Volume 10 - Prologue
The blue sky above Ataraxia was cracking and tearing off.
The sky broke and what appeared was an existence that surpassed human knowledge.
It was too beautiful to be called weapon. It was too sublime to be called work of art.
It was a form that was like a sanctuary decorated with beautiful decoration.
The one who lived under that sanctuary was a peerless beauty with gaze filled by sorrow.
Hyakuraths voice turned shrill while she was staring at that figure projected in the screen of command room.
Machine godThanatos.
Beside her, Mercuria was also stiffening with similar shocked expression.
Why, is she heredont tell me, Grace-sama and others are
Hyakuraths body twitched up when she imagined what she was going to say next.
The Leon squad captain of Vatlantis Empire imperial guards, Hyakurath. This girl who was currently serving as class representative of second year first group of Ataraxia high school department was the so called temporary commander who was entrusted with this Ataraxia at the present where the top brass that were Reiri, Grace, and Zelcyone were absent.
Having said that, Nayutas camouflage on this Ataraxia was perfect, the possibility of this place being discovered by enemy was endlessly low. If pushed to say, her main duty was to manage and monitor so that the students wouldnt be anxious and no problem happened.
That was why she didnt assume a case where they were attacked by external enemy, to say nothing of something like machine god Thanatos marching in, she had never even imagined it could happen. If asked what Hyakurath was having inside her mind, it would be about school internal technical gear tournament and ball game tournament scheduled next month. Also there was things like mock social studies field trip using Love Rooms technology.
All of those were measures so that the left behind students wouldnt feel anxious and could pass their time cheerfully.
Yetwhy, something like that, appear here
Tears were emerging on Hyakuraths eyes. Her lips that were trembling with fear stuttered the words she whispered.
When Mercuria stared at that growing pale side face, inside her heart her feeling that was thinking of Hyakurath became stronger than the shock of Thanatoss appearance. She was also recovering back her calm along with that.
Hyakurath
Her hand that unconsciously reached out to embrace Hyakurath stopped in the middle. Mercuria clenched her fist tightly and then spoke with a voice as flat as possible.
Hyakurath, give your instruction. Everyone is feeling troubled, they dont understand what they should do.
Even I dont understand anything here!
Hyakurath reflexively yelled. Tears were spilling out all at once from her eyes that were glaring at her best friend.
Why difficult problem is always getting pushed on me!? It should be fine even if the world is not that malicious to me! Then, you do it Mercuria!
Mercurias face became clouded. She understood Hyakuraths feeling so well it felt painful.
Its impossible for me. But Hyakurath, you are someone that can do it if you try.
Dont say something so convenient! Something like a machine god, thats not an opponent that we can beat you know? I dont know how to deal with them, if my instruction is mistaken and everyone diewhen I thought that, my body is tremblingI cannot, I cannot do anything!
The blonde hair that she tied up shook to left and right. Each time her tears were falling down.
Right now you are the leader. The user of Vatlantiss sword, sword saint Hyakurath.
Hyakurath bit her lip and gripped her own hand tightly. Mercuria gently took that hand.
I cannot bear to be killed like this without doing anything, but if I die under Hyakuraths lead then I wont have any regret.
Mercuriayou
At that time a communication window opened beside the two. A red haired girl that looked strong-willed yelled angrily without a moments delay.
This is Scarlet! Hey, just what in the world we should do!? Is it okay for Masters to sortie? Make it clear!
Mercuria spontaneously responded in place of Hyakurath who faltered.
All members of Masters can sortie?
Everyone except Gertrude.
A different window opened and a black haired girl rattled on in fluster.
Thats not true! If I can just wear my gear then it wont be any different than riding wheelchair!
Roger. Hasten your preparation to sortie out. Ill send you instruction later. Also, Gertrude you just sleep quietly.
Wha
Mercuria forcefully closed the window of Gertrude who was going to complaint. And then she put her hand on the shoulder of Hyakurath who was hanging her head down.
Hyakurath, I know you are feeling
Who is near Thanatos?
Eh?
The unexpected question made Mercuria bewildered. However her hand immediately reached to the console.
Wait a second
During that time Hyakurath wiped her tear with her palm. And then she lifted her face and stared at the monitor with reddened eyes.
Thats right. Right now I am entrusted with this Ataraxia. I too accepted that role by my own will. Just because a situation that no one has expected happened, just because its inconvenient, its no good if I just throw it all way.
Hyakurath pressed her pink lips to each other tightly and then she told at herself that was reflected on the monitor.
Do your best, do your best! Hyakurath!
It seem, Sylvia and Ragrus are right in front of Thanatos.
