Director Edward

Chapter 225: Episode 5 · Paradox Spiral! (23)

The sudden twist left all the audience holding their breath, their hearts nearly stopping.

The unfolding plot of Kara no Kyoukai resembled a runaway train, hurtling forward with unstoppable momentum, leaving no room to apply the brakes as it raced madly toward its conclusion.

In an instant, with a series of rapid flashbacks to past events, a breathtaking montage began to weave together the previously fragmented and chaotic timelines, delivering a powerful shock to the hearts of the viewers.

At the same time, the moment Araya Souren was seen injured, nearly everyone instinctively realized the source of his state—Ryougi Shiki.

Indeed, inside the elevator, the figure of that girl appeared.

However, she seemed different from her usual self. Beyond her unsteady gait, she held a long blade in her hand, which had been brought by Tomoe earlier and left behind in the elevator.

Now, without hesitation, Ryougi Shiki gripped the hilt of the blade like a warrior from an ancient battlefield, exuding an air of serene yet lethal intent.

On the other side, Araya Souren couldn't help but speak:

"How did you escape, Ryougi Shiki? The injuries I inflicted on you haven't healed yet. How is your body still able to move? Why did you wake up? Why couldn't you have stayed unconscious a few minutes longer?"

After a moment, seeing no response from the girl, Araya Souren couldn't resist answering his own question.

"Is it because of Enjou Tomoe?"

Yet Ryougi Shiki responded decisively:

"He has nothing to do with it. I woke up on my own. I didn't rely on anyone. Enjou being here is meaningless."

With those words, Ryougi Shiki suddenly unsheathed the long blade in her hand, prompting Araya Souren to warily deploy a triple-layered barrier around himself.

However, Ryougi Shiki appeared entirely unfazed, exuding an air of detachment as she spoke slowly with an almost nihilistic tone:

"How strange. This is the first time I can't feel even a shred of excitement in front of my prey. Even though I know our fight will likely end in a near stalemate, I just can't bring myself to smile."

"But I think I understand now. I don't want to kill you—I simply can't stand the fact that you exist."

As her words fell, Ryougi Shiki's killing intent erupted completely, and the intense battle commenced in the narrow hallway, shaking the very air around them!

...

As the climactic showdown between Ryougi Shiki and Araya Souren was about to erupt, the audience couldn't contain their excitement any longer.

Throughout the entirety of Paradox Spiral, countless remarkable scenes had unfolded, but what everyone truly anticipated was the stunning performance of Ryougi Shiki herself.

After all, Kara no Kyoukai had aired five episodes by now, and viewers had already fallen in love with this seemingly delicate yet incredibly strong-willed protagonist.

Now, all eyes were fixed on the screen, eagerly awaiting the intense battle that was about to unfold.

At the same time, speculations began to spread among the viewers, with many debating the difference in power between the two combatants and wondering who would emerge victorious in the end.

"Who do you think will win? Both of them seem to represent the pinnacle of power among all the characters in Kara no Kyoukai so far."

"Obviously, it has to be Ryougi Shiki. She's the protagonist, after all—there's no way she's going to lose, right?"

"But hasn't she already lost to Araya Souren once before? His strength is nothing to scoff at."

"That loss was only because Ryougi Shiki didn't fully understand his abilities and underestimated him. If they fight seriously now, I think Ryougi Shiki has a much better chance of winning."

"That's not necessarily true. But isn't Aozaki Touko still around? If Ryougi Shiki really isn't a match for him, I believe Touko will step in. Against two opponents of their caliber, Araya Souren wouldn't stand a chance."

"…"

The debates erupted in various corners of the audience. Everyone had their own perspective on the battle, each voicing their understanding and predictions for the outcome.

...

In contrast to the superficial assessments of ordinary viewers, the mages of the Imperial Mage Academy offered far more nuanced opinions.

"A battle between a mage and the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, huh? To be honest, it's quite similar to a duel between a mage and a knight. Typically, it all comes down to who moves faster—the mage aims to maintain distance, while the knight's goal is to close the gap as quickly as possible."

"But Araya Souren isn't your typical mage, is he? His combat prowess seems to far surpass that of a normal knight."

"Exactly. Plus, Ryougi Shiki's Mystic Eyes can make any blade deadly. With that ancient sword she's wielding, which appears to be exceptionally powerful, her attack range will likely be quite extensive. A regular mage wouldn't stand a chance against her onslaught."

"It's safe to say that both of their abilities exceed the level of an ordinary mage or swordsman. Who will win? Honestly, only the heavens can tell."

"…"

The mages debated fiercely, clearly recognizing the exceptional portrayal of both Araya Souren and Ryougi Shiki in the story.

Yet, despite their deep insights, even they found it impossible to reach a definitive or logical conclusion about the outcome.

Still, beyond rational analysis, the vast majority of the audience supported Ryougi Shiki, the protagonist.

From the bottom of their hearts, they all hoped she would achieve ultimate victory.

On the screen, Ryougi Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception flared open as she launched herself at Araya Souren with blinding speed.

"—Eradicate!"

Araya roared, his voice echoing like a demon's cry as he unleashed a devastating attack, his hands tearing through space itself, obliterating everything in sight.

Yet, in the face of this overwhelming spatial destruction, Ryougi Shiki merely swung the blade in her hand.

"Slash!"

A brilliant flash of light tore through the chaos as Ryougi Shiki's strike severed the warped space itself. The slash didn't stop there—it also cleaved through Araya Souren's extended right hand, sending it tumbling away.

Araya Souren stared in stunned disbelief at the wound on his arm, unable to fathom the profound transformation in the girl standing before him. He murmured, almost to himself:

"So, that's it… Self-suggestion? You switched personalities the moment you picked up the weapon! I was deceived… You didn't even go all out in your fight against Asagami Fujino, did you?"

Before his own words could fully settle, realization dawned on Araya Souren. He gazed at the girl, whose aura had undergone a fundamental shift, and spoke with a mix of awe and bitter admiration:

"So this is it… At last, I've met her… The true Ryougi!"

As his words echoed, Ryougi Shiki's Mystic Eyes faded momentarily, replaced by a smile—an inexplicable, distinctly feminine smile that defied description.

In the very next instant, the Mystic Eyes reignited, and she charged straight at Araya Souren with relentless determination.

Before the audience could even catch their breath, Araya Souren retaliated, and the two clashed.

What followed was a blinding flurry of attacks, their battle so fast and ferocious that it left everyone mesmerized.

The ultimate duel had begun, dazzling and unstoppable!

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