Light Novel Volume 18

Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan Light Novel 18 is the eighteenth installment of the Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry light novel series, written by Riku Misora and illustrated by Won. It was released in June 2020.

Summary
"I won't let you kill anyone!!"

The "Great Flame" Tendou has been subjugated but the capital Tokyo is still in the midst of a defense battle against the US forces invasion.

Even the main force on Japan's side, "World Clock" Kurono Shinguuji, can't deal with the US forces' overwhelming resources. However, Kurono's determination and choice at the last minute create an opportunity to strike down a harsh fate, and the most elite student knights such as Ikki, Stella, Touka and others who rushed there as reinforcements swing their blades on the battlefield to reverse the situation.

Meanwhile, "The Hero" Abraham Carter, who Tsukikage and others encountered once at Rebellion headquarters, together with "Grand Professor" Islands has begun an eerie maneuver--!?

The 18th volume that tells the beginning of the final battle that determines the fate of the world!

Prologue: Justice and Evil
The scene is back to where Prime Minister Bakuga Tsukikage, Kouzou Kazamatsuri, Rinna Kazamatsuri and Sara Bloodlily are at the destroyed Rebellion HQ in the Alps. They are being taken towards inside the building by Abraham Carter and his PSYON unit. They can’t refuse since their bodies are moving against their will due to Abraham’s ability. Inside an elevator that goes down, Abraham talks with Tsukikage and the others about the truth of World War 2. What really happened was that “Tyrant” used his abilities to brainwash various ruling people around the world to drive the war. This was in order to fulfill the goal of making people with supernatural abilities as the dominant class, which was an idea that existed for hundreds of years even before Rebellion first appeared in history. “Tyrant” inherited the idea and dragged the world into an undesired war but his ambition was crushed due to “Lord Whitebeard” Arthur Bright. When Bright was part of the British forces and Italy was forced to surrender, he realized there was a mastermind behind the war. He gathered Blazers that he trusted and formed a special task force. Eventually, Rebellion HQ at the time was attacked by main forces of nations that eventually became key players of the League of Mage-Knight Nations with “Tyrant” repelled by Bright and Ryouma Kurogane. The war stopped when people were released from “Tyrant’s” brainwashing and the US which had suffered humiliation by Ryouma during the Battle of Midway at the time agreed to peace. However, Abraham says it was a mistake because they were deceived by the current League of Mage-Knight Nations. When the elevator door opens, Abraham and the others arrived at an area where there is a throne in the middle. The throne is where the “Tyrant” sits and only the executives, the Numbers, are allowed to enter here. Abraham releases a flame from his hand and scatters it to illuminate the dark area. It is revealed that the one sitting on the throne is a frozen corpse crucified by a Japanese sword like an insect specimen. Bright and the others reported that they only managed to repel the “Tyrant” and that he was still alive. But the truth is they killed the “Tyrant” and they hid this fact. Abraham says the League lied about the “Tyrant” being alive and seized control of Rebellion. He then says the League is the enemy of the world while staring at Kouzou who is one of Rebellion’s Numbers.

Kouzou denies Abraham’s accusations because it is not the whole truth. The US and the rest of the Union also knew “Tyrant” was dead. The world was hurt at the time and the war had caused deep resentments in many people. The hatred left behind could start up the war again and so the world needed to stay calm. The existence of Rebellion was needed in the post-war situation and so certain people from both the League and the Union secretly meet and maintain the necessary evil. From a global perspective, the system has worked well until this day. Kouzou says Abraham can’t pretend not knowing this since his father, the “Grand Professor”, is also one of “Rebellion’s Numbers on the side of the Union. Abraham denies this and keeps insisting that all of it was the League’s doings which irritates Kouzou. However, Tsukikage realizes that the US is planning on making the League taking all the blame and using justice as an excuse to start another war. Then, an old man in a white robe who is obese like a barrel comes out from behind the throne and says that Tsukikage’s suspicion is correct. The man is the “Grand Professor” Carl Islands. He treated Sara’s illness in the past and asks if her condition is good now. But Sara does not respond to him favorably and Kouzou looks at him with strong hostility. Islands says that the world is inevitably moving into a new era so it’s natural for a nation to gain initiative of that era. He also says his nation needs Tsukikage and the others cooperation to make that happen and they should talk about it in a nearby US military base.

Two days after PSYON took Tsukikage and others from Rebellion HQ and recovered “Tyrant’s” corpse, Ouma Kurogane who now has short hair has arrived at the Alps. After the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival was over, he came straight here to face the “Tyrant” again. But when he arrived at the mountain, he also received a call for help from Charlotte Cordé. At the destroyed Rebellion HQ, Ouma meets with Charlotte who is unwell from the cold weather as shown in a pic. Charlotte was hidden by Sara’s Noble Art “Stone Gray of the Roadside” and the effect is gone once she calls out to Ouma. Charlotte tells Ouma that Rinna and the others were taken by US forces and begs him to save Rinna. Charlotte points to the direction where they left and Ouma then manifest his Device. He uses a technique called “Ryuugan (dragon’s eye) to read and listen to the wind. He follows the trail of traces of magic power scattered by the wind, and shortly after he has found the location of the magic power that he knows.

