My youth story cannot be a knight war

【“…”】

The figure silently raised its head and gazed at Giiga. Its compound eyes, as bright as purple agate, also reflected its body as it retreated in disbelief.

[This figure only roughly shows some remnants of the Titan form, and the rest is almost completely different.]

[Because unlike the Titan form where only the upper body is covered in heavy armor, his entire body is covered in silver-white armor. The texture of the armor is like iron and stone, and it wraps around his entire body. There is almost no weak point, just like the heavy cavalry in the Middle Ages who covered themselves with armor and ran rampant on the battlefield.]

[On the two round shoulder armors, a pair of protruding armors stretched upwards again. The spirit stone on the waist was like silver mercury mixed with pure purple, and it kept making circular motions with the round edge of the stone.]

【"call……"】

[Feeling the powerful force filling his entire body, and the weight that was even heavier than that of the Titan form, Zaimokuza slowly exhaled, and white mist came out from both sides of his open mouth, like lava spewed out by a demon from the depths of hell.]

[Kuga·Titan Form·Elemental Awakening (Earth).]

【“How is it possible, how is it possible, how is it possible, how is it possible!????”】

Looking at Zaimokuza's new form, Giiga muttered incredulously in the Gurongi language, his speech becoming increasingly rapid. Finally, unable to contain himself, he roared loudly, his roar echoing through the harbor at dusk, startling countless birds.

[“How can the purple power evolve further? How can you continue to get stronger? This is impossible! I don’t believe it!”]

Giiga stared at Zaimokuza intently, his right palm trembling with anxiety, then he clenched it tightly and quickly raised it to his mouth to cover it.

【"go to hell!"】

Before the red air waves converged and spun towards its face, a red fireball erupted from Giiga's roar, shooting towards Zaimokuza!

【boom! 】

[The fireball immediately splits up on its way to Zaimokuza, turning into several smaller fireballs that hit various parts of his armored body. The fireballs explode immediately after hitting his body, spreading the heat and flames contained in them and wrapping around Zaimokuza's body, causing smoke to rise.]

【"Varied--!?"】

But when the black smoke cleared, Giiga could hardly believe his eyes.

[Black smoke drifted away from Zaimokuza's body in the wind. The silver armor was not damaged at all and was still as bright and clean as new. Zaimokuza himself did not even move. The fireballs were like hitting a towering mountain. They were useless except for causing smoke and fire.]

[The power of these fireballs was enough to severely injure Zaimokuza before. Even if he turned into a Titan, he would be blown to the ground. But now it was completely useless. The fierce flames were just like a wave blowing across the mountain peaks. No matter how strong it is, the breeze blows over the hills! ]

[Watching this bizarre scene that defied common sense, an uncontrollable sense of terror surged from deep within Giiga. Driven by this emotion, he couldn't help but take a step back.]

It was only a step back, but it showed that Giiga was already afraid, just like Zaimokuza, who was completely intimidated by its fierce firepower during their previous battle in the quarry.

[And now, after just one morning, the one who was afraid has become the one who once gave fear. ]

Suddenly, Giiga remembered what the idiot "ZU" said before he left and then turned him into a roasted bat.

[——I remember there were many players who said something similar before, but none of them came back. It seems like they were all dealt with by KUUGA?]

[——I don’t think you’re the next player to advance to [GO], but the next player to die at KUUGA’s hands, hehehehe…]

【Chuckle, chuckle.】

Gooma's sinister mocking voice echoed in his mind. Giiga's dark red hands clenched into fists, his finger bones cracking as he squeezed them. He suddenly opened his mouth and roared, his voice almost hysterical.

[“But, it’s just a new form! Why are you being so arrogant in front of me!?”]

[“Just wait, let me use my strongest move to send you, the damned one, to hell!”]

[Its hands opened to the side, and a red light emanated from its body, followed by a raging fire. The heat, comparable to that of a steel furnace, spread from the surface of its body in all directions. The concrete floor beneath its feet began to emit white smoke and even turned red, showing signs of melting!]

A scorching vortex of air swirled and merged from the surrounding air towards Giiga's face, even the flames burning on his body were drawn into it. A fireball emitting surging heat grew from small to large, its color becoming increasingly darker. After reaching a certain critical point, the fireball began to slowly shrink.

[This move is the same terrifying move that burned down the entire quarry and broke through the defense of the Azure Dragon Form Elemental Awakening Water Cloak. Its destructive power is simply immeasurable. If it is used here, the entire harbor will inevitably be destroyed! ]

[Zaimokuza's purple compound eyes watched the fireball that had once left a huge psychological shadow on him reappear, but this time he felt no emotion at all.]

