My youth story cannot be a knight war

【boom!!!!!!】

[A deafening explosion resounded over the sky above the factory, and the shock wave mixed with flames swept in all directions. All the surrounding trees were swept away by the impact, and a large number of yellow leaves fell. At this moment, the dazzling white light even overwhelmed the scorching sun hanging high in the sky, and for a moment there was even a strange sight of two suns in the sky.]

[A sword-shaped stone pillar stood tall directly below the explosion. A "tiny" figure fell from the flames of the explosion, accompanied by white smoke...]

……

[“That’s Zaimokuza’s…!”]

[Kyosuke Takasaka, with a bandage on his hand, was driving a police car towards the factory. Then a huge stone pillar that could be clearly seen from several kilometers away shot up into the sky from the direction of the factory. The violent explosion that followed emitted an extremely dazzling light, which was too conspicuous for a road sign.]

[Kousaka Kyosuke, who had seen this move at the harbor before, immediately recognized that this was proof that Zaimokuza used the elemental awakening to launch a special move. His eyes changed and he immediately stepped on the accelerator.]

【boom--】

[The engine of this modified police car emits a deafening roar, and the dashboard in the car immediately jumps to the highest position as it rushes towards the direction where the stone pillar is rising at an extremely fast speed.]

……

Zain's sturdy body fell to the ground, thick white smoke rising from all parts of his body. A pool of red blood flowed out from the fallen body, and soon a small pool of blood accumulated on the ground.

【clatter. 】

[A foot with golden armor and purple pearls inlaid on the ankle stepped on the ground next to the fallen body. Zaimokuza looked at Zain lying motionless on the ground, stretched out his foot to press against his shoulder, and turned him over with force.]

Zain was flipped over, lying face up. The armor on his chest, which had been incredibly solid, was now covered in crisscrossing cracks. Blood oozes out, staining the brown armor crimson.

[“He’s still alive…”]

[This Gurongi is still alive. Zaimokuza immediately judged this, and the other party's slightly rising and falling chest is proof of this. ]

[After being hit by his most powerful attack so far, he did not get engulfed in flames like No. 21 before him, and even survived tenaciously. This strong vitality really amazed Zaimokuza.]

[But that's all. If the enemy is hit once more, he will surely die.]

[Thinking of this, Zaimokuza gripped the Titan Sword with both hands, pointed the tip of the sword at the center of the cracked armor on Zain's chest, and raised his hand to stab.]

【“——”】

[But at this moment, Zaimokuza's hands holding the sword paused, and the tip of the sword that was about to stab also stopped about one centimeter above the broken armor.]

[Looking at Zain falling to the ground, Zaimokuza's heart moved, and he suddenly hesitated.]

[This is definitely not because he is merciful or soft-hearted. When facing these monsters who enjoy killing humans, his attitude has always been to kill as many as possible without holding back.]

[What really made Zaimokuza hesitate was the way he was going to end the opponent now.]

[He had never killed a Gurongi that was already defenseless like this. In previous battles, all the Gurongi that died at his hands were annihilated by powerful special moves in various forms, and some did not even have time to scream.]

As Zaimokuza was about to strike Zain, who lay defenseless on the ground, countless images of his previous battles with the Gurongi flashed before his eyes: the sensation of punching with his fists, the feel of poking with the Blue Dragon Staff, the feel of the blade rubbing against flesh and bone as he pierced through his opponent's flesh with the Titan Sword...

[A feeling of disgust surged uncontrollably from the depths of his heart, making Zaimokuza feel extremely uncomfortable. ]

[He never liked violence. In the previous battles, if he could convince himself that he could kill these Gurongi without violence, countless ordinary people's smiles would be taken away. Therefore, Zaimokuza could suppress his inner disgust and kill every Gurongi he saw, comforting himself by saying that he did the right thing.]

[But this time it was different. Looking at the enemy lying on the ground in front of him, powerless like an ordinary person, Zaimokuza felt an unprecedented disgust. His throat felt numb and he had the urge to vomit.]

[This is the result of suppressing his inner hatred of fighting for a long time. Deep down in his heart, he has begun to feel a little unbearable. The more he suppresses his hatred of using violence, the more it grows like a weed.]

[But after hesitating for about ten seconds, Zaimokuza finally made a decision. ]

He gripped the hilt tightly and raised the Titan Sword again, aiming the sharp blade at Zain's chest and stabbing it down quickly.

[Because if this guy is allowed to live, many innocent people will die, and more people's smiles will be taken away. ]

[Zaimokuza is well aware of this, because it allows him to overcome his aversion to violence, and the reason he chooses to fight is to protect people's smiles.]

[Ever since he saw Natsume Mika crying because of the loss of her father that night, he had made his own choice and never regretted it. ]

[——If using violence is a sin, then I will bear the responsibility alone.]

【So Zaimokuza once again forced himself to suppress the surging disgust in his heart and swung his butcher knife at the enemy in front of him.】

["——!???"]