Chapter 1: “Sword Emperor of Wind” vs. “The Hero”
Czechoslovakia was heavily damaged by Nazi Germany during the war and after the war it was taking steps to join the League of Mage-Knight Nations which was centered on Britain. But the country began to keep its distance from the League after the former Axis countries (Japan, Italy and Germany) joined the League one after another. Eventually, it became a country heavily influenced by the US. Tsukikage, Kouzou, Rinna and Sara were taken to one of the US military bases in the country. Inside a room, Tsukikage and Kouzou are tied to chairs and Abraham is standing behind them. Abraham is holding his hands on the back of their heads and releasing magic power from his hands. He’s using his mind control ability to brainwash the two into testifying to the US, but it’s been more than three days since they arrived at the base and the progress hasn’t been good. Tsukikage and Kouzou possess strong mental strength to resist. Islands who is sitting across them is amazed that even Kouzou who is just a normal human can resist this far. The old man Kouzou who looks like on the verge of death claims that this is nothing for him who had survived through the war. Abraham stops what he’s doing for the moment and during this the exhausted Tsukikage asks Islands a question. The US is already the most powerful country in the Union and the League which consists of small countries can’t compete, so Tsukikage asks why it is trying to become even more powerful by starting a war that will threaten the peaceful lives of people. Islands realizes Tsukikage must have seen something that caused his bizarre behavior of seeking Rebellion’s strength through his connection with Kouzou.

Islands then explains that although the US is the best in the world in terms of total national power and economy, it is still not enough. The US wants to have overwhelming power that is bigger than all of the other countries in the world combined. No one will lay a finger on the US or blame it even if it openly attacks people in other countries. In order to make that happen, absolute “justice” is needed and the US will be recognized as the enforcer of that “justice”. After it crushes the League which will be portrayed as evil, the righteous and dread of the US will be engraved into the world. Eventually, a new era where the will of the US is the “world’s justice” will be created. Tsukikage is furious because there is no need for such violence since people have words and hearts, and the people of the US wouldn’t want war just for an overkill power. Islands replies that it doesn’t matter if the people want it or not because those in politics and business world will never be on the frontline during a war. However, these are the President’s thoughts and Islands actually doesn’t care about things such as “world’s justice” or “new era”. Islands is a researcher on supernatural powers and his activities in politics and business world are for funding his research. There are problems that he faces during research and one of them is collecting subjects for human experiments. Ethical rules make it difficult for him to analyze supernatural power users, researching on transforming an incompetent person into a supernatural power user and such. Even abducting people through his position in Rebellion was difficult due to some people there being too noisy about it. But if the plan of making the US as the “world’s justice” is successful, Islands will have authority over people from “war criminal countries”. The plan is very attractive since he will obtain many guinea pigs and he definitely wants it since he hasn’t obtained samples of natural-born Desperados. Hearing this causes Kouzou to call Islands a madman. Islands says that if Tsukikage cooperates his relatives will be protected before Japan is destroyed and life security will be provided for few generations ahead but Tsukikage instead spits on his face. Islands then manifests his Device which is a flesh-colored gun and fires a bullet of meat towards Tsukikage’s earlobe. The meat acts on the surrounding cells and mutates them. A human mouth with distorted teeth is born on where Tsukikage’s ear was and is laughing, which causes Tsukikage to panic. Abraham tells Island not to get emotional and then Islands removes his Device. He then decides to change strategy, and instructs Abraham to turn on a large monitor in the room.

What’s shown in the monitor are Rinna and Sara who are tied to chairs with duct tape while naked as shown in a pic, which causes Kouzou to scream at Islands and asks what he has done to them. Islands replies that he hasn’t done anything and that their clothes need to be removed because they might catch fire. A Device’s illusionary form does not hurt the human body and acts only on the soul. This characteristic that gives only pain without injuring the body similar to strong hypnosis is called “habiki (dull blade)”. Illusionary form has been often used by Blazers in the League for training sessions, but Islands plans on using it for torture. Two PSYON members wearing full body protective clothing with flames on their arms are then approaching Rinna and Sara. If Kouzou and Tsukikage don’t comply with Islands’ demands, Rinna and Sara will be tortured with flames of pyrokinesis. Rinna tells Kouzou not to give in and that she won’t lose as well since people of the Kazamatsuri family are those who had maintained peace from behind the scenes. Sara also will hold on since she is grateful to the family for taking her in. Islands then orders the two PSYON members and they hold Rinna and Sara’s heads in between their flame-wielded arms, which causes the girls to scream in pain. The flames in illusionary form don’t burn their bodies including their pain sensory nerves so the pain from their brains being boiled can continue forever. After the girls lose consciousness, Kouzou finally gives in. But Islands wants the scenario of the League being the mastermind behind Rebellion so he needs Tsukikage who is the leader of Japan, a mainstay nation of the League, to give in as well. However, even though Tsukikage has known Rinna since she was a baby and Sara since she was adopted, he refuses to give in for them. As a politician Tsukikage has the responsibility of doing whatever it takes to save the people of his country from a future nightmare and so he can’t betray his country. The PSYON members then force Rinna and Sara to wake up by putting small fire in their mouths. But before they can continue the torture, a large shock shakes the earth and sound of something destroyed is heard. A huge alarm is issued and Abraham determines from his ability that there is an intruder.

Ouma has located the military base where Rinna and the others are being held by following the traces of their magic powers. He creates a hole on the outer wall with compressed air shell and enters the base through the hole. He had carried Charlotte to this base and tells her which building Rinna and the others are in. He also uses “Tenryuu Gusoku” to wrap Charlotte in his wind. The airflow of the wind distorts the atmosphere and changes the refractive index of light which causes her to be optically invisible. Ouma tells Charlotte to go save Rinna and the others while he takes care of anyone who is in the way. After she is away, armed soldiers are gathered around Ouma. Since Ouma is attacking a military base, the soldiers don’t hesitate firing their weapons. The weapons they use can kill even Blazers especially if many bullets hit their targets. However, Ouma uses his wind ability to bend and scatter all the bullets fired towards him. He then uses “Mukuu Kekkai · San (airless barrier · tragedy)” to deprive the soldiers of oxygen, but this version of “Mukuu Kekkai” also creates a vacuum state where the boiling point of water is lowered to the limit. As a result, the soldiers’ body temperatures are boiling and vaporizing their body fluids. The soldiers inside the wind barrier collapse like decaying tree with red vapors blowing up from their ears, mouth, nose and sweat glands. Other soldiers that come later then deploy a tank and fire a shell towards Ouma. However, even though the impact sends his body backwards by 10 meters, Ouma is able to catch the shell easily and throws the shell back at the tank’s tread which causes it unable to move. He then uses “Jinsenpuu (blade whirlwind)”, which is a slashing tornado fired in a straight line that tears the soldiers and tank in the direction into pieces like a drill. A voice broadcast by Islands is then heard, telling the soldiers to fall back and let PSYON take care of Ouma. Immediately after, a man in black wearing a visor and silver gauntlets appears from above Ouma and delivers a fist which Ouma receives with his sword. The man in black then grabs the sword and uses electrokinesis to deliver high-voltage electricity that flows through the sword and then Ouma’s body. Ouma is not agitated by the intense electric shock and delivers a fist towards the man in black. However, the man in front of him is gone suddenly and Ouma can tell that it’s not high-speed movement. The man simply just disappears suddenly and has appeared behind Ouma immediately. Ouma asks who he is and the man introduces himself as Abraham Carter, someone who wipes out enemies of the US.

