Shido attacked, Noir Blade dodged, parried, and then struck back. Every time Shido fell, he stood back up. Every time his body was knocked back, he kept going. No matter how much blood dripped from his mouth, no matter how unsteady his legs were and how bruised his body was, Shido refused to give up.
Once, twice, three times, four times… until he was knocked down five times.
By the fifth blow, Shido's body rolled heavily to the ground. His breath was ragged, his chest heaving rapidly, his hands struggling to support his barely able-bodied body. He still held Sandalphon, but the blade's light began to dim, as if sensing its owner's weakness.
"Noir… I… I'm not done yet…" Shido tried to get up, but his knees were shaking violently. He stared ahead, seeing Noir Blade standing still, unscathed, without even a scratch.
Noir Blade remained silent, staring at Shido with cold blue eyes that held something inexplicable. Behind that mask, there was both admiration and pity.
He knew Shido was no fighter. He knew Shido's movements were stiff, his stamina limited, and his strength far from his own. But that courage... that determination... to keep fighting despite being knocked down again and again, it was not something to be underestimated.
Finally, Noir Blade slowly stepped closer. He resheathed Yamato and stood just a meter in front of the half-kneeling Shido.
Shido looked up, his eyes still burning with passion even as his body nearly collapsed. "I... won't lose..." he muttered softly.
Noir Blade stared at him for a long moment, then said in a low but firm voice, "You're still weak right now."
In an instant, the air seemed to freeze. The words fell like a sledgehammer, hitting Shido's heart harder than any blow.
Before Shido could respond, Noir Blade's body trembled faintly, and in an instant, he vanished, vanishing from sight, as if he had never been there.
Shido fell silent, his breath still labored. His hands grasped the ground, and his body finally collapsed to his knees. "Weak...?" he muttered, his voice filled with confusion. "What does that mean...?"
He looked back at the still unconscious Tohka. His heart felt even heavier, having not only failed to protect her, but also been unable to fight the Noir Blade even slightly.
…
On the Fraxinus's control deck, a tense atmosphere still hung in the air. The entire crew was glued to the monitors displaying the battle at DEM's main building. The satellite camera clearly captured the Noir Blade engaging Shido, then vanishing without a trace.
Kotori sat in the command chair, a lollipop still in her mouth. Her face was pale, but her eyes never left the screen. Since the Noir Blade's first appearance, her heart had been pounding erratically. Memories of her own defeat at the hands of that man continued to haunt her. A bitter defeat that wounded not only her body but also her pride as a commander.
But this time, relief prevailed. Shido and Tohka were still alive. The Noir Blade had indeed struck Shido repeatedly, but it hadn't killed him. Even the unconscious Tohka had been left alone.
"…He's gone," Kotori said softly, the lollipop shifting between her lips. A long sigh escaped her lips, as if a mountain-weight had just been lifted from her shoulders.
Beside her, Reine stood with a serious expression. Her hand touched the headset in her ear, ensuring communication with the technical team was running smoothly. Her gaze was fixed on the monitor, taking in the last details before the Noir Blade vanished.
"Commander," Reine said in a flat but firm voice. "This is our chance. The Noir Blade has disappeared from the area. We must evacuate Shido and Tohka immediately before DEM forces find them."
Kotori nodded quickly. "I know." She spun her chair around, looking at the crew who were still frozen, awaiting orders. "Listen carefully! Lock in the coordinates of Shido and Tohka. Prepare the teleportation system immediately! We don't have much time."
"Yes, Commander!" a crew member replied in a slightly nervous voice. His hands immediately moved quickly over the console, typing a series of commands into the Fraxinus system.
Kotori bit her lollipop again, trying to calm herself. "Damn it… if Noir Blade had decided to get serious earlier, Shido and Tohka would be dead. What exactly does he want…?" she muttered, but her voice was more directed at herself.
Reine heard her, then turned around with narrowed eyes. "I don't know. But one thing is clear: he's not acting recklessly. Everything he does seems… controlled."
Kotori looked at Reine, somewhat surprised by her tone. "You mean… he's holding back?"
Reine nodded slowly. "Yes. If his goal was simply destruction, he could have done so from the start. The fact that Shido is still alive means he has other goals. We just don't know them yet."
Those words made Kotori even more anxious. She turned her gaze to the screen again. The image showed Shido kneeling weakly next to Tohka's body. Her heart ached at the sight of her sister in such a state.
"…Shido," she muttered softly. Her grip on the back of her chair tightened.
"Commander!" called out one of the crew members from the front desk. "The coordinates have been locked. The teleportation system is ready to be activated at any moment!"
"Good!" Kotori immediately stood up, her lollipop moving to the other side of her lips. Her firm leadership aura reappeared on her face, even though her heart was still in turmoil. "Execute the teleportation immediately. Pull Shido and Tohka into the Fraxinus now!"
"Roger!"
The control room was filled with the sound of machinery. The holographic light began to spin, and blue lines appeared on the main screen, signaling the teleportation activation process.
Reine stood quietly by Kotori's side, her eyes unblinking. "With this, they'll be safe… for now," she said quietly.
Kotori snorted and took a deep breath. "For now… yes." She sat back down, resting her chin on her hand, trying to organize her jumbled thoughts. "But in the future… how do we deal with Noir Blade? Even DEM is overwhelmed by him."
Reine didn't answer immediately. Her gaze remained fixed on the screen, then finally she said, "Perhaps, it's not how we deal… but how we survive. If he decides to become our enemy completely, all of this… might be meaningless."
Kotori fell silent. The lollipop in her mouth tasted bland, as if it had lost its sweetness. Reine's words cut deep, reminding her that Noir Blade's existence was more than just a threat. He was a dangerous variable, something that could change the course of the battle at any moment.
Suddenly, the crew's voices rang out again. "Teleportation successful! Shido Itsuka and Tohka Yatogami have entered the Fraxinus medical bay!"
The room fell silent for a moment, then sighs of relief could be heard from several of the crew. Kotori herself closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a long breath. "Thank goodness…" she murmured.
Reine turned to her, noticing Kotori's expression softening slightly. "Commander…?"
Kotori opened her eyes, her gaze returning to firmness. "Make sure they receive the best possible care. Reine, you monitor their condition. I don't want any mistakes."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, Kotori returned to the monitor, which was now blank, showing only the ruins of the destroyed DEM building. Noir Blade had vanished without a trace. But in her mind, the image of the masked man with the cold blue eyes lingered.
She clenched her fists on her knees. "Noir Blade… what exactly is your goal? What are you after…?"
The questions swirled endlessly in her head. She knew that sooner or later, the answers would be revealed. And he could only hope… that when that time came, they would be ready enough.