Chapter 438: The Abnormal State Skill Within the Failure Frame

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How——— was it activated?

Could the information in my records have been wrong……?

Certainly…… I was never able to experiment with it myself.

I had never reached the stage of confirming whether others could truly activate it or not.

That’s because I never had the complete set of conditions necessary to trigger a Forbidden Curse.

If my memory serves, “affixing” a Forbidden Curse can, in theory, be performed on anyone.

Even on those who are not of the Forbidden Tribe.

At least, that’s what the surviving records claim.

However, activation itself———– should have been impossible.

That was the premise upon which my understanding rested.

Yet now, that man has done it. He’s activated it.

He’s actually activated it……!

And he’s neither of the Forbidden Tribe nor a crest bearer!

How!?

Shouldn’t he simply be spurting blood and dying for nothing!?

More importantly———- why isn’t he dying!?

Anyone other than a crest-bearer who uses a Forbidden Curse is supposed to die, aren’t they!?

No……

Judging by his condition, he seems to have sustained injuries severe enough to be fatal……

———-It got mitigated?

Did he somehow employ a means of mitigation that allowed him to escape the death that should have been inevitable?

……Hero?

Could it be due to the Status Correction?

There are certainly no recorded cases of a Hero using a Forbidden Curse.

B- But even so…… I just can’t accept this!

That a Hero could activate a Forbidden Curse and live!?

Don’t make me laugh!

How could I ever accept such…… such nonsense!

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand, I don’t understand.

I don’t understand, I don’t understand, I don’t understand———–

In less than the span of a single blink, those thoughts exploded within my mind.

But then, as though time itself had resumed its flow, “reality”————

———–returned.

The activation was real.

The fact that Mimori has not died, also real.

These are already established truths.

There’s no meaning in being fixated on uncovering the cause here and now.

What I must face and respond to is not the reality that has already passed……

But the reality confronting me this very moment—————

▽

Mimori’s right arm, faintly trembling and beginning to sink————

He lifted it again, as if supporting it with sheer force of will.

[ < Pa——-]

(Shoot———-)

I screwed up.

I should have calmed myself immediately and put some distance between us.

This is bad.

I was so intent on distancing myself from the Takao Sisters that————

I moved too close to Mimori.

I should withdraw to get beyond his skill range.

But at this distance, a withdrawal———— might not make it in time.

If that’s the case, then rather———–

Every cell of the White God within me voiced the same conclusion.

I followed that and decided———— instantly.

I’ll have to kill him here and now.

Not yet.

I can still go on.

The identity of the one inside the late-version Fly King outfit, which had long worried me, has been confirmed.

That makes this extraordinarily simple.

If I get hit by a Abnormal State Skill here, it might be over for me———–

But conversely———– if I thwart the Abnormal State Skill from being activated and kill Mimori……

It’s my win.

In this situation, he should have no choice but to rely on his Abnormal State Skills.

Isn’t that exactly what my initial analysis predicted?

Even if that accursed Forbidden Curse broke through my <Dispel Bubble>.

If I can just thwart the Abnormal State Skills from being activated———– this will be my win……!

Move———— Vysis, move.

Seras Ashrain, who seems entirely occupied with my clones.

Come to think of it, she was about to say something earlier.

She probably intended to call out to Mimori.

That reaction———— did she not know?

That Mimori can use the Forbidden Curse.

Even though they seem bound by a strong bond.

Perhaps…… kuku, he simply doesn’t trust her that much huh?

Seras has gone pale.

She must be frantic with worry for the man she loves.

But———– she’s not such a fool that she would forget her role and act purely on emotion.

If only she would let emotion consume her and lose her composure.

Surprisingly, her resolve seems set.

As for the other rabble around us———– they hesitated and faltered.

More precisely, they cannot keep up with this speed domain.

Some may have thought to throw themselves forward and become Mimori’s shield.

I can sense the startled prelude to movement.

But it will be far too late.

What a bunch of idiots.

I move only my right eyeball and check ahead.

The most irritating Ayaka———— seems unable to move.

Die.

No——- kuku…… has she already died?

And then———– the second clone that thwarted the second Forbidden Curse.

By distance, she cannot contribute to this attack.

Similarly, the Takao sisters are not within any effective range.

Hijiri is dead————- or at least, on her last breath.

Then there’s that little sister’s super-speed movement……but she won’t make it in time.

She doesn’t have the time to finish that whole “unlock whatever” spiel.

I could have the second clone kill Itsuki……

But just in case———- I’ll have it be the “eye” behind my back.

———-Come.

And then——– the first clone.

That one has been keeping Seras Ashrain pinned down.

