Impossible Final Form
"...Tch...!"
I felt the sensation of a blade passing my throat. Alma (fake) had just cut me.
Normally this would have been fatal, but I'm unharmed thanks to my HP buffer.
Several minutes since our fight began. It's been an awfully dense battle almost feels like we've been at it for hours already.
Alma cut me so many times, yet I haven't landed a clean hit even once.
...Not because Alma completely outclasses me.
My base stat is about as strong as Energy Control buffed Alma. It's not like I can't exponentially raise my Attributes and finish her off instantly.
But that's speaking of combat prowess. It's a problem with the mind.
An opening, there!
"...Kuh...!"
...My hands always stopped short.
I'd always go, 'What are you doing, just off them quick!', whenever I read this kind of situation in a manga, but it's shockingly hard to do when I'm actually filling in the shoes.
On the other hand, Alma was merciless with her swings yet she always grimaces whenever her blade cuts me.
Looks like she's not fighting because she wants to either. Her role as a Floor Boss is compelling her.
"...Hikaru...!"
"What!"
Alma spoke up while we were clashing.
She's tearing up a bit.
"I, I don't want, to fight you, I don't want to swing my sword at you, Hikaru."
"...I know."
"Then, go ahead and defeat me. You should be able to easily do that now, yet you always hesitated whenever you saw an opening."
Yup, of course, she'd notice.
Merely standing around when she showed openings, exchanging blows like we were equal when I could brute forced my way if I just used Energy Control. It's like I'm patronizing her.
There's nothing to gain in this fight.
I know that I should get it done quickly and move on to the next form.
But... But when I recall that time I hurt Alma...
That time I had my arm through Alma's body when I came to.
Red liquid falling down my arm, the smell of rusted iron and Alma's face with red liquid dripping down her mouth--
I got goosebumps just recalling that terrible scene.
Do I have to go through that again.
No, I don't want to, never again.
Even if it's not the real thing...
"Hikaru."
Alma's voice trembled as she called my name.
"Please, I'm begging you, please don't make me cut you any more. I, I hate this, make it stop... Quickly...!!"
She's swinging her sword with tears falling.
...Why is she crying. I don't believe I've hurt you yet.
I'm such a dumbarse.
It must be because of me stalling, using my past trauma as a pretext.
I looked away from anything unpleasant only for her to pay the price.
Trash. I'm an absolute trash.
Sorry.
I'm sorry, Alma.
It's okay now.
I took Alma's sword stab to my abdomen.
I controlled my life force to cancel the protection on my abdomen, to feel the damage on my real body.
"Ga, ha...!!"
"Hika, ru...!?"
My blood seeps out of the wound. Red warm liquid filled my mouth along with the taste of rusted iron.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts so much I'm dying. I wanna cry. Nobody should go through this pain, not even for a second.
...No, it doesn't hurt, at all.
This is, nothing...!
"But, why, blood, aa, aa, Hikaru, heal, quickly--"
"...Alma."
...Hahaha. It's a complete reversal from that time.
I focused all my remaining energy in my right hand.
"We're, even now."
"...Ah..."
I pierced through Alma's chest with my right arm like when I was under White Demon's control.
Her face grimaced from the pain for a moment before it turned into that of relief and peace.
I should have done this faster, then Alma wouldn't have to cry.
"Hikaru, you finally put an end to this."
"...I'm sorry. My cowardice always makes you suffer so much."
"It really does. Hurting you is so much more painful than getting hurt by you, Hikaru."
"Tell me about it. I'd rather get stabbed in the stomach than going through this again."
"As long as you get it... You shouldn't let a stab wound on the stomach fester. Make sure to treat it right away."
"I'll do it once you're gone, Alma. It's okay, it won't take long, right?"
"Un. It doesn't hurt anymore, I'm feeling sleepy. I think I won't be me anymore once I fall asleep."
"Get some rest now. That fight must be tiring."
"...Can I say one last thing?"
"...What is it."
"Hikaru, I--"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Alma's body dispersed like Oni-sensei did before she could finish.
I immediately blocked the injury with Lifeforce Control, dosed myself in potion and waited for the next form.
....Ah dammit, my face is burning up.
That last bit leaves a much bigger impression than the repeat trauma.
Calm down me, I can always mull over it once I beat this boss.
I've overcome the strongest, Oni-sensei and the one I don't want to hurt most, Alma.
I'll get over the last one too, come what may.
〈―――――……――――――・――――…〉
As I waited for the shapeshifting process, a noise could be heard out of nowhere.
...What is this irritating sound like when a radio hits a blank frequency...?
〈―――・――・――…―――――『Earth』―・――doing――on――…――――――〉
〈――――…―…―――Nothing―――――Just――little――help――『Parallecia』―――〉
PSHT, after that cut-off-like sound, the mist started converging once again. It's the final form at last.
...What was that sound anyway? Almost like a conversation between a kid and a woman...
<<The final form is a shapeshift of 'Individual whom the target can never meet again despite their wish to.'>>
<<If this individual does not exist, this form will be skipped and the boss is considered defeated. This applies to Kajikawa Hikaru as well, as such individual's record is not found in this world.>>
Eh, then is this the end?
But the mist is converging into the shape of a human.
<<Information pertaining said individual was transmitted to 『★Open Scar』 from Floor 21 alongside with earlier noise. 3 seconds to shapeshifting completion.>>
Wha? What's going on...?
Three seconds huh, someone I can never meet again despite my wish to, could that be--
"Ha, haha, hahaha..."
I couldn't contain my smile.
I put my right hand over my face to hide that yet I can't stop my laughter.
Tears won't stop coming out.
My emotion overwhelms me, I have no word to describe it.
"Ahahahaha, hahahahaha, hahaha..."
...This feeling is neither rage or sadness.
It's joy.
Even though this person must die if I want to go ahead, I can't help myself from feeling an overwhelming joy for this chance to see her again...
Give me a break. What did I do anyway.
Why, now, this...
"You've gotten quite adult-like since the last time I saw you, haven't you."
"...Haha. Of course I do, it's been seven years you know."
My mother who passed away on my very first day working is standing there.
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