Islands is watching through a monitor the battle between Ouma who is wielding his sword “Ryuuzume” and Abraham who is wearing his silver gauntlets “Gospel”. Tsukikage tells Islands that Ouma is an A-rank knight with immeasurable potential but Islands replies he has nothing to fear since Abraham is a Desperado. Abraham’s ability is ESPer (psychic ability), which he can use different kinds of abilities such as pyrokinesis, electrokinesis, teleportation, mind control, etc and also possess unmatched power in offense and defense. Ouma is strong but he’s still no match for Abraham and that’s already been proven before. Kouzou explains to Tsukikage that the death of “Tyrant” is a highly kept secret that even among the Numbers, the League and the Union, only very few people knew. People like Wallenstein who believed in Rebellion’s ideals and Or-Gaule who enjoyed committing evil were relatively obedient to Rebellion’s actions, but there are some people who would try to challenge “Tyrant” or question the Numbers who forbid contact with “Tyrant”. The League and the Union set up assassins to bury those that would risk exposing the truth. The assassin on the Union’s side was Abraham and he was the one that fought Ouma when Ouma was seeking to challenge “Tyrant” few years ago. In the current battle, Ouma has the advantage in medium distance and his “Tenryuu Gusoku” would repel Abraham’s fists but Abraham can easily avoid Ouma’s attack with precognition and teleportation. Abraham then uses one of his ESPer abilities psychokinesis, which is a type of power different from magic that only he can use and it causes kinetic interference on an object. As a result, Ouma suddenly can’t move his body and Abraham then uses “Psycho Rush” which is an attack that delivers a series of invisible blows on Ouma’s body. The attack is not magic nor caused by air pressure so Ouma can’t perceive it even with his senses or with “Ryuugan”. Since the attack is not subject to any external interference but only the kinetic interference that Abraham desires, Ouma’s “Tenryuu Gusoku” can’t protect him. Ouma has experienced this power and asks why Abraham can use it. Islands through a voice broadcast then tells Ouma that the one who fought him years ago was actually Abraham, not “Tyrant”. During that time at the entrance to “Tyrant’s” throne room, Ouma’s whole body was being completely beaten up while unable to see Abraham. Islands who was there saw Ouma completely broken in body and heart, and Ouma would have died if Edelweiss didn’t break in and saved him. Islands believes Ouma must be scared to fight again the opponent that gave him a trauma and that he will die here. However, Ouma who rarely shows emotions is laughing loudly and says that he is happy that the opponent he wishes to challenge is actually right in front him.

Ouma then swings his sword and shoots “Jinsenpuu” at Abraham. Even though Abraham is able to avoid it with teleportation, Islands is surprised that Ouma was able to move after being bound by psychokinesis. Ouma with grin says he’s not the same as he was before and has lived since that day only thinking about burying his claws on Abraham. Islands orders Abraham to teach Ouma a lesson, and Abraham then takes off his visor which reveals his shining golden eyes. Ouma is excited and is in his best condition. After he fought Stella Vermillion, his fear of “Tyrant” that would freeze his body just by remembering has completely disappeared from his body. Ouma rushes towards Abraham and aims for the neck. Abraham avoids it with teleportation, but Ouma immediately shoots “Jinsenpuu” towards the position where Abraham shows up. Ouma can instantly grasp the position where Abraham would end up by reading the flow of the air with “Ryuugan”. Since teleportation is a delicate ability that can’t be used without a moment of delay, it can’t be used continuously so Abraham has no choice but to guard against the slashing tornado with his gauntlet-shaped device. While Abraham is guarding is himself, Ouma rushes towards him fast. Abraham can use psychokinesis while guarding since it only requires just thinking about it. Abraham tries to stop Ouma’s movement with psychokinesis but Ouma who has overcome his fear and trained his body since his previous defeat does not stop. Abraham knows with his precognition ability that Ouma’s slash will cut off his right arm so he tries to prevent it by blocking it with his gauntlets and using electrokinesis to slow down Ouma. But Ouma uses “Kyokujitsu Isshin-ryū · Gou no Kiwami – Hono Ikazuchi” to power up his slash and Abraham’s arm is cut off.