[Now, he has already overcome the fear he had back then. ]

【"--drink!"】

Zaimokuza looked at Giiga, who was ready to strike, and slowly raised his free hand towards him, then suddenly clenched it!

[Just as he grasped it, the purple pearls on his wrist shone brightly.]

【boom--】

The next moment, a transparent ripple suddenly spread out from the ground beneath Giiga's feet, and then several sharp stone pillars extended from it, clamping down on various parts of his body.

【"What!?"】

Giiga was completely unprepared for the attack that erupted from beneath him. The moment his body was caught by the cross-shaped stone pillars, he struggled in panic. The yellow-white fireball that had gathered around him twisted and trembled as he lost control, then exploded right in his face!

【boom! ! ! 】

[“Woooooo!”]

The sound of the explosion mingled with Giiga's screams. For the first time, it experienced firsthand the power of its own attack. Even when it was directly hit, it was crushed and screamed in agony, like a cobra having its own venom injected into its bloodstream.

After the flames and smoke dissipated, the reddened stone pillars still stood, trapping Giiga, whose body had been burned black by the flames he had created, in the middle, leaving him completely unable to move.

【"it's over."】

Zaimokuza slowly raised the Titan Sword in his right hand, his compound eyes fixed on Giiga, who was severely injured by his attack, and raised it high above his head. The spirit stone at his waist made a heavy sound like a rumbling sound.

【Om—】

[A silver and purple "Earth" totem appeared under Zaimokuza's feet. The totem rose and turned into surging purple light particles that poured into the Titan sword he held high, and all of them were swallowed up by the purple gem in the center of the hilt.]

[As the light particles poured in, the gem gradually shone with purple light, and the word "Earth" in it shone with an even more dazzling silver light. Even the blade of the Titan Sword trembled slightly, and a transparent wave spread from the blade, and the air around it seemed to vibrate in front of this wave.]

【唔——】

[After the purple gem swallowed up all the surging particles, the great sword began to glow with a silver-purple glow. Under the setting sun, it looked like a silver meteor streaking across the sky. The clear sound of flowing water resounded in all directions, with the Titan Sword as the center.]

[Zaimokuza grips the hilt of the Titan Sword with both hands, roars loudly and slashes forward! ]

[“——What the hell!!!”]

Amidst his high-pitched roar, the Titan Sword's blade pressed against the ground. A massive crack, emitting a dazzling purple light, began to form from the point where the Titan Sword touched the ground. Like a slithering python, it spread towards Giiga, who was trapped by the stone pillar. It was as if the earth itself had been split apart by this sword!

["When an evil creature appears, put on steel armor and cut off the evil warriors with earth-breaking force."]

[This sentence translated by Yukinoshita Yukino is now manifested in the most intuitive way by the Zaimokuza transformed into Kuga, recreating the shocking scene witnessed by the ancient humans who carved the inscription.]

[The earth faced the warrior's sword, and everything in its path was cut off, like an army retreating! ]

【boom--!!!!!!】

[“——Uwaa ...

When the crack extended to Giiga's feet, a massive stone blade, completely different in size from the previous pillar and shaped like a sword, burst from the ground amidst a tremendous roar and the trembling of the concrete floor. It pressed against Giiga's muscular abdomen amidst its painful howls, pushing its entire body upwards!

The massive stone pillar, shaped like a peak and a sword, continued to expand its base as it rose, quickly becoming a massive boulder that five people combined couldn't even hold. Its sharp, sword-like peaks also lifted Giiga's body to a height exceeding that of any other building in the harbor.

After pushing it to its highest point, the continuously extending stone sword suddenly stopped, and Giiga's body was slightly lifted into the air due to potential energy and inertia.

[——The next moment, the tip of the stone sword blade turned red at an extremely fast speed, and then a violent explosion erupted from the tip, bombarding Giiga who was right in front of him!]

【"KUU——GA!!!"】

【boom--!!!!!!】

[A violent explosion suddenly erupted in the low sky above the harbor. The waves and flames of the explosion spread in all directions in a circular shape. The flames caused by the explosion illuminated the harbor, whose light was gradually fading. The sword-shaped stone pillars still stood tall directly below the explosion. This scene was like a star falling from the sky being pierced in the middle by a spear thrown by the god of war standing on the ground, with epic majesty and grandeur.]

[In the explosion, a howl of utmost resentment and despair rang out before being engulfed by the shockwave and flames, just like the innocent people Giiga had killed in this way before. Their final fate was nothing more than being engulfed in flames, no different from those who died at his hands.]

[Zaimokuza looked up at the low-altitude explosion, the flames and the light of the setting sun illuminated his purple compound eyes, and then disappeared.]