Mercuria conveyed the information from the battlefield network. Hyakurath rubbed her eyes with her fingertip once more and then she turned her reddened eyes at Mercuria.
Those two are the strongest if its pure attack power arent theytell the two of them to equip their magic armor. After that I want them to try asking Thanatos what is her objective in coming here to Ataraxia. I want to confirm whether she is someone we can communicate with or not. Other students will be back up from distance. However, firing first shot from our side is prohibited.
Roger.
Mercuria promptly sent out instruction to everywhere with happy face.
And then that instruction was also transmitted at Sylvia and Ragrus too. Ragrus was listening at Mercurias instruction with her mouth forming a tight line. When the communication cut off,
Good grief, telling us whatever they please!
She was venting her displeasure while loosening up the necktie of her uniform and lowered down her skirt. Light blue colored stripe panties appeared from under it.
If I know this would happen, Ill wear my pilot suit underneath
After discarding her upper wear in annoyance, she inserted her finger through the gap of her sport bra and adjusted the bras positioning.
Besides even if they tell us to try communicating! Is that someone that can be talked with!? Aah, geez. Demon!
In respond to Ragruss angry yell, a giant silhouette wrapped around Ragruss small body. What materialized from inside that light was a giant robot rather than magic armor. It was giant magic armor that boasted strong powerDemon.
But, this is far better rather than suddenly getting told to fight desu.
Sylvia also stripped her uniform and left only her underwear. She wore white color with faint pink on the setup. The edge was adorned with frill, both her bra and panty were tied with ribbon at the center.
The spec of magic armor would jump up in response to the sense of unity with the pilot. Pilot suit had the effect to heighten that affinity, but in the case they didnt have suit, it was preferable to be in a state as near to naked as possible.
Talos!
Magic power welled up from the core that was embedded inside Sylvias body. It was like looking at a manufacturing process from internal machinery to the armor that had been shortened much. Sylvias body was lifted up, turned into atypical appearance, and materialized a giant Heart Hybrid Gear that was even larger than Demon, Talos.
We are going desu! Ragrus-chan.
Yes! If its like this then Ill do it!
The two large type magic armor ignited their thruster with large output and flew up. They were adjusting their speed so the opponent wouldnt put her guard up while approaching Thanatos that was floating in the sky. However Thanatos looked completely indifferent to the approach of the two. However both of them understood that carelessness was forbidden. This opponent held the strength to obliterate this Ataraxia in an instant.
Both of them halted when the distance between both sides was around fifty meter. While feeling cold sweat trickling and heartbeat pulsing fiercely, Sylvia put her own voice into voice amplifier device.
Excuse me! This is Ataraxias defense squad desu! You, you are Thanatos-san arent you dessu?
However Thanatos didnt react at all. Perhaps feeling a bit relieved, Ragrus asked with her voice sounding slightly rough.
Cant you hear!? What are you doing coming here, we want to ask what is your objective!
Thanatoss eyebrows moved slightly.
-!
Just with that nervousness ran through Ragrus and Sylvias body. Their heart was greatly pounding to the degree like they were going to burst.
Is the individual who defeat Hokuto and Osiris not here?
Eh?
Sylvia ruminated Thanatoss words inside her heart. Hokuto and Osiris, two machine gods were defeated. She said that. Sylvia reflexively turned a smile at Ragrus beside her.
That mean, Captain Kizuna and othershave win even against the second machine god desu. Surely they are still continuing to fight desu!
Then, all the more reason that we cannot die here huh.
Thats right desu! Even we will protect Ataraxia desu!
Thanatoss blue eyes caught Sylvia and Ragrus.
You two over there. You can try attacking me.
Eh-?
Sylvia raised a shocked voice, Hyakurath and she sent a glance at Hyakurath at the command room through the communication window. Even Hyakurath and Mercuria that were reflected there also have a cramped nervous look.
Wait Sylvia-san. Try asking the reason why she is telling you to attack.
But Ragrus grinned broadly.
Butthe other side was the one telling us that, then nothing we can do but doing it right?
Dont! If you do something rash
I dont mind. The reason is because currently these two are the one with greatest battle strength here. I wont counterattack. Try to fire your greatest attack with peace of mind.
-!?
Hyakurat got speechless at the command room.
All our communication with Sylvia-san and Ragrus-san is being heard? No, not just that, even my conversation with Mercuria.
Just now, was those words directed, to me and Hyakurath?
Mercuria also whispered with trembling voice.
In the end, they could onlydo as the opponent told them.
Hyakurath turned to the communication window and spoke.
I permit you to attack. Just as she wished, give her your strongest attack!