Tsukikage who is watching through a monitor is shocked to see that Ouma has done nothing but just standing in front of Abraham for some time. Islands explains that this is hypnotism, which Ouma had fallen into a deep sleep since Abraham took off his visor and everything that happened since then was just a dream. Islands says it is a mistake for someone like Ouma to compete against Abraham because Abraham is a clone of “Tyrant” revived in this era through Islands’ “cell magic” that is the best in the world and “Tyrant’s” DNA. Islands is a genius scientist that created the Hadron Cannon weapons and EDY mechanical soldiers which pushed the US to become a military nation that is a century ahead of the rest of the world, but even so Kouzou and Tsukikage are shocked to hear that Islands revived “Tyrant” through just one strand of hair and created the strongest warrior loyal to him. Abraham then delivers an attack on Ouma called “Crazy Storm” which his fist contains flame of pyrokinesis and lightning of electrokinesis and the strength is amplified by his “pseudo-muscles” created with psychokinesis. The attack is too powerful even for Ouma’s steel body and the unprotected Ouma is blown away towards a building where he passes through several concrete walls. Ouma suddenly finds himself buried under rubble with burning pain all over his body, bones and organs heavily damaged, and his consciousness hazy from electric shock. At first he is confused because he was certain he was winning the battle just now, but realizes immediately he was under hypnosis. He tries to stand up and then sees that he is in a room where Rinna and Sara are being held. The two girls are tied to chairs and had fainted with white eyes, foams on the edge of their mouths and urine stains under their chairs. Seeing this causes Ouma to realize what kind of man Abraham is.

As Islands believes Ouma is dead and orders Abraham to return, the atmosphere around the area is converging towards where Ouma was blown away. Ouma walks back towards Abraham while his body is radiating strong light due to his mana increasing drastically. Abraham realizes that Ouma has consumed all the wind in the area. The amount of mana is determined since birth so in order for a Blazer to increase their mana they have no choice but to step into the realm of non-humans and break the limit of their destiny. But an exception is a natural-interference type Blazer can transform the power of their corresponding attribute into their own "pseudo-mana", which is also what Touka Toudou will do in Kyushu later in the timeline. Ouma never tried to use this power before because unlike his younger brother Ikki who aims to win a battle in anyway possible, he is someone who seeks to challenge himself and obtain victory with his own power. But after realizing what’s been done to Rinna and Sara, he feels no admiration for someone like Abraham. Ouma no longer considers this a challenge due to admiration, but a war to destroy unpleasant existences. He then activates “Kusanagi” but the huge raging tornado is being compressed many times with the huge magic power he possesses now until it becomes a radiance that is just slightly larger than his sword. It is the completed form called “Kusanagi – Shin’uchi (true hit)”, which couldn’t be realized with Ouma’s own power. Abraham can tell that the power of that thin wind blade can even twist the space of the world and so he becomes afraid. Abraham tries to use hypnotism but it doesn’t work since it requires the opponent to focus their consciousness towards the user so that the user can access the depths of the opponent’s mind. Ouma is no longer interested in Abraham and so doesn’t see him. Abraham tries to escape by teleporting 5 km away to the mountainside of a mountain, but Ouma determines his location with “Ryuugan” and launches “Ikki no Kaze (wind of single strike)” towards Abraham’s location. “Ikki no Kaze” is a Noble Art that can only be used if “Kusanagi – Shin’uchi” is activated and it slashes everything within 500 km of the trajectory where Ryuuzume is swung in a straight line. Ouma swings his sword towards Abraham’s location and the slash cuts everything located between the ground and the space debris in the outer atmosphere. The mountain peaks and Abraham are cut by the slash, with Abraham’s head cut off from its body.

Ouma is not satisfied with the victory due to the battle having lost its value. Islands suddenly shows up in front of Ouma and praises him for defeating Abraham. Ouma knew Islands was behind this and tells him not to expect to return to the US safely after showing up. Islands replies that’s his line and then suddenly Ouma’s body is struck to the ground by psychokinesis used by PSYON members that show up in full body gear and helmets. Once they take of their helmets, all of them are revealed to have the exact same face as Abraham Carter. Islands explains that all members of PSYON are mass-produced Abraham Carter clones. The quantity of artificially mass-produced Desperados that have the power of “Tyrant” is what makes “The Hero” Abraham Carter’s true power and why he’s the strongest. Ouma can’t move due to being held by the psychokinesis power of over 30 Abraham clones. The clones together then create a huge powerful fireball above Ouma using pyrokinesis, and this will kill Ouma if it hits. However, the fireball descending towards Ouma is suddenly split into two. As the fireball disappears, Torajirou Nangou suddenly appears next to Ouma. Nangou is here because he was ordered by Itsuki Kurogane to search for the missing Tsukikage. He then looks at all of the Abraham clones and tells them to release Ouma. During that moment, Ouma is no longer bound by psychokinesis and the Abraham clones can’t move at all due to Nangou using his “sound” type Noble Art “Kotodama (spirit of words)”. Nangou says that Tsukikage, Kouzou, Rinna, Sara and Charlotte are now safe and asks Ouma to go with them to Japan which he complies. Nangou will handle the situation here, and also claims it’s because he doesn’t want the blade of his sword cane-shaped device “Mateki (magic flute)” to rust so much. “Kotodama” cancels the opponent’s brain waves by hitting them with sound waves in order to block commands from the brain to the body. The Abraham clones counter “Kotodama” by using psychokinesis to control their own bodies and 10 of them try to chase after Ouma. Immediately after Nangou unsheathes his sword cane fast and a bell-like sound is heard from “Mateki”, the 10 clones are suddenly killed. Nangou had used “Otogiri”, a Noble Art that can slash his opponents just by making them hear the sound of “Mateki’s” blade. Nangou says in an angry voice that the immature ones who have lived for only about 20 years will be killed if they underestimate him.

The Abraham clones were unable to catch up with Ouma and the others. The group camouflage themselves using Noble Arts such as “Stone Gray of the Roadside” and “Tenryuu Gusoku”, and crosses the continent at high speed using Ouma’s wind magic. Tsukikage is struck with high fever along the way and so the group is currently resting at an inn in China where Tsukikage looks like is having a bad dream. Kouzou wonders if Tsukikage is once again having that dream that caused him to go into politics, and if it’s about to become a reality. Kouzou has a bad feeling and tells the group that they should start moving again towards Japan the next day. His premonition was correct because on this day, Japan is facing the trial caused by the “Great Flame” and the US Pacific Fleet is heading towards the country.

