Chapter 96: Outcome

Fun fact: Lif is actually a canon character, she briefly gets mentioned in CSIV I believe. She becomes realized in Akatsuki.

Giliath demands your power stones!

*

Back to the present day, Nemeth Island.

"Crimson Hearts.", I said, reappearing at the other end of Rutger, swinging my rapier as I did. At the same time, all of us started to hear the sounds of shattering crystal. Inside of the bloody crystal sphere, parts of it started to break apart, and formed tiny crystal needles. They started to strike at Rutger at all directions. Whoosh!

"Tch. Attacking from all sides is annoying.", Rutger said, letting out a small complaint.

"Eat septium.", Rutger said, only to brandish his glaive. It started to switch gears on its own, revealing the inside. Inside of it revealed a rather large gun, capable of shooting out large orbal bullets. To which it started to fire. Bang!

It didn't take long for Rutger to start firing out several rounds, clashing against the condensed blood crystals firing at him. Unfortunately for him though, that was when the duel was decided.

It was hard to see from the outside, but blood started to splatter.

At the same time, cracks on the blood prison appeared from the outside. In but a mere moment or two the sphere shattered completely. Shiiing!

Mana started to disperse rapidly and I could feel stamina quickly drain from my body, enough to where I had to kneel down onto the ground, letting out heavy sighs.

"As expected of the Boss. Even an attack like that can't hold him back.", The Behemoth said with a praise

"Daddy is the strongest.", Fie said happily in response.

"Daddy is the strongest.", Fie said happily as she saw Rutger easily destroy the bloody prison he was in.

"But...", Firebird began to say, looking at Rutger becoming more clear. Hearing that, Killing Bear nodded his head.

"Yeah, it's the Boss's loss.", Killing Bear said. Craaack!

After he said that, the final amount of crystals shattered thanks to Rutger's bullets. As a result his figure now could be seen. Unfortunately, that didn't come without consequence. I could feel a burst of pain strike against both of my legs from using this move.

"Kuh...", I said, only to stab my rapier into the ground, falling down onto my knees.

Seeing me collapse like this, worry appeared in Emma's eyes. Those watching me could see visible strain on my legs.

"Naoto!", Emma yelled out in worry and tried to run my way. Rufus was quick to act though, and reached out his arm, preventing from Emma approaching my way. Emma saw him, only to see Rufus shake his head.

"It is best not to interrupt their resolve, little lady.", Rufus said, preventing Emma from moving.

"But...", Emma tried to say, only to get her own shadow engulfed by the Behemoth.

"The noble is right. This is how we Jaegers fight. Even if the outcome is clear, it is not over until the winner is decided. Or do you want to forfeit your life right here?", The Behemoth asked Emma seriously.

She couldn't help but gulp a bit seeing his presence tower over her, but Emma slowly nodded her head.

"You almost made me get serious there, Your Highness.", Rutger said, breaking free from the crystal prison. My mana started to rapidly disperse from his surrounding, and Rutger's figure was clear now. His black battle qi was still wrapping around his body, unleashing itself. However, several clean cuts could be seen over his body, dripping blood onto the sand, dying it red.

Hearing that, I couldn't help but smile, only to feel more strength leave my body. I ended up falling down onto my back and stretched out my limbs, letting out rather heavy pants.

"Ack...", I uttered, trying to respond to the Jaeger King. All of a sudden I felt my mouth turn sweet, only cough out a mouthful of blood onto the sand, dying it red around me as well. Seeing this, Rutger turned around, and looked at me.

"You okay there?", Rutger said, ignoring the dripping blood over his arms and chest.

"Haah...", I tried to respond him with a heavy sigh. "Never better.", I continued to say, slowly regaining my strength. Seeing this, Rutger turned my way and spoke to me.

"Guess even a move like that has its downside. Too much of a power strain. Still, I could see why you would give Randolph a run for his mira. I'd hesitate going up against a brat like you.", Rutger said, praising me. Walking my way, he bent down, and extended his hand out toward me. I now had enough strength to respond, and pulled up myself.

"Heh.", I said, letting out chuckle after hearing Rutger's praise despite the both of us still letting blood drip down onto the sand.

"Either way, the condition was for you to land a successful strike on me. I wasn't expecting a full encirclement like that, and so close up range too. A loss is a loss, fair and square.", Rutger said, shaking his cuts off as if they were nothing.

"So it's my win?", I asked, only to cause Rutger to nod his head.

"That's right.", Rutger said, declaring me the winner. Hearing this, Rufus let go of his hand, causing Emma to immediate dash my way.

"Heh, you're such a worrywart, Emma.", I said seeing Emma approach me.

"Don't waste your energy talking, Naoto. At least let me heal you.", Emma said, trying to address the internal injuries caused by Crimson Hearts.

"Oh this? Trust me. It'll heal itself in a jiffy.", I said, trying to dissuade Emma. Especially thanks to the skills I've recently obtained from maxing out my favorability with Roselia only a bit ago.

"Naoto's right, Emma.", Roselia also said, slowly approaching our way.

"Grandmother?", Emma tried to ask seeing her walk our way.

"So you're the little girl who must also be acquainted His Highness.", Rutger said seeing Roselia approach us.

"Hmph, that is right, but I am not some little girl. I've lived far longer than you have you Jaeger brat.", Roselia scoffed at Rutger.

"Fair enough.", Rutger said, shrugging his shoulders in response. He took this time to quell his battle qi down, pulling it back inside him. Those not used to such a dense battle qi, they could finally let out a sigh of relief, like Van. He was only used to street fights so he hadn't experienced such a thing before. Those like Ennea though didn't even bat an eye.

"Still, I think you might be getting you might be getting rusty, boy. I know you were focused on this duel of yours, but isn't surveillance supposed to be your strong point?", Roselia suddenly asked, drawing my attention her way.

"Eh?", I tried to ask as I continued to regain my strength.

"But maybe I could spot you just this once. It's no use hiding anymore.", Roselia said, only to confuse us. We then saw her gaze shift elsewhere, not too far away from the sight we just had our battle at.

Most ended up confused as we passed this moment in silence. However, a rather ambiguous voice suddenly struck our ears, revealing a laugh. The moment I heard this laugh even my eyes turned wide.

"Hahahaha!", A sudden voice laughed loudly, striking our ears despite not having a figure present. "Oh dear me, and here I was only to be an observer this time.", The voice continued say with a hint of scorn in their tone.

"Who...?", Sherryl said, quickly snapping out of her stupor. It wasn't just her but the rest of us quickly followed Roselia's line of sight.

All of a sudden, not too far away from the beach chairs and the large resort building, a green colored magic-like circle appeared on top of the sand. It didn't take long before an illusory figure, who had green hair, to appear. A ball of wind could be seen being played around in one of their palms.

"As expected of a witch. I knew His Highness would be distracted while fighting that Jaeger, but I didn't expect for you to come here. It seems I have made a disappointing error on my part.", The green haired figure responded as if he was disappointed in himself.

"Hmph. This much is nothing.", Roselia retorted back.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be? You're kinda ruining the party here.", Firebird asked with a hint of anger.

"Haha! Ain't that the kicker?", The green haired figure retorted back at Firebird.

Taking this time, I calmed down, letting even more of my strength return. I took this time to approach the green haired figure, who feigned showing worry in his eyes as his eyes shifted my way.

"Oya? Are you fine to move around like that already, Your Highness?", The green haired figure asked.

"Cut that crap out. You know very well why you're here. Isn't that right, Campanella the Fool?", I declared.