episode_0247

It was a direct hit.

Striking unexpectedly from an unforeseen blind spot.

The bullet, hitting Rahel squarely in the temple, snapped her head to the side.

However, that was it.

The bullet didn’t penetrate Rahel’s head, nor did it knock her unconscious. It simply bounced off weakly, clattering to the floor.

“Ugh…”

Crack. Ice, seemingly created to protect Rahel’s temple, shattered and fell from her head.

Just before impact, she had covered the targeted area with ice, using it as a shield.

Even so, the force of the bullet shook her head, but she managed to avoid the embarrassing spectacle of being directly hit and knocked out.

“Whew, impressive.”

And.

Even as her head rang, No. 13 reappeared some distance away, right in front of Rahel, who was regaining her stance and scanning her surroundings.

This time, it wasn’t an illusion; it was the real deal.

He held a pistol, likely one he had been carrying, twirling and spinning it in his hand.

The bullet from moments ago had come from Rahel’s side. But No. 13 was in front of her.

Moreover, the storm of magical energy Rahel had unleashed earlier couldn’t be penetrated by something like a pistol. Yet, it had been.

Considering everything, there was only one answer.

“…Is that Club’s ability?”

“Correct. Wow, the members of Squad 7 are all so excellent. I love collecting useful things.”

So, the 【Illusion Magic】 he had used earlier wasn’t simply a coincidence of overlapping magic… it was Coco’s actual ability.

Only then did Rahel begin to grasp the outline of No. 13’s unique power and the magic he wielded.

“Replicating or borrowing other people’s abilities… it’s less impressive than I thought.”

“Oh, you’re quite the captain. You see right through it. But you’re only half right.”

No. 13 grinned.

“My constellation is 【Argo】.”

“You know the name of the ship that carried the heroes, right Rahel?”

The largest constellation in the galaxy, Argo.

A constellation of adventure and romance, named after the ship that carried Jason and his 50 companions on a quest to find the treasure known as the “Golden Fleece.”

“I’m simply a ship, like that constellation.

But, that ship carries many heroes.

The moment they set sail, the ship and those aboard are practically one and the same.”

In the end, that was it.

He was, in essence, the ship that carried heroes.

The power and abilities they possessed, the legends they embodied, and all sorts of mystical weapons.

He could draw upon all of it, as much as he wanted, whenever he wanted.

That was No. 13’s ability.

And even now, though the ship of the past has vanished, the ship named No. 13 is still sailing strong.

His ship carries not only the 50 heroes of the past but also new ones.

…It’s ironic that the villains he carries on his ship are heroes.

“Ah, and the criteria for being ‘carried’ on this ship are surprisingly strict. For example, I can’t use your abilities yet, Rahel. The best I can do is this much.”

No. 13 raised his hand, and a sliver of ice, no bigger than a fingernail, formed on it.

But that was all.

He had used powers similar to Coco and Club from earlier, but he couldn’t use any ultimate techniques worthy of being called secret arts.

He wasn’t completely omnipotent.

It was hard to know whether to believe his words or not, and No. 13’s expression was so nonchalant that it was difficult to discern his true intentions.

But after a moment’s thought, Rahel decided that there was no real merit in lying in this situation and gripped her sword again.

“Are you stupid? Telling me the limits of your own ability.”

“Maybe I told you because it’s okay to tell you? Don’t you think?”

No. 13 took another step towards Rahel, relaxed.

At the same time.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…!

“?!”

Centered on him, all sorts of weapons began to appear as if a curtain was being drawn.

In the empty space, all kinds of tools stood upright, waiting for their masters.

There were swords, daggers, spears, and axes.

Regardless of East or West, past or present, and regardless of form or purpose, all sorts of weapons appeared there.

If heroes were on board, then of course their weapons would be there too.

From the distant past, passed down through history… mystical weapons of all kinds, wielded by heroes, worn smooth by their hands.

All of it unfolded in this vast, seemingly endless world.

“You know, Rahel. I don’t think I’m going to lose in my current state.”

“No matter what you do. No matter how much you struggle. I feel like I can crush you completely.”

No. 13 pulled out a sword that was stuck vertically nearby.

Immediately, golden energy emanated from it, surged up the blade, and blazed like fire.

Check, blessed by the 【Scutum】 constellation, was blessed with weapons.

She could wield any weapon as if it were her own hand or foot. Even if it was a weapon she had never seen before, she could draw out all its potential.

Rahel also surrounded her sword with magic and cold, but if they fought under the same conditions, such as magic and ability, Check could surpass even Rahel.