Chapter 2: The Killing of Crows of Three Thousand Worlds
During the second day of the battle in Tokyo, Kurono Shinguuji is staring while shocked at the sight of Tokyo burning. The geo-front shelter where residents of Tokyo had been evacuated into could withstand a hit from a nuclear missile, but the ultra-high energy laser fired by the 88-inch Hadron Cannon equipped on Douglas Appleton’s air battleship-shaped device “Enterprise” melts through the geo-front’s multi-layered walls and created a huge explosion. The state of Tokyo burning down implies that hundreds of thousands or even millions of people have died, including Kurono's own family there. Kurono screams in despair after Appleton says in a loudspeaker that she could have prevented this.

“''If you had not retired from the KOK, continued to work hard polishing yourself on the frontline until today, and reached awakening, you might have defeated me and prevented this reality. Don’t you think so, “World Clock”? However, while possessing so much talent, you prioritized your own family and withdrew from the frontline. Family has kept you away from battles. The existence of things needed to be protected sometimes weakens a person. For you, family was nothing more than shackles.''”

“A, ah, aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

Back in the first day, the battle for the day has ended by evening and everyone is resting. The US Pacific Fleet retreated but is at Japan’s EEZ (exclusive economic zone) waiting for reinforcements to arrive which is predicted to occur tomorrow morning. While on her way to meet her family at the shelter, Kurono encounters Nagi “Alice” Arisuin who is helping children that got separated from their parents. Alice’s shadow ability does not have much firepower and it is not very useful in large-scale battle due to light sources can increase or decrease at random so he has decided to use his power outside of combat. Kurono then encounters Itsuki when arriving at the entrance to the shelter. Kurono was unable to take down “Enterprise” due its huge size and so apologizes for it, but Itsuki replies that it was thanks to Kurono attracted “Enterprise’s” attention that the Japanese forces were able to repel the first wave of the enemies. Kurono wanted to defeat “Enterprise” as soon as possible so that she could return to Kyushu fast but Itsuki informs her that the “Great Flame” Tendou Harima has already been defeated by Touka and the others. This is helpful for Kurono because she would be in a long-term battle against the opponent she is currently facing. Douglas Appleton was the strongest in US before Abraham Carter appeared and Kurono’s ability to manipulate time does not have large-scale destructive attack so it is difficult for her to take down a huge-size enemy. Kurono is hoping for Nene Saikyou to return from Vermillion but it’s unclear when Nene will return due to communication interruptions. Other major nations of the League seem to be under attack by the Union due to the US claiming that they captured Tsukikage and that he confessed that the League is behind Rebellion. But now that Tsukikage has arrived at Tsushima military base, Japan might be able to discredit that claim and request reinforcements from the League once other nations of the Union withdraw their forces. The US forces will attack again tomorrow so Itsuki tells Kurono to rest tonight which she agrees and enters the underground shelter. Kurono's family had been assigned a private room in the shelter, and this is a privilege also given to other mage-knights on the frontline. When Kurono enters the room, her 3 year old daughter Mei runs straight to her and they hug each other. Mei is scared but Kurono assures her that she will protect her. Kurono’s husband Takumi also greets her and he understands that she is needed for the battle tomorrow. The family then have dinner together for the night.

The next morning, Kurono and Appleton face off against each other again. She fixes space temporally with her ability and uses it as scaffold to run towards the sky where “Enterprise” is present. Appleton launches hundreds of EDY mechanical soldiers from “Enterprise’s” deck and they are equipped with thrusters that enable them to fly in the sky. The EDY soldiers fire their Hadron Cannons equipped on their palms to try shoot down Kurono, but she uses “Clock Up” to increase her speed by 10 times and avoids the shots fired. Kurono then uses “Clock On Death” which speeds up the time of the object that was hit by the bullet up to tens of thousands of time faster. 20 EDY soldiers are hit by ‘Clock on Death” and instantly become scrap from rapid aging. Kurono fires “Clock on Death” at “Enterprise”, but the air battleship had been remodeled with “bio-metal” created by Islands’ cell magic. As soon as the bullet hits, the area hit by the bullet is immediately purged and the “bio-metal” fills up the hole. The “bio-metal” also forms an autocannon and shoots at Kurono who defends with wall of time. Kurono shoots back again many times but she could only slightly reduce “Enterprise’s” total mass. Appleton claims the battle will be settled today and then suddenly Kurono hears huge screams of despair and confusion coming from Tokyo Bay defense line.

The situation at Tokyo Bay defense line is the same as the day before, which Japan’s mage-knights and self-defense force are protecting it from ships that are trying to land on the port and EDY soldiers that are coming from the sky. One ship has landed on the port and a number of men come out of the ship. Japan’s forces are shocked to see that all of those blond-haired men have the exact same appearance including their faces. The self-defense force soldiers fire their rifles and tank guns at the enemies that arrived but the enemies suddenly disappear inside the barricade created by the self-defense force. The enemies release explosive flames and lightnings at many places inside the barricade which causes Japan’s soldiers and mage-knights on the frontline to go into panic. There are B-rank and C-rank student knights on the frontline as well. Renren Tomaru uses “Black Bird” to attack one of the enemies, but the enemy suddenly disappears from Renren’s sight and kicks her to the ground from above. Her lower leg is suddenly being twisted by an invisible force, causing her to scream in pain. Ikazuchi Saijou tries to help her but the enemy easily dodges Saijou’s attack and knocks him down with high-voltage electricity. Yuuri Oreki is also there and she recognizes who the enemy is based on his physical features and the multiple abilities he possesses. She doesn’t understand why there are so many of this man but knows he must be defeated. Oreki uses “Violet Pain” but the man doesn’t seem to be agitated by Oreki’s shared damages and pain. The man strikes his fist deeply into Oreki’s abdomen and while she’s on her knees he is trying to release his powerful flame magic on her. If Oreki receives an instant death attack, she can’t exert the effects of “Violet Pain”. Yuuzou Kaieda then suddenly appears while clad in red lightning and his spear-shaped device “Vjaya (scarlet thunder god)” pierces the enemy. The enemy is “carbonized” with unusual joule heat, turning him into dust. Kaieda is one of Japan’s leading A-rank knights with overwhelming offensive power and speed, and he continues attacking surrounding enemies at true lightning speed. However, there are too many of the enemies and the other mage-knights are overwhelmed by them, which causes the defense line to fall into disarray.

