K side red, p.25
K Side Red, page 25
Suou caught that hit in his palm. It was true that there was more power than before. In response to the weight and heat pressed into his palm, it was as though the flames in his body were being fueled into increasing their own strength.
Perhaps because he was loosening his chains, even the slightest rise in Suou’s feelings was turned directly into power. Flames rose from his palm, and swallowed 'Senkouki’s’ arm. While normally it would have turned right to ash, it endured it because of 'Senkouki’s’ power. On top of that, because of Mizuchi’s power, it would regenerate as soon as it was burned. 'Senkouki’ opened his eyes wide, sweated, and smiled as he felt the hellish pain of having himself be burned alive and regenerated over and over.
From behind 'Senkouki’s’ great body, 'Grasshopper’ suddenly appeared. He leaped over 'Senkouki’s’ head and attacked from near the ceiling. His sword reflected the red shine of Suou’s fire. While still holding off 'Senkouki’ with one hand, he raised his left to swat 'Grasshopper’ out of the air. He had already figured that the guy used a weird sort of illusion to speed up, so it was a movement that took that into account, but 'Grasshopper’ sped up even more than before. Right as he was about to touch Suou’s hand, he put a hand on 'Senkouki’s’ head and flipped behind him to hide at a speed that the human eye couldn’t follow.
The moment he could be seen from behind 'Senkouki’, Suou shoved back at the large man. The fire biting into 'Senkouki’s’ arm suddenly grew and covered his whole body, and it went flying wrapped in flame. However, at that point, 'Grasshopper’ had already darted away from him and was above Suou.
He thought he would have that sword swung down at him from above, but 'Grasshopper’ went above and beyond him. Beyond him, where Anna and Totsuka were. Perhaps he intended to grab Anna and run, or to take a hostage. Without being moved even slightly, Suou jumped backwards lightly. 'Grasshopper’ sped up, bounced off the wall, and tried to slip past Suou. After slowing down as if in a feint, he sped up again. He darted in a straight line to Anna and Totsuka.
However, Suou’s hand grabbed 'Grasshopper’s’ head as though snatching up a bug. He waved that hand around in the air and slammed 'Grasshopper’ into the wall. 'Grasshopper’ fell without raising his voice. Suou landed lightly, lifted that fallen body, and threw it in Mizuchi’s direction. Mizuchi barely dodged it. "Pyrotechnician’ realized with a start that he was the last one left, but continued on to throw the sparking white energy in both of his hands at Suou. Suou deflected it. It hit the wall and exploded into light and a blast. 'Pyrotechnician’s’ balls of power kept flying. Suou hit them all back. They were all rather heavy and it was fun.
"Pyrotechnician’ was breathing heavily and soaked in sweat after the smoke cleared up from him shooting energy balls like the climax of a fireworks show. He curled up into his already small body, and looked at Suou in despair. Beyond, 'Grasshopper’ had been fixed up by Mizuchi, but it was clear that his will to fight had been broken.
Within that, 'Senkouki’ alone was unbroken. In fact, he seemed even more eager than earlier.
"You sure are strong.” He spoke in a voice that sounded almost drunk, enraptured. His blue eyes shone with a monstrous light. They were eyes that left behind all reality and looked only towards 'the end’. They were eyes drunk in the pleasure of going right up to 'the end’ and going over the edge.
Suou took the heat of those eyes and smiled faintly.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Anna’s mind had become very sensitive. The emotions of everyone there were pressing in on her, touching her skin, and informing her of how they felt. 'Grasshopper’s’ fear, 'Pyrotechnician’s’ anxiety, Mizuchi’s thoughts that became more confused as he was driven into a corner and yet still focused on and desired Anna-
And 'Senkouki’s’ pleasure from heading towards destruction. Anna found this to be scary. It wasn’t a fear towards 'Senkouki’ himself. It was his enjoyment of putting himself right at the edge of destruction. It was something also found inside Suou. Anna knew that, and that truth was now raw as it entered her heart. 'Senkouki’ was glad from the very bottom of his heart to be fighting Suou. He didn’t have a single worry in his head that he couldn’t lose, or that he might die, he only drowned in the thrill of gladness he found in fighting to the death which shook his heart and body.
'Senkouki’s’ attack was deflected by Suou, dodged, and countered. As this was repeated, 'Senkouki’ would fall and be revived over and over by Mizuchi, then stand again. Then there would be even more power in his fist than the previous time. The more he was beaten, the more his life was threatened, the more power 'Senkouki’ held. Suou was also playing. He was enjoying going against 'Senkouki’. He seemed to be interested in seeing how far 'Senkouki’s’ power could go, and also looked to be sharing in 'Senkouki’s’ enjoyment.
The skin of 'Senkouki’s’ arm was torn and blood spurted out. He was over capacity. The power he wielded was beyond his body’s limits. Anna knew what kind of treatment the Strains experimented on here received. Compared to them, Anna knew her own treatment had been quite gentle. The dangerous, criminal Strains had no contact with the outside aside from the examinations done by the 'Rabbits’. Anna, knowing that there were other Strains nearby being forced into experiments, had 'seen’ them through her powers before. She may have been hoping for comfort by knowing that there was someone worse off than her. However, what she saw hurt her deeply.
