible for him to lose his mind and go berserk due to his emotions.

But at this moment, unspeakable negative emotions burst forth from the deepest depths of his heart like a flood. This emotion was so violent and fierce that it permeated every inch of Zaimokuza's heart, even permeating his spiritual elements.

The faint white light lingering on his body slowly changed color, becoming a deep, blood-red, as sinister as flowing blood. Even the pure holy sword was assimilated by the crimson.

Zaimokuza was now surrounded by a drifting blood mist, and one of his white eyes was gradually filled with red, and the color was slowly deepening. Finally—

[That eye turned into an absolute darkness, without a single ray of light.]

"...!?"

A terrifying ferocity spread silently in the silent service department. When everyone was touched by this breath, they felt all the hairs on their skin stand up.

The numb feeling, almost like an electric shock, made everyone sit still, cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, and their eyes were focused on the front.

Facing the bloody scene on the light curtain that was too tragic to describe, Zaimokuza sat there with his head lowered, as if he didn't want to witness this scene, his body motionless.

But that aura spread out from his body. Beneath the dead silence lurked a fierce heat as fierce as a volcano. However, the extreme heat would not only burn others, but in the end even he himself would not be able to escape.

This was not silence, but the prelude to a volcanic eruption, and at this moment a burst of laughter also rang out.

"~?"

That was the devil's laughter, filled with joy, pure happiness for this anger and brutality, and it was also the white devil's trampling on all the victims.

Amidst this laughter, the feeling of oppression within the service club grew stronger and stronger. The women even began to swing their legs uncontrollably, and there was an unconcealable panic in their eyes as they stared at Zaimokuza's back.

"Cai, wood wood base..."

Snapped.

The sound of palms colliding with shoulders interrupted Miura Yumiko's trembling words and also broke the depressing atmosphere.

Hikigaya Hachiman stood beside Zaimokuza, his hand on his left shoulder, his dark eyes meeting the other's who had just raised his head.

Zaimokuza's originally lively short hair has now fallen down, limp like a banana leaf caught in the rain, so no one except Hikigaya who is standing right in front of him can see the look in Zaimokuza's eyes now... Perhaps it is also because no one except Hikigaya has enough courage to walk up to him.

Hikigaya used himself as a barrier to block Zaimokuza's gaze and aura as he looked behind him. The two pairs of eyes stared at each other silently, and the people next to them did not dare to interrupt at this time.

"..."

Suddenly, the oppressive feeling that lingered in every corner of the Service Department's room dissipated like a gust of wind. Zaimokuza lowered his head and remained silent for a long time without saying anything.

"Hey! Look..."

The sliding door of the club room was suddenly opened, and Shizuka Hiratsuka walked in with a serious and uneasy look on her face. The scene and strange atmosphere that caught her eyes made her stunned.

"Uh...I think I came at the wrong time?"

"No, you came just in time."

Hikigaya lowered his hand from the shoulder of Zaimokuza, who had calmed down. He turned to look at Hiratsuka Shizuka and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You came at the perfect time, Hiratsuka-sensei."

Seven-colored streams of light descended from all directions like a galaxy toward the ruins left by the extinguished flames, then merged and flowed toward the elemental blade. This project was also stained with that unclean color.

The extreme murderous aura caused a chilling wind to blow out of nowhere, and the cold red color lowered the rising temperature. This wasn't a physical phenomenon, but rather a murderous intent that broke through mental limitations and interfered with reality.

The emotions within Zaimokuza even reflected on the material world at this moment. When all the light poured into the jewels of the sword, what bloomed was no longer the once brilliant and holy colorful light, but a demonic, icy, and extremely cold scarlet.

[That was murderous intent, hatred, and resentment towards the person responsible for all this tragedy, blending into the most ominous power in the world. And holding this sword, Zaimokuza roared loudly.]