She’s been clinging to that clone whose abilities steadily increase, but it doesn’t seem able to shake that High Elf princess off.

That said, that is your limit.

I will kill you.

Pathetically.

Now, your beloved.

I will tear apart everything of yours into pieces.

I’ll dress you all in “rags” worthy of the greatest humiliation in this world.

There is no one left to block my path.

Not a single soul.

[———ra———]

He’s going to use <Paralyze> huh.

He must have judged it effective against Wormungandr and chosen it for that reason.

The havoc it wreaked when it hit and he ran wild was tremendous.

Yeah, I’ll recognize that much.

……but Mimori.

Even that skill of yours is no exception.

In the end, Skills are———–

Defective junk!

Ridiculous!

Conditional, and you have to speak the Skill Name aloud!?

Those are all failure skills!

In an ultimate crisis like this they’re as good as a wooden puppet!

They can’t keep up!

That so-called Abnormal State Skill is a huge busted, defective ability!

If your chanting doesn’t even finish and it never activates, it’s useless in the end!

That’s right!

Against me now, such a defective skill is far too slow!

How is it!?

You’re anxious, aren’t you!?

You’re agonized, aren’t you!?

You’re terrified, aren’t you!?

Seras, what’s with that face of yours!?

Right, right, isn’t that how it is!?

You understand it too, don’t you!?

Curse that fighting talent of yours, you ugly elf!

Since you’re tied up dealing with my clone———–

You cannot possibly stop my killing blow aimed at Mimori!

You lose. All of you lose.

And…… I’ll press it into you once more.

It’s my win.

<Sogou Ayaka POV>

My body can no longer move properly.

No, that’s not quite right———- ever since the battle with Vysis……

I had been forcing it to move with my Limit Break.

I’m glad…… that I was able to protect Munin-san.

I’m glad my body moved on instinct back then.

My body feels cold.

It’s not that the air around me is chilly.

It’s something deep inside me, my very core———- I think.

It feels cold.

I had been preparing myself.

Just one more time……

I thought that maybe, even in this state, there might still be something I could do.

So———- I wove it within me.

The strings that are my limits.

Though even if I manage to weave it, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be able to move.

My chest, pierced by Vysis’s blade, burns so hot.

Perhaps because the rest of me feels so cold……

The blood alone feels unbearably warm.

…………………………………………….

Right now…… Father and Mother, back in the original world.

Grandfather.

My family……

What are they doing, I wonder?

Are they…… worried about me?

Come to think of it……

In our original world……

How are we even regarded now?

…………………………………………….

Mimori-kun used the Forbidden Curse.

Next, he should be using his Abnormal State Skill.

If that’s the case, we can’t allow Vysis to escape.

We have to keep her within range of his skill……

Just one more time.

This will be the final Limit Break I can weave———–

…………………………………………….

I wanted to protect the people who needed to be protected.

I believed it was my duty to do so……

My classmates, my teachers……

But……

Among those I wanted to protect, did I ever include myself?

I don’t think I ever did.

As long as I could protect someone else, it didn’t matter what happened to me.

Self-sacrifice, that’s what they’d call it.

Neglecting myself, to protect someone else.

Because that————– that is my weapon.

I can cast myself aside…… if it means protecting someone.

Ah…… I’m glad……

That I’m the kind of person……

————-who can sacrifice herself for the sake of those she wants to protect.

That’s why———–

There’s no room for hesitation.

I’ll weave it…… in exchange for this life————- I’ll break through my utmost limit.

…………………………………………….

When I was fighting Vysis earlier……

I had increased them to three.

And the maximum number of Limit Breaks I can weave is————

……probably six.

The limit of what a human body can maintain while still holding its shape and moving———- is six.

Even with the Status Correction granted by being a Hero……

Any more than that, and my limbs would likely tear apart.

If that happens, the attack would fail before even being unleashed.

Six Limit Breaks.

They can only be used for a single strike.

Once I unleash it, I’m sure…… I won’t be able to move again.

……Vysis seems to be closing the distance now, intending to kill Mimori-kun.

Not to retreat———— but to move forward and kill him.

In that case……

There’s only one thing left for me to do.

…………………..This is fine.

To let this battle end exactly as that goddess desires……

———-would be unbearable…… Utterly revolting.

Besides……

This is what I truly want.

Because right now, the Mimori-kun standing there…… is the classmate……

————I’ve always wanted to protect.

……Hijiri-san.

Please, live.

Suou-san, Minamino-san…… Kashima-san…… everyone……

That we won’t be able to meet again alive and well————— I’m sorry.

<Goddess Vysis POV>

———-Something…… cut through?