It was, indeed, the manufacturing of weapons using humans as a material. The dangerous criminal Strains were forced to throw away their names as people, given codenames after their powers, and only recognized for their abilities. Then they were put through all kinds of experiments to raise their level.
That wasn’t all.
They were also used as material for helping Mizuchi reach the limits of his own power. The power for healing and regeneration. They were first given Mizuchi’s blood. Then, holding his blood as a part of his body within their own, since that was the state they were most easily affected in, /they had their bodies destroyed/. In response to the agony Anna felt through her power, she shivered and vomited a little. Those men had their bodies destroyed, then they were recovered using Mizuchi’s power. At first it was a slow, tedious process of recovery. However, as soon as they recovered, the whole thing was repeated. When that happened, the healing went a bit faster. Their bodies got used to Mizuchi’s power, and learned how to recover using it.
Anna didn’t know how many times that process was repeated until the recovery became something that would only take a moment. However, that hellish scene that Mizuchi repeated over and over without any sort of hate or resentment planted a deep fear of him within her.
'There is a higher level of power.’
Said Mizuchi kindly when Anna failed to contact the 'Slate’.
'I’ve drawn out the power of many Strains. What’s important is finding the key to releasing their limiters.’
Said Mizuchi as he stroked the burn on Anna’s arm put there for the sake of sharpening her power. Anna’s sore skin was surrounded by golden light, and the pain vanished. It turned back to its previous pale, smooth state from being burnt red and black.
'I’ve also studied my own power for many years… they say the first king, the silver king’s element is 'immortality’. If I were to draw my own power out to the limit, could I not also reach that level? Limitless recovery. That would be no different from 'immortality’.’
Mizuchi looked down at his hands, opened his eyes wide, and whispered as though talking to himself.
'This is not my limit. 'Possibilities’ are always open. Until now, I’ve even drawn out my powers, and found ways to use it. This isn’t all. There is still more. More, more, more…!“
Mizuchi, who had been talking to his own palms, suddenly raised his head. He looked around, then turned the smile stuck to his face towards Anna.
'Everything will begin after solving the mysteries of the 'Slate’. The first and greatest key is held by you, Kushina-kun.’
"Kushina-kun!”
Anna heard the voice of Mizuchi in her memories and in reality in harmony. She looked up with a start. Mizuchi was soaked in sweat and shaking as he stared at her. Because he kept recovering 'Senkouki’ who tirelessly went against Suou despite being destroyed over and over, he was reaching his limit. The golden light he let off would sometimes flicker like a dying lightbulb. He breathed harshly, his eyes were sunken, his hair was in disarray, and he seemed to have aged a decade or two. The smile he always had on had vanished like it was never there at all, and was replaced by a scary expression, and he stared at Anna as though he still wouldn’t let go of clinging to her despite the situation.
“Don’t betray me! You will become king. I will become your first vassal! I will serve you, support you, lead you, and eventually force you up into the golden king’s position as manager of the 'Slate’!”
Anna looked back at Mizuchi silently. Standing and wavering amid the waves of heat coming from Suou, he had a face like a monster.
“Weren’t you prepared to become king for Kushina Honami’s sake?!”
When Mizuchi said Honami’s name, Totsuka’s arms, which had been holding Anna protectively, tightened.
“Don’t waver, okay?”
Totsuka said that to her in a soft voice that didn’t suit the situation. Anna nodded her head a bit.
“Okay.”
Within this place that was filled with a storm of emotions, Totsuka’s feelings alone were calm. By leaning against him, Anna’s heart was also able to steady itself. Anna watched Suou and 'Senkouki’ fight as if dancing. 'Senkouki’s’ tension and pleasure reached her. His skin was ripping under his own power, his muscles were being hardened into strange shapes, and his body was near destruction, but his heart left that body behind and only desired his battle with Suou.
The other two Strains twisted their faces and watched 'Senkouki’ from behind. They no longer had any will to participate in this fight. Nothing but destruction awaited 'Senkouki’. However, his power and heart, which had long been caged away, were allowed to fly freely right now. To him, this battle was not a test to obtain freedom. It WAS his 'freedom’.
And right now, in Suou, she could /feel something like desire/.
…Mikoto’s world spilled out.
Anna’s two eyes 'saw’ the world inside Suou. The sea of magma within him fiercely twisted, changed chape, and became a big, sleek beast. That beast reacted to its enemy’s insane charge by bearing its fangs.
Anna’s heart was stolen by that beautiful, red form that was only a step away from being released- she wouldn’t hesitate to call it the most beautiful creature in the world.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He reacted to the smell of blood.
Once he had let the chains loose once, he would be melted away by the seduction of the flames rising from within him. It felt like his mind was numbed. It was the staggering pleasure of letting loose the power he had always been holding back since becoming king.
