At that moment, Derflinger shouted.
“I remembered!”
“What are you talking about, at time like this!?”
“Right…Gandálfr!”
“What!”
“No, from my older times, the hand that held me. Gandálfr. But I forgot. It was 600 years ago, old times.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Wardes released “Breaking Wind” again. Saito tried to dodge it but was captured by the spell and blown away again.
“It’s so nostalgic. I could cry. Right, no, that’s what I was missing. My partner – that ‘Gandálfr’!”
“Cut it out!”
“I’m glad! Now no one can ignore me! I will show how cool I am!” Derflinger shouted as his blade started to shine.
Saito was taken aback for a moment and watched Derflinger in amazement.
“Derf? Yes?”
Wardes recited “Breaking Wind” again.
Raging wind flew out aiming at Saito as he put out the shining Derflinger in front of himself.
“It’s useless! A sword cannot stop it!” Wardes shouted.
Yet, the wind, instead of blowing Saito away, was sucked into Derflinger's blade.
And…
The light coming out of Derflinger intensified.
“Derf? You…”
“This is my true form! Partner! No, I forgot it! My tired body changed itself! Anyhow, it’s a pretty interesting story, partner!”
“Make it short!”
“Impatient. I forgot. But, don’t worry, partner. I suck in all magic around me! That’s me, Gandálfr’s left hand – Derflinger-sama!”
Wardes watched with interest at the sword that Saito was holding.
“Indeed… You are not an ordinary sword. I should have noticed that when you reduced my ‘Lightning Cloud’”.
Still, Wardes did not loose his confidence.
He smiled thinly, when setting out the cane.
‘Now, then, let's get serious, shall we? It is time to teach you why this magic is called the strongest.’
Though Saito jumped at him, Wardes dodged it like an acrobat and uttered the spell.
‘Ubiquitous Dell Wind…’
When the spell was completed, Wardes' body suddenly doubled.
One… Two… Three… Four… Wardes' doubles, together with the real body, surrounded Saito.
‘Doubles!’
‘It is not only ‘Double’. It’s ‘Ubiquitous Wind’, uneven distribution… The wind is unevenly distributed. The place where it blows is not just a matter of appearance, but it has a substantial power too.’
One of Wardes' doubles suddenly pulled a white mask from the cloak and wore it.
Saito's body trembled. He was shivering with anger and fear. The masked man was Wardes! The man who was standing next to Fouquet… The one who hit Saito with a blitz was none other than Wardes!
‘The masked man… You… Then it must be you who helped Fouquet to escape too. What a treacherous and useful spell. You can appear anywhere.’
‘Indeed. More so, each one has the power of the original. I told you, right? ‘Wind’ is unevenly distributed!’
One of the Wardes jumped on Saito, while the other uttered the spell, making the cane shine.
‘Air Needle’, the same spell that pierced Wales' heart before.
‘The cane is surrounded by a magical whirlpool, so the sword cannot suck it in!’
The cane was shaking as the whirlpool was rotating around it forming a blade, of which tip was aimed at Saito’s body during the attack.
Derflinger blocked it, but the impact of the blow still hit Saito’s injured hand and he fell down.
Wardes laughed.
‘Not bad for a commoner. After all you are the legendary Gandálfr. However, this is where it ends. You are no match for my ‘Ubiquitous Wind’ spell!’
Gradually, Wardeses surrounded the fallen Saito.
‘Hey, legendary sword! The one that ‘Gandálfr’ used! Derf!’
‘That’s what I am. What is it?’
‘If you are so legendary, then do something or else we will be killed.’
‘Well, I am shining and sucking in enemies' magic, am I not?’
‘No, not that, something more? Like some special attack? Like blowing the enemy away with a single hit…’
‘What? I’m just a sword.’
One of the Wardes flew up and tried to hit Saito with his cane.
Saito jumped up, defending his body with his sword and dodging the attack.
‘Useless! What kind of legend is this!’
‘But not to this extent!’
The Wardeses kept on attacking violently, but because Saito's back was supported by the wall, only three of them could attack at the same time. Somehow he managed to block all of their attacks.
‘At this rate I'll be defeated! And killed!’
‘Good grief, my deepest sympathy!’
Meanwhile… 15 feet from the place where Saito was fighting, Louise woke up. When Louise saw Saito fighting hard, her face was momentarily blank with surprise, but then she grasped her wand.
‘Run away while you can! Idiot!’
Saito shouted, but Louise didn’t stop. The spell was uttered and the wand was aimed. She chanted the ‘Fire Ball’ spell. The spell aimed at Wardes exploded hitting the floor beneath him.
Boom! With that loud sound Wardes disappeared while Louise watched amazed.
‘Eh? Disappeared? Because of my magic?’
The remaining Wardes tried to jump on Louise.
‘Run away!’ Saito shouted, but Louise stubbornly started to chant the same spell again. However, she was blown away by Wardes' cane this time.
Saito stared with astonishment.
He started shaking with anger. When Louise’s body hit the wall right before his eyes, a beast-like roar escaped his mouth.
‘How dare you to do that to Louise…!’
Once Louise's body was blown off again, the remaining Wardes clones concentrated on Saito trying to press him further. However, Saito's movement gradually increased speed.
All of the Wardeses' breathing became irregular and rough. Still, even then, their expression didn't change.
While blocking the sword, Wardes asked.
‘Why did you come back to die? To risk your life for Louise who despises you? I can’t understand how a commoner’s mind works!’
Saito shouted while swinging the sword. ‘Then why did you bastard try to kill Louise!? You were her fiancée!’
‘Hahaha, you are still in love with Louise? A servant's hopeless love for his master! That’s really funny! That arrogant Louise will never turn to you! Mere compassion mistaken for love! Fool!’
‘So what if I fell in love!’
Saito shouted while biting down his lips.
‘However…’
‘However, what?’
‘It is beating!’
‘What?’
A puzzled expression floated on Wardes' face.
‘Aah! When seeing that face, my heart is beating faster! This reason is good enough for me! Therefore I will defend Louise!’
Saito screamed.
The runes started shining.
Matching the light, Derflinger also shone brighter. ‘Good! That’s good partner! Right! That’s the key! I remembered! I know the source of Gandálfr’s power! Good partner!’
Finally Saito’s sword cut down another Wardes.
‘Wha?’
Wardes grimaced in an unbearable pain.
‘Gandálfr's source of power is feelings! Anger! Sadness! Love! Pleasure! Anything is good! And now you seem to be really shaken, my Gandálfr!’
Saito rounded up the sword. Because of its terrible speed, Wardes was not able to react to the sword in time and disappeared.
‘D-damn you…’
Only three remained now.
‘Do not forget! You are fighting me! You can’t surpass my skills!’
Saito leaped high up into the air, holding his sword. Wardes also flew.
‘The air is my element… Do not forget! Gandálfr!’