ch301-ch320 · 318-ch318
Chapter 318: The Repeating Dream
(Hiramatsu-ryu Secret Art—the 'Charge Dropkick'!)
I slam a dropkick into the headless armor as it emerges.
The joints really are loose—only the upper half flies off, vanishing into the darkness.
The leg parts crumble noisily.
'Armor Manipulation' must have cut out.
By the way, since 【Charge・Spear】 isn't released, that was just a plain super-mode flying kick.
(All right—now if I hammer 【Charge・Spear】 into the helmet warrior the instant it appears, same as always...... !?)
A cross-tipped spear shoots out from beyond the wall of darkness.
I manage to dodge, but a side blade grazes me, and I'm bleeding from around the right elbow......
Its charge time must have been short, though, because that's all it amounts to.
(Did attacking the headless armor give away my position?)
Attacking out of the darkness—now isn't THAT cowardly?
I pulled back to check how bad the wound was, and so missed the perfect opening of its entrance.
The helmet warrior's gear: a cross-tipped spear, a Shield Gauntlet, and a helmet......
Nothing but bad feelings......
(【Gate】? Behind—dodge!)
I was so sure it would come at me head-on, but first it uses 【Gate】 to attack from my blind spot.
I somehow evade the attack from behind—but my gaze breaks for an instant.
In that instant, it closes the distance.
(Fast! This one really IS in Ultra Mode...... 【Gate】!)
On reflex, I block the spear lunging into my face with the 'Left Hand Gate.'
I haven't used the 'Right Hand Gate' yet, so it's a crude 【Dimension Wall】 in its closed state.
(Distance. Run aw......)
A right-angled movement, tracing a squared-off U.
At monstrous speed, it loops around to directly behind me in a heartbeat.
In front of me—the 'Left Hand Gate' I deployed myself.
Nowhere to go.
"Gof!"
I take a thrust to the back, pinned as if sewn to my own 'Left Hand Gate.'
But I'm high Endurance, high HP.
Its charge time is only a second or two.
This much won't kill me.
So, over and over......
"Gof! Gof! Gof......"
Thrust, over and over......
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts......
(Why am I having this dream again, again?)
I hope Kasumi-san hasn't come home......
I promised not to sleep......
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A spotlight shines down on me.
(Mm? Huh? ......It hurts?)
I feel pain in my cheek.
(This isn't the dream?)
No—every time it IS the dream, but the pain feels completely real......
I'm the one who pinched my cheek.
So is this the dream?
Or did I wake up, and this is reality?
No—in any case, charge.
(【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】 【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】 【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】 【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】 【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】)
What's going on?
Why am I here AGAIN?
(Hold on, hold on—think. Countermeasures...... 【Gate】!)
My thoughts won't settle.
Still, I put out the 'Right Eye Gate' somewhere it won't block my vision and prepare to attack.
(Did I wake up?)
This is inside the dream, so no, I shouldn't be—wait, why was I dreaming at all just now?
I don't remember, you know?
Kasumi-san went to collect Mia-san, and I was told not to sleep......
(......What happened after that, again?)
The headless armor emerges.
It's coming toward me, but I can ignore this one.
It can't do anything anyway.
Right—we were practicing moving the armor with Aikawa, and I used Ultra Mode, and......
My vision went red...... did I pass out?
(NOW! 【Gate】! 'Aiming'!)
Aiming for the instant the helmet warrior comes in, I deploy the 'Left Eye Gate' at its flank.
And in the same breath, I thrust toward the 'Right Eye Gate.'
"Gigi."
A solid impact—and...... I go numb.
'Shield Shock.'
Blocked by the shield, and I even took the electric shock besides.
What reaction speed.
(This one's been in Ultra Mode from the moment it came in!)
The helmet warrior's movement stops.
It's re-applying its 'Charge Shield.'
(NOW? Huh? Guho!)
My body folds in a sharp < shape.
What?
I was so focused on the helmet warrior, but the headless armor should still have been far away......
I glance over—yes, it's at a distance.
But I have no hands.
The Shield Gauntlet on the left is on the helmet warrior's left hand.
And the right gauntlet is in my belly.
【Charge・Armor・Armor Shot】......
A Rocket Punch.
(Damn it—I hadn't even used mine yet......)
Beaten to the punch. Literally.
The headless armor crumbles noisily.
Its charge ran out.
A one-time kamikaze attack......
It had some real power behind it, so I go down on a knee too.
(It, on the other hand......)
I think it's odd the helmet warrior isn't attacking during this opening—and there it is, touching its helmet with its gauntleted left hand, movements stopped.
(Knew it......)
This time it's re-applying its 'Charge Armor.'
The instant its charge runs out, it ALWAYS reapplies.
A clear opening.
I knew that—but the Rocket Punch landed, and I can't do a thing.
(【Charge・Armor・Armor Enhancement・Armor・High】 【Charge・Armor・Magic Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Endurance Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Strength Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Agility Up・High】)
So then—I strap on the fallen Rocket Punch and run my own 'Charge Armor.'
With the spear, that makes it double—hyper mode.
I'm carrying damage.
Even so......
(I'm not beaten yet!)
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If only our equipment had at least been even from the start......
No—the helmet warrior isn't good with the spear.
It just pushes with speed and power; it never uses the cross-tipped spear's traits in its attacks.
I had hyper mode against its Ultra Mode, so it wasn't an even match—but I fought it respectably.
Watch out for its 【Gate】 attacks, and I can manage just fine.
If anything, the moment it commits to a 'Gate attack' should be MY chance......
Why is it wearing a school uniform and carrying a rental spear?
(If only I'd at least had the gauntlet from the start.)
Still—two dreams in a row, huh.
What does that even mean?
Did I stay unconscious across the day?
Or did I wake up and fall right back asleep?
That would be bad.
Kasumi-san has absolutely noticed.
(She's going to be furious......)
How do I get her to forgive me?
Maybe the time has come for the Hiramatsu-ryu Ultimate Secret Art......
The Five-Point Prostration Dogeza.
The difference from the original five-point prostration is that you spread both arms wide as you fall.
That pose is the very image of a cross-tipped spear.
A technique worthy of the Hiramatsu-ryu Ultimate Secret Art.
(I'll get scolded for that instead, won't I.)
No—as long as she's angry, that's fine.
She might be crying with worry instead.
Kasumi-san cries easily.
Though I'm the one who makes her cry......
She's always crying for my sake......
(I'm sorry, Kasumi-san......)
A spotlight shines down on me.
"Eh?"