'Senkouki’ was also smiling. His insides were crushed and then recovered again and again. Every time, he let out an immense amount of blood, and he continued to smile as his eyes shone like a little boy’s as his chest and mouth were sullied. His skin was burned and recovered over and over. Even as he let out a beastly roar in response to the heat and pain, he still lunged straight forward.
What a crazy bastard, he thought.
But he also felt like responding to that madness.
“Gaaaaaaaaaahh!” 'Senkouki’ howled. It was no longer a voice that could be thought human, it was a howl like he was vomiting his life up from his belly. Suou swung his red fist.
Until now, there had never been someone who could fight with Suou personally. Suou was a king. As a king, if he had just held that power and /existed/, that was good enough. There was no one he should fight- no one anywhere he could use his powers against and fight. It wasn’t as though this Strain would become that person. However, he was a weirdo who knew Suou’s power, and even then continued to go at him, and the thing within him that was about to burn away felt like what Suou had always been wanting for.
Suou’s fist and 'Senkouki’s’ fist collided head on. With a heavy roar, waves of impact spread out. It was the impact of two powerful energies. The waves of impact spread out and instantly left crevices in the walls, the floor, the ceiling surrounding them. Suou didn’t notice, but those crevices spread out all the way to the top of the Center. 'Senkouki’s’ fist left a beautiful round circle in what he hit. It was not a rough form of destruction. However, when that fist of his, his weapon, collided with Suou’s, the next moment it went flying.
'Senkouki’ shrieked. However, even then, the light didn’t vanish from his eyes. Those sparkling, childlike blue eyes watched Suou. That right arm of his was wrapped in golden light and began to regenerate. 'Senkouki’ didn’t wait for it to finish and clenched his left fist. Putting power into it, he swung it upwards like a drill, using a destructive power. If he did that, he’d only lose his left arm as well. However, he didn’t seem to care. He would use up all of his power. He burned up his own thoughts until his head was pure white, he would let everything loose, and he would reach the end. 'Senkouki’s’ childlike blue eyes that didn’t suit his body were only looking at what was beyond that point.
Suou may have been pulled along by those eyes, and by how insanely intoxicated he was by the battle. Suou himself was feeling a strange momentum due to letting loose just a little of the power he had long held down. The flow inside him that had been held by a chain kept spilling out as soon as he had let his bonds loosen. It felt nice to let it go. It gently melted his brain and led him on. The red light wrapped around Suou’s body changed into a flame with physical power. The floor was becoming like a red sea and filled with Suou’s fire.
The walls began to turn to ash in response to that ridiculous heat, and the metal door began to melt. The ceiling burned and fell, and fragments rained down. 'Senkouki’ watched this as if fascinated, but the other two Strains whimpered and ran away. They jumped up and away by kicking off from the ground of the floor which was becoming a burning hell. Mizuchi stared at Suou with a twisted expression and shouted.
“Are you going to destroy everything, red king!? You’ll destroy yourself!”
Destruction.
Suou smiled faintly.
Right then, something cool was pressed against the center of his back.
“King.”
It was Totsuka’s palm. Even within this situation, he called Suou with a serene voice.
Maybe Totsuka’s hand was cold, or perhaps Suou’s body had heated up too much, or maybe it was both. Thanks to that hand’s feeling and temperature, a calm came upon the crazed power within his body.
+++++++++++++++++++++
He was charmed by the color of his flame.
As he watched the flames filling the floor, the voices of Suou and Kusanagi rang in Totsuka’s head.
-Stop me.
-You’re the stopper.
That was probably his role, the one who had almost no combat ability within Homura. However, sometimes, there were moments when he thought it would be bliss to just stand and watch that back go forth, without tying it here.
Totsuka smiled bitterly, just a little, then looked down at Anna, who he was holding close in his arms. Her eyes were wide, and she was looking around at the fiery floor. The light of the flames danced on her white skin. Her large eyes reflected that fiery shine and sparkled. She was fascinated by the flow of power from Suou and let out a sigh.
“It’s pretty.”
“Yeah.”
“…but.”
“I know.” Totsuka smiled and let Anna go.
“Stay close.” Anna looked up at Totsuka and blinked. Then she did as she was told and followed after him.
Totsuka and Anna were protected by a barrier put up by Suou, and regardless Suou’s flames would never burn Totsuka. Totsuka had hardly any combat ability. His power was also particularly weak. However, he was able to use it 'delicately’.
In return for being weaker than anyone else, he was able to be most in tune with his comrades’ flame. Totsuka would never, ever be harmed by Suou’s fire, or the power the members of Homura had received from him.
As he watched the fierce flow of power that spilled out of Suou and raved around, Totsuka leisurely approached him from behind.
One step. Two steps.
It was so hot that if a defenseless civilian had been here, they would have died with their blood boiling within an instant, but Totsuka walked right through it. Right as the waves of heat were about to touch him, they lost their danger and became a soft warm breeze. As he approached Suou’s back, he directed his consciousness towards the small ember within himself. It was small, and it was weak. However, it was certainly a flame he had received from Suou.