[But just as the Titan Sword was about to penetrate Zain's body through the crack in the armor, a sturdy hand suddenly reached out from the side and grasped the blade of the Titan Sword.]

【Puff.】

[The sharp blade cut the skin on the palm of the hand, and blood flowed down the blade onto the brown armor.]

【"Varied--!!!"】

[“Don’t underestimate me. This level of attack——”]

[As Zaimokuza was shocked, a deep voice sounded from under his feet, carrying a heaviness and indomitable spirit like a mountain.]

[The next moment, with a roar that almost pierced his eardrums, his hands were empty, and the Titan Sword flew out and stabbed into the ground not far away.]

[“How could you possibly kill me!!!”]

Zain, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly stood up, the sharp horn on his forehead piercing Zaimokuza's chest, and with both hands grasping his shoulders, he charged forward, pushing Zaimokuza forward.

【boom! 】

Zaimokuza was slammed into the factory wall by Zain's horns, and the long horn that pierced his chest armor was slightly penetrated by the reaction force of the collision.

[“How is it possible, you actually…!?”]

Zaimokuza pressed his palms against Zain's shoulders and looked at him in disbelief.

[The hideous wound on its chest healed rapidly at this moment. After a short period of time, apart from the bloodstains left on its armor, there was no longer any sign of injury.]

[Is this a trap!?]

[After seeing this scene, Zaimokuza immediately guessed that the unconscious look on the ground before was actually acted out by this guy! ]

[Number 22 might have been injured, but it was definitely not as serious as it showed. Its purple form with superior defense blocked most of the damage from the opponent's attacks. The reason it acted like that was to let me relax my vigilance and thus successfully launch a sneak attack!]

【After realizing this, Zaimokuza felt a deep regret.】

[He was still too naive. He was actually tricked into falling into this trap by this guy. No. 22 was not as reckless and violent as he appeared to be. Hidden under that ferocious expression was a warrior who had fought thousands of battles and had rich combat experience. He was also very delicate.]

[“I actually——Oops, oops!?”]

[Buzz—buzz—buzz—]

Just as Zaimokuza, feeling remorseful, reached out to grab the sharp point that Zain had stabbed into his chest, intending to push it away and escape, the light around his waist suddenly began to flicker violently, the purple light sometimes stronger and sometimes weaker, and an extremely ominous premonition immediately emerged from his heart.

【call out.】

[After flashing for a while, the color of the spirit stone returned to the solid, still, pure purple color of his previous Titan form, and the armor covering his entire body began to turn into silver particles and dissipate. Zaimokuza's figure quickly turned back to his original ordinary Titan form in the dissipating light dust.]

[——The time limit for using the elemental form has been reached, and he was forced to withdraw from the enhancement of the elemental awakening.]

[“Ugh!!!”]

[At the moment of exiting the Elemental Awakening Mode, an intense feeling of weakness spread from the bone marrow of Zaimokuza's bones throughout his body. His hands were weak and he accidentally let go of the blockade on Zain's sharp corners.]

[The long horn that was pressing against his chest penetrated him again, and as Zaimokuza groaned in pain, hot blood flowed out from the gap in his armor that was pierced by the long horn.]

"It seems your power is time-limited, KUUGA!"

Zain, who also noticed Zaimokuza's power suddenly weakening as his elemental form dissipated, was stunned. After realizing what was happening, he immediately spoke with malicious intent, while increasing the force of his thrusts into Zaimokuza's chest.

"Die obediently! Use your blood to establish the name Zu-Zain-Da, and become the stepping stone for me to bring upon the Ultimate Darkness!"

[“Damn it!”]

[Zaimokuza grasped the long horn and tried to push it away, but a feeling of weakness continued to spread throughout his body, leaving him completely powerless to fight back.]

[Based on his previous experience with Elemental Awakening, it would take at least two hours to recover, which is exactly the same time as using Pegasus Form.]

[But in a life-or-death situation like this, two seconds is too much, let alone two hours! ]

[“Drink!!!”]

【"Well!?"】

Zain pinched Zaimokuza's shoulders and forcibly lifted his extremely heavy body, which had become a Titan form, and pressed it against the wall. His feet, having lost their footing on the ground, swung weakly, but he still couldn't stop the sharp horn from piercing his chest bit by bit.

[Am I going to die...?]

【Feeling the long horn piercing his chest, Zaimokuza couldn't help but have this thought in his mind.】

【brush--】

Just as Zaimokuza was about to fall into despair, and Zain grinned and was about to pierce his chest with the long horn on his forehead to kill him, the sound of air being cut was heard.

[It was as if a blue light flashed before Zaimokuza's eyes, followed by a scream of pain and blood splattering everywhere, as red as maple leaves.]

[The sunlight illuminates the blood beads in the air like bright and transparent red diamonds, flashing with an enchanting light.]

68. Evolved Enemies (Two in One)

[“Hmm!”]

Zaimokuza grabbed the long horn that had pierced his chest armor and fell to the ground helplessly.