And now, he was borrowing Check’s power.

Rahel felt as if she could see Check’s figure in the way he stood, holding the sword.

Aware of this, Rahel raised her magical power warily.

“Now, Rahel. Let’s continue the fight. It’s the climax now.

I am dozens, hundreds of heroes themselves.

And you are a single, but cheat-level hero.

Let’s keep competing and see who wins.”

The pressure No. 13 exuded was certainly befitting of countless heroes.

On his back, he carried… no.

It was as if she could see the figures of the countless heroes carried on his ‘ship’.

For a villain, for a bad guy, he carried on his back those who had saved the world, defeated evil, and achieved feats worthy of praise.

Really, the irony was too much.

Clank…

Despite No. 13’s words, Rahel remained unyielding.

As the battle continued, her mind became much clearer.

Thanks to removing the ‘brainwashing device’ that had forcibly brainwashed and reverted Rahel’s mind, the suppressed common sense and reason were slowly returning, and she was regaining her senses.

‘I am… Rahel, the captain of Squad 7…’

‘That’s right… I am a hero….’

She remembered who she was and gradually regained herself as a determined hero, not a slave to anyone.

But even so, she didn’t put away her sword.

She wouldn’t retreat from this battle.

She was a hero, and the opponent was a villain.

In that case, even without anyone’s orders, there was no reason not to fight.

‘No, no.’

‘More than that.’

——I want to fight.

Against that mighty opponent, who contained the power of countless heroes in a single vessel.

I want to give it my all and see that power.

I want to see the feats of the heroes I’ve only heard about in legends with my own eyes.

Not a sense of duty, but pure curiosity and admiration burned in Rahel’s heart.

If possible, if it were possible.

To see those feats, to see that strong and high wall.

If possible… I want to surpass it too…!

“Then, here I come… No. 13…!!”

—————————!!!!

Having consumed so much and being so exhausted.

Yet, Rahel unleashed even greater magical power than before.

A chilling wind rose violently, and in the center of that wind, Rahel became a whirlwind, powerfully rushing forward.

* * *

Clang! Clang! Claaaang!!

Claaaang! Clang! Clang clang clang clang clang!!!

The battle continued.

The chaotic sound of weapons, the sound of metal clashing against metal, rang out wildly in the storm.

Rahel’s body danced and unleashed a fierce barrage, and near her, ice pillars rose as if to pierce the opponent’s blind spots, and ice picks flew in, threatening No. 13 from every angle.

She was already fighting with the most intense momentum of any battle so far.

But Rahel’s attacks were becoming even faster.

‘Faster…’

‘More, more, more, more… stronger…!’

A white sword light flashed.

Like the teeth of a beautiful beast, Rahel’s attacks continued, trying to tear at the opponent’s neck.

Using technique and deception, Rahel pushed No. 13 back.

Moving her long, slender limbs with flexibility, each strike was precise, aiming for vital points.

But no matter where she attacked, No. 13’s arms, weapons, and legs deflected everything as if flowing water.

The way he parried Rahel’s attacks with such admirable perfection and flawlessness was certainly a ‘skill’ worthy of the title of hero.

Certainly.

It was a cultivated technique, more refined than hers, unmoving, flawlessly delicate, and above all, bold and solid like a towering tree.

“Tch…!”

Rahel clicked her tongue and drew in even more magical power.

Her ability to become stronger as if balancing herself with her opponent, continued to strengthen her in the face of No. 13, who was like an insurmountable wall.

She reached a realm she had never entered before.

Facing a person stronger than any enemy she had ever faced, Rahel’s power increased to the point where the space shattered simply by moving.

Rahel, who becomes stronger the stronger her opponent is, is, in a way, 『Invincible』.

She had never allowed herself to be defeated, and her ability had never allowed defeat in the first place.

But the one Rahel was facing was someone who was nothing less than the embodiment of the heroes of the past.

Heroes are those who always reach 『Victory』, no matter how harsh the environment.

‘Invincible’ and ‘Sure Victory’.

It was like the story of the ‘strongest spear’ and the ‘strongest shield’.

But at least for now.

At a glance, ‘Sure Victory’ seemed to have the upper hand.

“Hmph!”

Whoosh!

Rahel, who had increased her speed even now, swung her sword at No. 13’s neck, aiming for a fatal blow this time.

The ‘Invincible’ strike was launched at No. 13.

And.

Clang!!

Her beloved sword was shattered by the leisurely『Sure Victory』 counterattack.