The EDY soldiers in the sky also break through the defense line and begin to gather just above the geo-front in the city center where the Joint Operation Headquarters and evacuation shelter are located. The League’s Japan branch building has been moved to inside the geo-front with an elevator. The personnel inside the Joint Operation Headquarters report damages to the city caused by Hadron Cannons fired by the EDY. Itsuki recognizes that the men with the same face on the frontline are Abraham Carter and guesses that they are clones created by Carl Islands. The EDY are breaching the geo-front so Itsuki orders for the geo-front’s defense system to be activated. He also orders mage-knight reservists along with D-rank and E-rank student knights to intercept the EDY. Since it normally it takes Blazers around C-rank to deal with the EDY, one of his subordinates asks if that’s okay but Itsuki says he will take responsibility. Ayase Ayatsuji and a group of Donrou Academy students are D-rank and E-rank student knights that were left behind in the geo-front due to lacking the power to fight on the frontline, but now they have been called to deal with the EDY that have just entered the geo-front. Ayase, who is wearing a hakama and leading the Donrou students who call her “nee-san”, avoids the heat flash fired by an EDY and slashes the EDY’s body with her sword. However, the EDY isn’t damaged and hitting its durable armor with her sword causes her palm to be in pain. The EDY then swings it retractable super vibration blade attached to its arm, causing Ayase to create distance from it. Ayase’s father Kaito then appears and plans on fighting despite not being a Blazer and had just gotten out of a hospital. Kaito is initially 10 meters away from the EDY but he suddenly cuts the EDY’s soft joints without making a sword sound, causing the EDY’s body to fall apart. Three more EDY soldiers show up but the Ayatsuji sword style students are able to deal with them well. However, if the number of enemies increase the situation will become worse.

Kurono is wondering what’s happening on the ground and Appleton tells her that the US forces’ reinforcements is PSYON and that all of its members are clones of Abraham Carter, which is something even Appleton didn’t know until this operation. The clones use telepathy to integrate their consciousness which enables them to perform teamwork much better than ordinary people can. Each clone is slightly weaker than Appleton, but still stronger than the average A-rank knight. There are 200 Abraham clones in this war so Kurono desperately tries to head back to Tokyo. However, while Kurono is distracted the EDY eject their arms and the wires connecting their arms and bodies wrap around Kurono. While Kurono is immobilized, the Hadron Cannons on “Enterprise’s” main armaments are charging and aimed towards Tokyo. There are civilians there but Appleton still plans on attacking as he believes it to be necessary sacrifice for justice. The firing of “Enterprise’s” main armaments which Appleton calls “Justice Fire (execution of justice)” destroys Tokyo and the million lives there. However, in the next instant Tokyo is no longer destroyed and it was “Enterprise’s” main armaments that were destroyed. Kurono was suddenly no longer captured by the EDY and fired her bullets on “Enterprise’s”main armaments before they were fired. The internal energy went out of control and so heavily damaged “Enterprise”. Appleton realizes Kurono had just achieved “Brute Soul” and rewinded time to distort the past and change her destiny into a form that benefits her. The changed past resulted in her never captured by the EDY and prevented Tokyo from being destroyed. But Appleton who is also a Desperado doesn’t falter and proceeds to repair the damaged air battleship with “bio-metal”. Suddenly, Kurono is injured all over her body as shown in a pic which confuses Appleton. At first he thought Kurono’s injuries were backlash from rewinding time, but after taking a closer look on her wounds he realizes what happened to her.

Kaieda who was fighting 10 Abraham clones was initially doing well with his destructive power and speed, but he was eventually overwhelmed by the number and defeated. The frontline has been annihilated and Oreki is one of the few knights standing. She then decides to use her Noble Art “Cytokine Storm (blood-stained heavy storm)” which overloads other people’s immune system and shares her illness. However, this technique requires activation at maximum output so she can’t select targets and everyone within range will be affected regardless of whether they’re allies or enemies. Before Oreki has the chance to activate her trump card, the 10 Abraham clones are suddenly blown away by Kurono who uses “Clock Draw”. The Abraham clones move their bodies that are full of holes with psychokinesis and try to counterattack, but suddenly there are multiples of Kurono appearing. Everyone at the Joint Operation Headquarters is confused about the appearance of many Kurono fighting the Abraham clones all over the frontline. But Itsuki and Appleton understand that Kurono repeatedly went back in time, creating past interventions many times at the same time and accumulating the results. This is her Noble Art “Three Thousand Worlds” that she obtained after achieving “Brute Soul”. Kurono had never opened the door that would lead to her exceeding her fate before because she chose to live as a mother and was afraid of losing her happiness as a human. But she changed her mind after talking to her family last night. Kurono retired from the KOK because she was pregnant and couldn’t do dangerous things, but Mei and Takumi said she could make a comeback now. Kurono replied she can bet her life in order to protect her family but she can no longer do it for the sake of honor. Takumi is an E-rank Blazer so he doesn’t understand much the feelings of those fighting at the top, but he assured Kurono that family is not a shackle that binds her.

“''…Our treasure has grown this big. Against this war, we have become strong to the extent this child knows how to fight. We are not a burden that could only be protected. Families are comrades that fight alongside you. Well, even though I say fight, we could only cheer for you. Kurono-san, you said you can’t step into that world unless you have the resolve. Certainly if you have the resolve to die for honor we would feel troubled as well. But, couldn’t that desperate resolve be replaced by the voice of us, your family?''”