[And this large horn that originally grew on Zain's head has said goodbye to its owner. From the root down to the large piece of flesh and blood, it was completely cut off. The flesh and blood layer on the cut surface is smooth and neat as a mirror, and it has a marble texture like Kobe beef.]

[Blood seeped out from the flesh connected to the broken horn and dripped onto Zaimokuza's legs.]

[“Aa ...

Zain clutched his forehead and screamed in pain, his tall body stumbling backwards, blood oozing from between his tightly clasped fingers.

[“Who is it! Which bastard is it!?”]

It trembled as it lowered its hands. As it looked at the blood flowing from its palms, its dark purple eyes instantly began to turn red. With a whole piece of flesh missing from its forehead, Zain looked around furiously and roared, letting the flowing blood stain his face crimson. His face, like a solidified mask, looked like a mask made of the skin of an evil spirit under the splash of blood, ferocious and terrifying.

A cold, playful laugh like a venomous snake came from above. Zaimokuza and Zain, who were leaning against the wall, immediately turned their gaze in the direction of the laughter. They saw a figure standing on the roof of the factory with their back to the sun.

[The figure raised his arm, and the exaggeratedly large blade on his arm had blood dripping down the edge. He was covered in dense armor like fish scales, and the color of the scales reflected colorful gradients under the sunlight. There was a fin-like tissue extending from his feet, and there was a dorsal fin on his back that was as ferocious as a sword blade, like a shark. A pair of dark blue eyes flashed in the shadows on his face as he turned his back to the sun, like the color of sunlight projected from the water. ]

The figure that suddenly appeared and severed Zain's forehead horn with its upper arm blade was clearly a Gurongi. The dark silver belt with blue ripples around its waist was proof of this. A blue "water" totem on its muscular chest shone with a brilliant azure light.

[“That’s the blue power!”]

[Although Zaimokuza didn't recognize this newly appeared unidentified life form, he was familiar with its appearance. When he saw this déjà vu appearance, he immediately recalled the number six that he defeated. At that time, the opponent's body also had this color similar to the blue dragon's form. ]

"Biran! You bastard!"

[However, just because Zaimokuza didn't recognize this sudden Gurongi didn't mean Zain didn't recognize him. He looked at Me-Biran-Gi standing on the factory roof and roared, his voice filled with unparalleled anger. He abandoned Zaimokuza who was sitting in front of him and strode towards it.]

【"snort!"】

Biran snorted in disdain after hearing Zain's roar, and looked at Zain walking downstairs, bending down. The sunlight shone on his body, and the shadow cast on the factory roof was like a vicious shark bending and about to leap out of the sea to hunt.

【call out--】

A blue stream suddenly gushed out from the base of Biran's arm, wrapping around the two steel-colored arm blades extending from his upper arm. These blades then transformed into blue blades, forming a pair of long blades extending from his arm. When his hands were spread out, they resembled a pair of giant blue wings.

It rushed towards Zain, who had stopped walking after seeing this change, and stomped its feet before it could leap towards him. Its arms were spread out at its sides, and its figure transformed into a blue phantom in the eyes of Zaimokuza and Zain as it sprinted forward.

【"Well!?"】

Zain fell to the ground, one hand struggling to touch the armor on his chest, leaving a deep cut mark on the smooth brown armor surface.

Biran's figure appeared behind it at some point, and he immediately turned and rushed towards Zain, who had not yet climbed up. His arm blade swung and cut the air, making a sharp whistling sound.

Zain roared in pain again and took several steps back. A long wound appeared on his left thigh, and blood flowed out.

[“So fast!”]

Zaimokuza said in surprise, his purple compound eyes reflecting Zain's strange "dance" movements not far away.

Blue blades flashed around him, each time sending his massive form reeling in a shower of blood. His armor, a superior defense against the blue arm blades swirling with water, was no better than paper. Each of Biran's strikes left a deep wound or shattered a fragment of his armor.

Zain had no chance of resistance in the face of this extremely fast attack. He could not see Biran's figure with his naked eyes. He only appeared in his sight when he turned around after each attack. Then he turned into a blue knife light again, slicing him like sashimi. This made him feel extremely painful and filled with frustration.

[But it is also secretly waiting for an opportunity, with its muscles ready to counterattack.]

【"drink!"】

【“!”】

Finally, after a certain attack, his armor shredded to pieces and blood gushing out, Zain felt a stirring in his heart. He turned sideways as the sound of piercing air spread behind him, reaching out with both hands to catch the incoming blade. His five fingers pierced through the layer of blue water, tightly gripping the sharp blade.

It suddenly turned its head, and its two pairs of dark purple and dark blue eyes met, each seeming to be able to see through the other's eyes into the other's inner thoughts.

[“Don’t get in the way! It’s my game time now. I’m just playing my own Kikiru!”]

"How ridiculous! You've already been disqualified from participating in this game! "ZU," already behind the times, just roll back to the garbage heap where you belong! Wait for the reckoning in the final stage of the game!"