Friends? A transaction?
Looking at Lancer, who had suddenly spoken up, Yukari Yakumo, standing within a gap, was stunned for a moment. Although there was no subject mentioned, her intuition told her that the person Lancer was talking about was her.
For the longest time, she hadn't known how Lancer was actually able to see her. At the very least, Lancer hadn't shown any obvious malice toward her. In her eyes, the relationship between the two was likely that of a user and the used; the reason the other party treated her relatively well was simply because he was "a person who cherishes his own belongings."
And she was also an extremely assertive person. Even though Lancer was already tolerant enough of her, she still tried her best to test Lancer bottom line, looking for a chance to escape this irritating restraint. It just hadn't occurred to her that, in the other party's eyes, she was a "friend"?
Mere words alone couldn't make her reach a decision, and added to that, the environment the two were in left her with no time to be distracted by such thoughts. Therefore, she planned to wait until they were far away from the Phoenix before considering her relationship with him.
Lancer didn't know what the Yukari Yakumo he saw as "docile" was thinking, because at this moment, his eyes held only the existence before him.
He knew that his refusal would inevitably trigger some bad consequences, but he did not regret his choice.
The voice that had echoed in his mind earlier had now completely vanished. All that remained was the simple crossing of their gazes, until—
'I know your choice. A rare wake-up activity after several hundred years isn't bad either. I hope you can make me a bit happier; don't die as easily as that little fellow.'
As the voice vanished, the originally terrifying flames surged once more. Even the defenses constructed of Rune symbols could not completely isolate that terrifying high temperature.
'Don't die easily.'
It's coming!
"Get away!"
Violently pushing back Yukari Yakumo's arm, Lancer leapt out from the gap. Yukari didn't even have time to make any extra movements before—
"Ugh!!"
Accompanied by a whimper, she suddenly looked at her own arm; a small patch there had turned charred black.
If she hadn't known what happened before, she knew perfectly well now. Just like when Lancer had previously used her underestimating the enemy to attack the edge of the gap and eventually capture her, the Phoenix before them was even simpler—she had directly burned that gap to nothing. She hadn't even had time to retract it.
Yukari could almost guess what would happen if that attack hit her; she would likely be left without a whole corpse in an instant.
But then, she found herself thinking about one thing—how was that man doing now? Should she go back to save him?
Judging from his previous performance, even if he died, he probably wouldn't drag her down with him for revenge. Her wisest choice now was to hide here. As long as he died, the things restraining her would completely vanish. She would still be that free-spirited Youkai Sage. This sole stain since becoming the Youkai Sage would also be burned to ash in the flames. But remembering his hesitation-free action afterward, she... hesitated.
But just at that moment—
'Sorry, Yukari.'
The voice that suddenly appeared in her mind made Yukari entire person freeze for a second. She knew this was the simplest and crudest form of connection between a "Shikigami" and a master. She had never seen Lancer use it before. And an apology? Why apologize? Could it be that he realized he couldn't threaten that guy at all, so he decided to offer her up?
Surprise, anger, and a slight sense of relief.
The reason she felt relief was because, in her view, she finally didn't need to hesitate anymore.
However—
'Wait for my command. Before I give the order, do not approach here. Absolutely!'
This was the first time Lancer had issued a "command" to Yukari Yakumo with the feeling of a "Master," but this "command" left Yukari not knowing how to react for a time.
Standing within the gap, Yukari bit her lip. She didn't even notice the faint taste of blood in her mouth...
Yukari was an intelligent person, so after signing the "contract" with Lancer, she mostly just complained and used her sharp tongue on him. Furthermore, since Lancer had never issued an order that would cause her resentment, Lancer had never used the power of the "contract" to issue a forced command. But this time was different.
When he realized that terrifying flame and pushed her away, he had seen with his own eyes the "gap" being completely burned to nothingness within the flames.
One must know that previously, with the help of the "Yasakani no Magatama's" power, the gap was only damaged and not truly eliminated in a literal sense. But this time was entirely different; Lancer even saw the image of the ashes burning until they reached nonexistence.
Lancer could almost imagine the scene of himself being hit. Because of fear, his right hand gripping the stone wall seemed to be trembling. However—
Fear! Terror! Flinching!
Meaningless!
Since he had already chosen the path he was to walk, he would walk it to the end!
Since the opponent had a physical form, it could be killed!
No matter how faint the hope, as long as it wasn't zero, then he still had a chance!
Bang!!
The stone wall gripped by Lancer hand instantly shattered. As Lancer leapt out from the rock wall, what emerged in his eyes was a determination as cold as steel.
'Interesting. Then entertain me to your heart's content.'
The opponent's declarative sentence, spoken with the certainty of victory, did not make Lancer show any unnecessary expression. Because the opponent was stronger than him, it had the right to look down on him—until... he trampled the opponent under his feet!
Without unnecessary words, frost gradually took shape in his hands. But just at that moment, the opponent's wings flapped violently. Hot wind turned into a wave and swept toward Lancer. But just as this hot wind was about to hit Lancer, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
"God of Wind's Flash"
As that fleeting opening appeared in his mind, the ice spear in Lancer hand thrust out instantly. The wave-like hot wind was pierced in an instant, and Lancer fell from the high altitude into the lava. He then violently threw the ice spear, which had already begun to melt, toward the lava.
Sizzle!
The ice spear, having lost Lancer support, didn't last more than a few seconds in this terrifying heat, but for him, this was what he needed!
The solidified lava began to melt again almost instantly, but as a foothold, it was enough.
Splash~
The gradually melting block of lava suddenly splashed up countless droplets of magma, and Lancer charged into the air once again. This time, what came was no longer that invisible hot wind, but a burning wing.
However, in his eyes, there was no difference, because—
Pshhh~
Feathers composed of fire were pierced by the long spear made of ice. Lancer, whose feet were pressing off the thrust-out ice spear, rose higher once more. His target was straight for the opponent's head!
Undoubtedly, no matter how the opponent saw him, he had only one goal.
Since we're fighting, then we must win!