Kurono lost her previous passion to win even if it means betting her life, and so she didn’t have the ego to try exceeding her fate. Kurono ran away from Nene because she had always felt that she was getting weaker and didn’t want to show it. However, she now realizes that her family is her new source of power that now pushes her forward. Kurono declares to Appleton that this moment right now is the golden age of “World Clock” Kurono Shinguuji. Appleton then appears on the deck of “Enterprise” and applauds Kurono. Even though Appleton hates evil, there are still enemies that he considers worthy of his respect. He praises Kurono for fighting 200 Abraham clones in a row and winning during her continuous past interventions. However, Kurono is now too badly injured to fight Appleton who is using his floating ability to operate the “bio-metal” of “Enterprise”. The air battleship’s main armaments are being rebuild and will fire another shot at Tokyo in 10 minutes, but Kurono is not worried. Suddenly, Nene appears while screaming “''WHY YOUUU!!!! JUST WHOSE GIRL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE LAYING YOUR HANDS ON…!!!!''”. Nene uses “Hadou Tensei” and Appleton changes the “bio-metal” of “Enterprise” to transform the deck part of the air battleship into an air defense ship carrying anti-aircraft weapons and missiles. All the shells and missiles are fired towards the meteor that is falling down towards “Enterprise”, but the meteor is only losing its volume slightly. Appleton then tries to stop the meteor with his floating ability but the falling meteor is only slowed down slightly and eventually it hits “Enterprise” directly. Kurono is falls down towards the sea but Nene catches her. While her body is suspended in the air due to her gravity ability, Nene holds Kurono’s body with a pained expression on her face. Kurono says she doesn’t want to see Nene making such a face as she wipes the tears on Nene’s face as shown in a pic. Kurono also tells Nene not to worry since she will back to settle their score from that summer, which is something Nene had always wanted to hear. After Kurono faints, Nene says that she will take care of the rest together with Kurono’s reliable students.

Other US soldiers in the area try to go to help Appleton, but their ships suddenly can’t move due to the ocean around them has become frozen. The soldiers wonder if this is the “Frozen Plain” that Ryouma used during the Battle of Midway which they’ve heard of, but this is actually caused by Shizuku Kurogane who inherited her ice magic from Ryouma. Shizuku’s body has become very small and floating like a fairy as shown in a pic due to providing her somatic cells to Ikki who had lost almost half his body during the war in Vermillion. Ikki, who is currently in his original appearance, is running through the frozen plain and heading towards one of the enemy ships. Because he and Shizuku are sharing the same body, he is able to use Ryouma’s sword technique called “Ikkaku (sword whale)”. It is a piercing technique that freezes the target instantly the moment the tip of the sword touches the target and then the piercing strike would destroy the frozen target into pieces. The soldiers that jump off the broken ship are no longer a threat so Ikki and Shizuku proceed to attack another ship that is a destroyer. The destroyer fires their weapons towards Ikki but they all pass through Ikki’s body that has become like mist due to “Aoiro Rinne”. Ikki then attacks the destroyer with “Kachiwari (frozen slash)”, which works in the same principle as “Ikkaku” but this time it’s a sword slash that freezes the target and immediately cuts it in half. The “Worst One” currently possesses Ikki’s sword technique and Shizuku’s magic, and thus can’t be stopped with conventional weapons. Then, 20 EDY are being launched from an aircraft carrier, causing Ikki to tell Shizuku to separate their union. Shizuku at first protests because Ikki will be in his child form, but he assures her that at any time he is always stronger than he was the day before. Shizuku complies and proceeds to take care of the EDY while Ikki infiltrates the aircraft carrier. The soldiers on deck fire their weapons at Ikki, but because he has a small body now he is able to run through below the barrage of bullets like a cat. But because he has a small body, the power of his slashes won’t give much damage on the soldiers who are wearing protective clothing made of special fibers and EDY’s armor. Thus, he decides to test out the idea he came up during his training in Edelberg. His magic control has improved to the point that he was able to concentrate his small magic to create mana defense that repelled Edelweiss’ sword back in Edelberg. Now he’s concentrating magic on his sword to create a very thin blade that can slide through the bonding of any substance, and cuts off the legs of the soldiers along with their protectors one after another. The soldiers also lost sight of Ikki even though he has now stopped moving and is just standing beside them, which is due to him slipping into the blind spots of their consciousness using “Trackless Step”. Ikki tells the soldiers that he will fight anyone who hurts his hometown without question, and he eventually subdues the aircraft carrier. In addition, Ikki and the others that showed up on the frontline aren’t the only reinforcements that arrived.

The hundreds of Blazers defending the geo-front are mainly D-rank and E-rank, and they were having difficulty fighting the 50 EDY that invaded. Ayase and Kaito were about to be killed by one of the EDY until they were saved by Kuraudo Kurashiki who shows up. Yuudai Moroboshi also shows up and apologizes to Ayase for taking Kuraudo with him to Kyushu. Moroboshi’s Noble Art is useless against machines and even though Ayase couldn’t even scratch the EDY, Moroboshi’s spear is able to break through an EDY’s armor. Kuraudo tells Ayase to get her wounds treated and then he uses “Akuro-Ou” to cut down a group of EDY while evading their attacks. Ayase, while seeing Kuraudo and Moroboshi taking down the EDY without difficulty, feels unpleasant of the difference in the levels between her and them. Other knights from West Japan also arrived including Touka who uses a technique called “Hikouraikou (swarm of wild lightning)”. Once she removes her sword, small electric shocks scatter in all directions from the sheath. The electric shocks avoid people, enter the mechanical soldiers and burn down their internal circuits. The people inside the Joint Operation Headquarters are reporting that thanks to the knights who have returned from Vermilion and Kyushu as reinforcements, the situation on the frontline and inside the geo-front are improving greatly with about 70% of the EDY in the geo-front have been defeated. Itsuki orders that everyone in headquarters including him will go fight as well in order to decide the battle.