Roger!
Roger desu!
Magic power energy circulated in the twos magic armor. The muzzle of particle cannon in Demons palm, and then Taloss main cannon Ignis, both were aimed. Light particle was sucked into the muzzle and brutal energy was being loaded.
Firing!
Together with Sylvias short yell, the large caliber particle cannon that equaled a warship mounted on both Taloss shoulders fired. Violet colored light instantly impacted Thanatos and caused a large explosion. Fierce flash and flame blast spread in the blue sky.
Demons palm fired red light to pile up on that. The result was overlapping explosion, flame and smoke were spreading in the sky.
However both of them understood.
It doesnt work.
They couldnt feel any feedback at all.
Hey, Sylvia. Cant you use that killing move of yours?
If Captain is not herethat cannot be used desu.
Isnt that rightI too if possible dont want to use Infernowhats the deal with!?
Ragrus opened her eyes wide in shock.
The smoke was dispersed away by the wind. However ahead where the smoke cleared up, the figure of Thanatos that should be there was gone.
Inside the twos heart, could it besuch thinking flashed for a moment. But, they understood so much that such thing was impossible.
Sylvia faced toward the communication window to the command room and yelled.
This is Sylvia! Thanatos vanished desu!
Hyakurath who received this communication reflexively looked at the operator. The student operator was already searching for Thanatoss location. And then, with a face that looked like unable to believe something, the student turned toward Hyakurath.
About Thanatoss location
Mercurias body leaned forward impatiently.
Whats the matter! Report quickly!
Thats, should I say that the whole area around is Thanatosor maybe its better to say that Ataraxia is inside Thanatos
Whatdid you say?
When Mercuria murmured as though she was groaning, the space right at the center of command room was flickering strangely. Just when they thought ah, at the next moment there was an existence that was hard to believe there.
Hyakurath called that name with shaking tongue.
Machine god, Thanatos.
Thanatos stared at Hyakurath with a sorrowful face.
With the current status of evolution of you all, you are not supposed to win against machine god. However in reality that is what happened.
Sweat was suddenly trickling down on Hyakuraths face. Everyone in that place was trembling in terror with the thought of will we get killed at the next moment? Wont we annihilated along with Ataraxia completely?.
Do, do you, come here to confirm, whether we really have the power to defeat your comrades?
Even while trembling, Hyakurath acted with a stout-heart. But Thanatos continued to talking in a state that couldnt be understood whether she was talking to Hyakurath or talking to herself.
This result is worthy to be investigated. Ill wait for the return of the individual that defeated Hokuto and Osiris, after I finish that investigation, Ill dispose of that individual. Until that time all of you will be held in this world.
Held? What is, the meaning of that?
However before Hyakurath could finish talking, in front of her eyes became pitch dark.
Kya! Wha, what?
Hyakurath! Are you okay!?
For a moment she thought by any chance, am I killed?. But she was able to hear the voice of the operators clamoring, she also felt the warmth of Mercuria who was embracing her shoulder.
Whawhat happened?
I dont know. But, it seems unmistakable that the power source here is all down.
Mercuria pulled at Hyakuraths hand and she groped around to look for the door, and then she wrenched it open with brute force.
Lets try going out. That woman also said something like that but, Im concerned with the analysis result of the operator.
Yes. He said that we are inside Thanatoswhat does that mean I wonder.
Perhaps its like we are swallowed by whale. Like in fairytale.
Even in this kind of situation her best friend was as usual. Normally Hyakurath would be irritated by her frivolous talk, but right now it felt strangely heartening.
When they advanced through the dark corridor, ahead it became bright. It was a lobby with window. They could see outside from there.
Anyway first lets confirm the situation outside.
Youre right, if everyone is safei
The scenery they could see from the window made the two of them speechless.
There should be sea spreading around Ataraxia. But right now cloud was flowing in place of water, a sea of cloud was spreading out.
Wherein the world, is this?
I dont knowthere is no way we can know
Besides, Megafloat Ataraxia with diameter three kilometer that didnt have flying function in a state of floating in the sky like this itself was absurd.
Hyakurath, that is?
Ahead where Mercuria was pointing at, there was a gigantic mountain range that showed its face from between the clouds. Among the mountains there was a building that was like a sanctuary at the summit of a mountain that was conspicuously taller, the building was shining.
It closely resembled Parthenon sanctuary at Greece, but this one was far larger and splendorous than that. The moment they saw that sanctuary, they were instinctually made to understand that it was a place worthy for a god to live.
HyakurathI dont think its possible but, this is, really
Yes. We have become prisoner arent weinside the world created by Thanatos.