Something had just crashed into with tremendous force.

What…… was that?

A shape……

A shadow……

Something shot past, so fast that even my eyes could barely perceive it.

It crossed from right to left before me……

Tracing an arc that cut straight across my path———-

Like a cross slashed through the air.

———–Huh?

The clone that had been fighting Seras…… was gone.

Most likely———– blown away.

Along with “whatever it was” that had suddenly come barreling in from the side.

It’s just———— For just an instant, I thought I caught a glimpse of what that flying object was.

AYAKAAAAAAAAA!

And ahead of me now, there was only Mimori and————

[———ly———]

Only the knight protecting the Fly King remained.

So Ayaka must have taken on my clone.

I see……

Ayaka believed in and entrusted everything———– to that elven princess knight……!

To Seras Ashrain.

This weirdo……

This elf……

Different from Mimori and from the Ayaka who appeared in this courtyard.

There is no clouding in her eyes.

She positions herself to block my path, and after making sure Mimori’s sightline is secure————

She readies her sword.

How clear they are……

What a look to wear at a moment like this.

Even the worry she directs at Mimori is————- too pure.

She stuffs anxiety and fear inward and stares at me straight on.

A naiveté so honest it makes me feel embarrassed.

A goodness that has never known true defilement.

I know what that is.

That———- is the absolute form of virtue.

The quality I hate most.

It makes me want to trample it————- turn it into a mess.

It should already be over, surely.

If only you weren’t here.

Then Touka Mimori’s journey of vengeance……

It would never have reached this place.

Die.

————–Seriously, just die.

I swing my arm-blade.

The arm-blade splits into three prongs.

The blade that had always been bifurcated becomes three.

A last-moment surprise attack.

[—————————————-]

Seras raises her sword.

There————— she met my three-pronged arm-blade.

With a light blade that branched into three.

(Guh…… ———-d*mn it……)

[D*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN IIIIIII [——ze > ] IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT————-!]

———–Crickle, crackle———–

I screamed without pause as I unleashed attack after attack.

Bshhh!

Every time I moved, blood……

Blood sprayed from my entire body.

Aghh.

It hurts.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!

And every single one of my attacks…… every one of them is being deflected———– by Seras!

[D*mn you…… d*mn you all, you d*mn b*staaaaaards———! Ghh, gah……!?]

[———-<Sleep>———-]

[……Ugh.]

Gah……

Suddenly…… this overpowering…… unbearable drowsiness……

C- Come……

[My…… clones……]

Ah.

It seems…… it’s no good……

That distant one barely feel it, but……

At this range…… the clones are affected by the main body’s condition……

And…… because of this cursed sleep Abnormal State Skill……

My clones…… stopped moving first……

[D*mn…… you……]

[———–< Berserk >.]

The divine blood blooms…..

A magnificent crimson flower.

[Ghk…… you…… brat……]

[ < Poison > .]

I stumble back, one step, two steps.

(M- My…… eyelids……)

Wormun…… gandr……

You…… You took that sleep skill full on……

And yet, you were able to…… talk normally……

With Loqierra…… for quite some time……?

That’s…… impos……sible……

Rustle.

Mimori, breathing heavily———— tore off the late-version Fly King outfit.

Underneath……

He wore a tattered, grimy robe.

It looked worn and patched in places.

At his waist hung a small leather pouch, likewise old and weathered.

[It just so happens this comes alongside my revenge———— but it seems your obsession, along with mine…… has finally borne fruit……]

………….?

That robe…… looks familiar……

That’s…… could it be……

The Great Sage…… Angri——– ……

No, I……

I- I can’t…… my consciousness…… just staying awake…… is taking everything……

[Vysis, I don’t know how deep your obsession runs…… but if I had to put it into words…… by mine, and by the strength of every comrade and every avenger who helped me reach this point———–] R̃𝓪ɴŐ𝖇Ε𝙨

Mimori declared.

[That obsession of yours has been defeated.]

[――――――――]

Obsession.

That was what I had always believed myself to possess more strongly than anyone.

It was what upheld my absolute self.

And yet now, he’s saying that very obsession of mine……

———–was defeated?

Indeed……

The cold, inescapable truth before me———- the reality itself……

Etched into my awareness that one simple word……

“Defeat”

(Ah……)

With that……

The thread snapped.

The consciousness I had been holding together unraveled.

As my body crumpled, and my eyelids began to close completely,

I saw Mimori, breathing roughly, looking down at me……

[I told you, you sh*tty goddess…… if I make it back alive——–]

And just before my eyes shut and my awareness faded completely, the last words I heard———-

[You’d better be ready.]

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