The US Fleet Command which is far away from the battlefield is in turmoil due to strong knights like Nene, Shizuku and Ikki have appeared and are taking down their ships. “Enterprise” is out of contact and it is unknown if the fleet’s commander Appleton is alive or not. PSYON is struggling against Kurono and Japan’s forces in the geo-front will head to the frontline soon. The fleet’s vice-commander named Mustang has no choice but to order their operation to stop. However, Appleton is revealed to be alive and through their communication equipment he orders them not to stop their operation. Appleton insists on continue fighting despite him injured and “Enterprise” heavily damaged. He believes this is a battle for justice of the world since he’s been told the League of Mage-Knight Nations is behind Rebellion and triggered various wars and terrorism which resulted in the deaths of their comrades in various places like Afghanistan, Iran and Vietnam. His own son also died in one of those wars. Even if he’s told that people on his side are also behind Rebellion, he wouldn’t believe it since his country’s justice which his son died for is the only thing he believes in. Appleton has finished operating the “bio-metal” with his ability to rebuild “Enterprise’s” main armaments. The 88-inch Hadron Cannon fires the powerful heat flash towards Tokyo, but Stella appears in the sky with wings made of flame. She tells Appleton that she won’t let him kill anyone and uses “Katharterio Salamandra” to intercept the incoming attack. Stella’s sword of light that is more powerful crushes the heat flash and cuts “Enterprise” in half. “Enterprise” that was half-destroyed by Nene and cut in half by Stella becomes engulfed in an explosion. Once “Enterprise” is completely destroyed, Mustang orders all their remaining forces to retreat since their operation is a failure. The EDY and Abraham clones don’t have free will of their own so they fight until being defeated. The fleeing US forces are not being pursued by Japan’s forces since there probably won’t be a third wave of attack and treating injured ones is prioritized. Somewhere outside the geo-front, Itsuki puts his hand on the rubbles below his feet and activates his Noble Art “Tekketsu Rensei (iron blood transmutation)”. His own “blood” passes through inorganic materials and he manipulates them to create a building where the injured ones can be treated. Itsuki then uses a radio to inform everyone that they have obtained victory in this war, causing them to cheer out loud.

Chapter 3: Holy Mother Stella
Kouzou is at Tsushima military base talking on the phone with Itsuki. Ryouma and Kouzou were war comrades and now Ryouma’s grandson is informing Kouzou of the results of the battle in Tokyo. Kouzou then heads to the medical room where Tsukikage is resting. Kouzou says to the sleeping Tsukikage that the US military has retreated, and so the nightmare Tsukikage saw is finally over. However, Tsukikage is talking in his sleep with a trembling voice, saying that it’s not over yet and the disaster that’s about to hit the world hasn’t even started. The scene then takes place 3 days after Tsukikage and the others escaped from the US military base in Czechoslovakia. During those 3 days Nangou had been fighting tens of Abraham clones and is currently resting at a nearby mountain. Nangou is injured and is almost at his limit, while using his sound ability to hide himself. Before Nangou came here, he went to Rebellion headquarters and found the corpse of “Tyrant” gone. He is certain the corpse is in the military base where Tsukikage and the others were held before, and he needs to confirm it. Nangou is inside his Noble Art “Nagi (lull)” which is a barrier that obscure all kinds of sounds, and suddenly Edelweiss shows up in front of him. Nangou and Edelweiss are acquainted with each other since Nangou’s best friend Ryouma taught Edelweiss swordsmanship in a foreign country after being exiled from the Kurogane house. Fu Xiaoli, who is wearing a China dress, shows up with Edelweiss as shown in a pic and she is excited to see Nangou who is the only person other than the “Great Teacher” that has the “God of War” title. Edelweiss is here because ever since the incident with Or-Gaule, the Union had been making unpleasant movements across Europe and so a big war is about to happen soon. She knew the truth about “Tyrant” through Ryouma and wanted to check the current state of “Tyrant’s” corpse that could trigger World War 3. She didn’t find the corpse at Rebellion headquarters but she followed traces of magic power to here. She wants to save many lives with the swordsmanship taught to her by Ryouma. Nangou asks why Edelweiss is with Xiaoli, who is a warrior from the Union. After she lost to Stella, Xiaoli was training in the Alps but she was on the verge of death due to not bringing enough food and a blizzard occurred. Edelweiss saved her and gave her s’mores, so Xiaoli is here to return the favor. Edelweiss and Xiaoli then agree to help Nangou fight the Abraham clones. Once they step out of Nangou’s barrier, the Abraham clones detect their presence and teleport to in front of them. Central part of Tokyo was stored underground with elevator but now that the battle in Tokyo is over, all the buildings are moved back to above ground. Kagami Kusakabe and Alice are walking in the city where everyone is celebrating as shown in a pic. Clones of Kagami created with “Raise Up” are interviewing people all over the area for her school newspaper. She wanted to interview Kurono who is the star in the war for stopping PSYON by herself until reinforcement arrived. But Kurono who was treated for her injuries still hasn’t woken up with Nene watching over her. Kagami then sees Stella within the crowd and goes to hug her. Kagami was worried about Stella because of what happened in Vermillion but Stella said she had help. Alice and Shizuku who is also there greet each other and inform each other that they accomplished their goal for the summer holidays. Shizuku offers to cure Alice if he is injured but Alice replies he’s fine since he was only providing support. Stella was told that Kagami was on the frontline which she finds it to be amazing since normally D-rank student knights are not allowed to be on the frontline. Kagami replies that she was fighting with Kurono and Kirihara, though Stella at first doesn’t remember who Kirihara is. Kagami then asks if she can interview Stella to ask about the war in Vermillion where Stella and Ikki played important roles in it. Stella agrees but asks they do the interview later since she is looking for Ikki. The details of Ikki having the appearance of a child haven’t been spread.

(more to be added)