I've already met the conditions to activate Verg Avesta.
But just blindly triggering the retribution ability won't mean anything. The guy's still flying around up there, so even if I copy my current wounds onto him, that's not gonna bring him down—it would've been different if I'd taken damage like having my wings torn off, but unfortunately I was born human... Actually, if I could fly too, I wouldn't be in this mess! "Anyone who can fly is basically invincible"—whose line was that again...
My left arm's basically useless, and I can move but just barely. The only attack I've got that might reach that bastard is chucking Zarich at him, but obviously he'll just dodge or deflect a straight throw.
But now I can create an opening by attacking head-on. An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth! Time for some serious payback!
If one thing won't work, I'll combine them!
I got to my feet and started enhancing my whole body while drawing back my right arm. Seeing this, the guy sneered at my beat-up state.
"Hmph, are you going to throw that pathetic sword in desperation? Do you seriously think something like that could do anything to me? It seems your brain is as inferior as the rest of you."
Hearing that, I forced myself to smile through the pain like I had all the confidence in the world.
"Not really. I haven't shown you this Sacred Gear's ability yet, have I? Here I go—this attack absolutely cannot be dodged..."
As I said this, I let the eerie blue-white patterns appear all over my body.
It's obvious bluffing, but if this makes him focus on intercepting instead of dodging, that's perfect. I don't have the confidence to hit a moving target... Plus, there's no lie in saying he "can't avoid Verg Avesta's attack." When you're gonna lie, it's best to fool them with the truth!
"Die in reverse! VERG AVESTA!"
The guy was watching both me with the patterns glowing and the thrown Zarich when he suddenly doubled over from the excruciating pain in his right leg and left shoulder, his movement stopping involuntarily.
The left shoulder especially has a hole in it—I know firsthand just how stupidly painful that is!
"Gaaahhh!"
He's groaning in pain, but Zarich was already flying toward him and buried itself deep in his forehead.
Must've been instant death. The fallen angel dropped to the ground without so much as a twitch.
I'd been ready to keep throwing Zarich nonstop since one hit wasn't guaranteed to kill, but looks like that wasn't necessary. Though I was aiming for his body's center, around the stomach area, to make sure I'd hit...
"Ugh... hah... hah... gotta get out of here fast..."
Flash!
Just as I was about to turn and leave, a magic circle deployed right next to the fallen angel's corpse, and another guy appeared.
"His presence suddenly vanished, so I came to see what happened, only to find he's been killed by a human—a child no less. What a disgrace to fallen angels."
Shit! Backup arrived way too fast! Was that a teleportation circle?! The supernatural folks in this world casually throw around all those totally OP if you can use them powers like flying and teleporting!
While I was internally cursing, a small magic circle appeared by the new fallen angel's ear. He started talking while looking in my direction.
≪Oh, it's you. Looks like that idiot got killed by a Sacred Gear-wielding human.≫
≪...≫
≪No, you don't need to come. This human's already beaten to hell. I'll kill him quick, clean up the mess, then meet up with you.≫
≪...≫
≪Later.≫
"Now then, cleanup's a pain. Let's get this over with. I'm not about to get cocky against a Sacred Gear user and end up like this moron."
If you're gonna come, bring the other guy too! Then I could take you both out with Ittou Shura!
"Why don't you call the other one? I'll crush you both at once if you want?"
"You? When you can barely stand? Not necessary. Like I said, just die already!"
He created a light spear and hurled it at me—no time to think! At this rate, I'm dead!
"Ittou Shura!"
Instantly, the world turned into slow motion. Everything looked incredibly slow, on a completely different level from just removing my brain's limiters.
My right leg couldn't put out much power, but my left was still good. In literally one leap, I passed right by the light spear and closed in on the fallen angel, half-severing his neck.
"...glub"
The fallen angel made a slight gurgling sound, blood spraying from his neck as he collapsed.
I kept my sword ready and scanned the area. This second guy had appeared right after I killed the first one. If the third one teleported in while Ittou Shura was still active, I'd cut him down before he even realized I was there!
But despite my determination, no one appeared even after dozens of seconds. Was he being cautious? Then I should get the hell out of here.
The barrier those guys had set up seemed to be gone, so if someone found two fallen angel corpses it'd cause a huge mess, but some faction would probably clean it up. There's memory alteration and stuff like that, and there's nothing I can do about it right now anyway.
As I started limping away from the scene, Ittou Shura's effects wore off and the ability's backlash hit, making my body feel heavy as lead.
Combined with my injuries, my right leg felt like it had a ball and chain attached. My legs got tangled and I collapsed.
"Ugh!"
This isn't the time to be down. I need to get away from here no matter what!
But apparently this world really isn't kind to background characters.
….
"Geez, both of them got themselves killed. This is why men are all talk and no action."
Now a female fallen angel walked in through the entrance to the sports field.
So when the second guy died quickly, she kept her distance, teleported to observe the situation, then came over!
Don't overthink things, damn it! You should've just gotten cocky and come right away!
"Though they weren't completely useless before dying, I suppose. Hehe, looks like big sis doesn't even need to fight—you can barely stand up, little boy. You're already at death's door."
She walked closer to me. Then she created a light spear and pressed it against my neck.
"Any last words?"
I forced the corners of my mouth up into a smile.
"Yeah—thanks for all three of you getting cocky in the end. I didn't think you'd get this close."
The instant I said that, her face changed and she immediately raised her spear to strike...
"Self-Destruct."
Instantly, a massive roar and shockwave hammered my entire body.
---
"...Cough!"
My ears were ringing and I couldn't hear properly. My whole body hurt like I'd been smashed with a giant hammer. The impact felt like it was echoing inside my body. I probably had broken bones, or at least some serious cracks.
Looking around through the swirling dust, I saw a crater about 50 to 65 feet in radius with me at the center.
"...Whoa."
That's Self-Destruct for you—200% power that burns through everything in one shot wasn't just for show.
That female fallen angel... I can't use senjutsu properly right now to confirm, but she's gotta be dead—actually, she better be, or I'm screwed. Literally.
It's over... If someone finds me collapsed in the center of a crater like Yamcha, it'll definitely be a huge pain in the ass, but I can't move anymore.
Thinking was getting exhausting and I was about to lose consciousness when I heard voices.
"Damn it! She said 'It's just one human crawling around, so you guys get ready for cleanup' and went off on her own, then got herself killed!"
"You guys, surround him! Don't go inside the crater! Don't let your guard down just because he's half-dead. Finish him with a concentrated light gun barrage!"
...That's MY line! My vision's blurry, but I can see about ten guys in black clothes. Stray exorcists!
Shit! My lack of combat experience keeps screwing me over! Just because there were three supernatural beings doesn't mean there were only three enemies!
Ah, damn it.
Is this the end?
I'm out of options.
But even so, I don't want to die. It's not even struggling at this point, but if my wish could somehow come true...
"...Help me."
---
"MILKY THUNDER CRASHERRRRR!"
---
Just before I passed out, I thought I heard something.