[As the explosion faded away, the remains of Giiga turned into ashes and fell from the sky, announcing the end of this battle.]

【“…”】

[Zaimokuza silently put down the Titan Sword in his hand, and the silver armor covering his entire body gradually began to dissipate into silver light particles. The particles reflected in his compound eyes were like fireflies dancing in the night sky, so beautiful that it took one's breath away.]

[After all the light particles dissipated, Zaimokuza's armor had returned to its Titan form.]

[“Hmm——”]

[His tall body suddenly shook a few times, and he took a step forward and stabbed the Titan Sword into the ground, maintaining his balance, and half-knelt on the ground.]

【Om—】

[The purple spirit stone on his waist became dim and shrank into Zaimokuza's body after a faint hum. The warrior on the ground also turned back into a human figure.]

【"Hahaha……"】

【Zaimokuza holds the sword-shaped rock that has been transformed back to its original shape in one hand, and breathes softly while supporting himself on the ground with the other hand.】

【Tick.】

[A drop of sweat fell on the ground in front of him. The intense physical exertion made Zaimokuza's sweat quickly soak all over his body like hot water from a floodgate. His bangs were stuck together on his forehead by the sweat, and the scene in front of him began to double.]

[Hahahahahahaha——]

[In a trance, the laughter of children came from the front. Zaimokuza looked up in confusion. In the blurry world, the laughing children in the kindergarten appeared. Their smiles were so real and beautiful. The clear and pleasant laughter was like an ethereal requiem, soothing his tired soul.]

[Slowly, a smile appeared on Zaimokuza's face. Although he was exhausted physically and mentally, he smiled happily, like a blooming sunflower.]

[I did it. I protected everyone's smile.]

[…What do you think of my performance? It should be satisfactory, right?]

【eight--】

【Plop.】

[The consciousness that was struggling to hold on suddenly broke when these words came to mind, and then fell into darkness. Zaimokuza weakly loosened the rock sword in his hand, and fell forward in a half-kneeling figure. ]

[Zaimokuza's fallen face was facing the setting sun. The afterglow of the sun shone on the face of the warrior who had fought all day. However, his expression did not show any fatigue or pain, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.]

[As if he was having a good dream, he fell asleep peacefully, the sea breeze gently blowing his white hair and his fallen body, as if the wind itself had covered him with a thin transparent blanket.]

【“…”】

[A figure stood on a high tower in the harbor, looking at the fallen timber base in the distance. ]

[After seeing him faint, the figure slowly faded into the dark backlight of the tower.]

【Whisper.】

[The sea breeze blew over the tower, gently blowing the corner of the tattered cloak that remained on the figure as it disappeared into the darkness.]

[The cloak was fluttering in the air, but the light of the setting sun could not illuminate it at all, just as light could not illuminate absolute darkness.]

[Beep, beep, beep—]

[After this figure disappeared, a police car with red and white sirens blaring passed under the tower. Kousaka Kyosuke was driving the police car, his eyes fixed on the tall stone pillar in front of him. This was probably the most conspicuous signpost in the world.]

【“Zaimokuza——Hmm?”】

[Kousaka Kyosuke read Zaimokuza's name with a serious expression, then suddenly frowned and looked at the rearview mirror on the right.]

[In the rearview mirror, a tall tower slowly recedes into the distance amidst the stacked cargo boxes flying by on both sides.]

[Kousaka Kyosuke stared at the tower disappearing in the rearview mirror, his eyes full of confusion.]

[Just now, he felt as if a gaze was projected from the tall tower onto him, and then disappeared in an instant.]

[Just now...was there anyone there? ]

55. Same as the first time I saw Zaimokuza (two in one)

Chiba Prefecture, Sobu High School, health room.

"Woo..."

Zaimokuza let out a muffled groan and slowly opened his tightly closed eyes.

“…an unknown ceiling.”

Looking at the ceiling of the infirmary with direct light in front of him, Zaimokuza said with a blank expression.

"Hey, what era is this? Do I have to say that the operation was successful and you are now a girl?"

Hikigaya squinted his dead fish eyes and said, his voice as weak as ever.

"Hey? Hachiman?"

The familiar voice attracted Zaimokuza's attention, but when he turned around, he found that it was not just Hikigaya Hachiman, but a bunch of familiar people were surrounding his bed and staring at him. This scene was very similar to the one at a funeral where all the old friends see the deceased for the last time, and Zaimokuza was so scared that he reached out and grabbed the quilt and pulled it up a little more.

"Where, where is this? Why am I here???"

"Where is this place? Zaimokuza-san, think carefully about what happened before."