Holy swords were weapons that became stronger in battle. It was as if the sword could sense the will of its bearer.
Neither Rias Gremory nor Sona Sitri sensed Xenovia and Irina's Excaliburs because of this and also because the Excalibur fragments were forged in such a way that they could 'camouflage' themselves.
So I knew that the feeling I was getting earlier on was from another Excalibur fragment.
Valper Galilei was also too clever, so he was certainly using some kind of protection to mask the fragments he had in his possession. I knew that there was only one Excalibur fragment that wasn't with these three people.
Freed Sellzen. I had accidentally let him escape last time, and I still regretted not killing him when I had the chance. He was the typical character who brings nothing but trouble.
As there was no easy way to know where Freed Sellzen would be, I flew until I was just below the clouds. It seemed contradictory, but from above, I had a better idea of this 'feeling' that the sacred sword gave off. This was because devils and Fallen Angels felt fear not only when they were near something sacred but also when they saw something with such an origin.
So, from this high up, I might not have been able to feel it because it was close to me, but I certainly could if my eyes passed close by.
For a few minutes, I scanned Kuoh City with my eyes, feeling the cool night breeze brushing against my skin from above as I analyzed every street, every avenue, every alleyway, every hiding place.
And then...
"There it is!"
[Optional Scene Started!]
[The Patrons are buzzing with excitement at this new surprise scene.]
In the middle of that early morning, with Kuoh City almost completely empty, many bizarre things were happening. That night, when the moon was almost full, Freed Sellzen was rushing through the dark alleys of a shopping district in the center of the city.
The exorcist was laughing to himself as he ran, as if amused by some inside joke. On his left side was a sheathed sword.
I landed silently in one of the adjacent alleys, a few meters from where he would pass, and waited patiently until the perfect opportunity arose. Freed turned the corner and continued running nonchalantly until he saw complete darkness in front of him.
Freed stopped abruptly. He was experienced enough to know that complete darkness like this hid dangerous things for humans.
When I took one step and then another out of the darkness, his crazy eyes widened for a moment before a sadistic smile formed on his face.
"Well, well, well! But If it isn't the little devil who gave me a hard time that night! DHAHAHA! Came to play with me, little Gremory?"
"Last time, you ran away. Now, where exactly are you running to?"
"Oh, you know... Around! Someone gives me a job, I do it! But you don't have to worry about details, baby!" He licked his lips. "Now I'm wondering... Did you come to finish what you started?"
I sighed. "Always so noisy."
His smile widened.
"You're very pretentious, kid!" he exclaimed and finally pulled out his sheathed sword.
This was a silver sword with a very strong golden aura that made me instinctively want to back away.
"But let's sort this out quickly, shall we?" asked Freed.
Without further ado, Freed dashed towards me and moved the blade horizontally, aiming for my neck. His movements were much faster, so much so that I was startled when the blade almost took my head off.
'So, this is Excalibur Rapidly's ability...'
Luckily, Freed's Excalibur cut through empty air as I tilted my body backwards in one fluid movement.
Freed was ready to keep going, but he realized my eyes weren't on him — but on something above him.
That way, he saw that a shadow loomed above us. A shadow with two swirling yellow irises. The night breeze lifted the red threads of this figure, and its cold, sharp gaze descended on Freed.
Makima raised an index finger and pointed it at Freed Sellzen.
"Bang," she said.
In the next instant, an invisible force dashed Freed to the ground. The impact opened cracks in the asphalt, and a muffled bang reverberated off the walls of the alley.
"UAGH! Motherfucker..."
Freed's body sank further into the concrete. His arms shook, trying to get up, but the pressure kept crushing him down.
[The Patrons are buzzing with excitement.]
[200 credits have been sponsored.]
[The entity 'Sorceress of the Black Flame' is frightened by Makima's power.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
[The 'Sovereign of the Immortal Flame' entity looks at Makima with deep interest.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
I strolled over to where Freed lay. Makima landed beside me with an elegant motion, her yellow eyes still fixed on the fallen exorcist.
Freed gritted his teeth and let out a shaky laugh.
"Hah...! Ah, that... That's fun...!"
"Pretty weak, isn't he?" Makima commented to me, looking at Freed, who was still being crushed.
I observed the cracks in the floor and listened to the sound of Freed's bones breaking. Makima was indeed weaker than usual. An attack like that should have killed Freed instantly, just as it did to Power.
"Yes. She's weaker than I thought."
Makima looked away.
"But it's still powerful... If you were as strong as you once were, I wouldn't need any other parts to become Maou. I know you'll get there... The good news is that I really want this guy alive for now."
The asphalt around Freed was cracking more and more, and small pools of blood were forming beneath his joints, pushed to their limit.
I crouched down in front of him, watching his bloodied, pain-wracked face.
"Now, Freed Sellzen, answer me one thing. Where are the other fragments of Excalibur?"
He laughed quietly, even though his face was pressed against the floor. "So, those two little girls have already contacted you..." He spat out some blood and smiled again. "It's okay, we're already taking care of them."
"When you say 'we', do you mean you and Valper Galilei... or Kokabiel?" I tilted my head slightly, touching my chin with my finger. "Or is it both?"
My answer made Freed's throat go dry, and I could clearly see that he was very surprised that I knew these names were connected to him.
[The Patrons laugh at the expression on Freed's face and admire your use of the information advantage.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
"Ahhh... So you know more than you should... TELL ME WHO THE TRAITOR IS!"
"Unfortunately, there is no traitor... But there soon will be, if you cooperate with me now."
Freed laughed again, a shaky, forced laugh.
"Ahh, little worm, do you really think you can intimidate me? I never—URHGHHHH!!!"
Before he could finish, the invisible pressure on his back suddenly increased. His eyes went wide, and he screamed as his bones creaked and his body sank further into the ground.
"I'm going to ask Makima to stop until I hear the answer I want."
Freed gritted his teeth, struggling to breathe as Makima continued to crush him unhurriedly, meticulously.
"No... I'm not going to... talk..."
"Let's see how long you can last."
However, I had underestimated this side character's willpower. He was still resisting, even after several minutes of agony. His breathing was ragged, his face covered in sweat and blood, but he was still smiling, even though he was breaking down inside.
I sighed, losing patience.
"Yeah... You're not going to talk, are you?" I asked, but he no longer had the strength to answer. "Makima..."
She just tilted her head slightly without changing her expression. And then, Freed was crushed in an instant.
*Squelch*
[The entities of the Chaos Element approve of your attitude.]
[200 credits have been sponsored.]
[The entities of the Harmony Element disapprove of this bloodshed.]
[They will be more attentive to your future battles and may stop watching your scenes.]
Freed's body became a shapeless mass of flesh and blood, as if an invisible press had crushed it. All that remained were his soaked clothes and the items he was carrying.
I stood still for a moment, observing the scene with no apparent emotion. I thought I would be happy to finally see this guy dead, but I was disappointed that I hadn't overcome his dogmas.
So I crouched down, covering my mouth and nose with my hand to avoid the horrible smell that spread.
'At least Excalibur was intact...'
"Milicas-san?"
A voice behind me and Makima asked. I turned my face slowly and saw Kiba Yuuto standing at the alleyway, his eyes wide as he stared at the scene in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
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