Chapter 11: White Summit
The Russian Empire, which is part of the Union, invaded Estonia 15 years earlier. At the time Estonia was a non-member state of the League of Mage-Knight Nations, but the League was against the invasion and sent troops there. It was a major incident called the Baltic Crisis, which was one step away from World War 3. However, the incident was resolved before the two forces could clash because a girl wearing pure white clothes and wielding a pair of swords annihilated both forces of 300,000 people by herself. This was the beginning of ‘Twin Wings’ Edelweiss’ legend and resulted in her becoming an international fugitive wanted by both the Union and the League. Attempts to capture her had failed and resulted in oppositions against sending many troops to Estonia in order to capture just one criminal. For the next 10 years since then, Estonia had massive political changes. When the three Baltic States which included Estonia joined the League, Edelweiss was considered no longer part of the country which it abandoned territorial rights of the land where Edelweiss lives.
Stella and the others arrive in Estonia in the morning after they left Vermillion. In a rental car, they head towards the border between Estonia and the land which is now Edelweiss’ country. The car is being driven by Ascarid who's been to Edelberg before, with Ikki in the front passenger seat and Stella and Tatara both sitting in the back. Ikki and Stella were surprised that the person who saved Sirius and the others from ‘Dirty Rose’ was Tatara. Stella thanks Tatara and offers a handshake but Tatara hits Stella’s hand hard instead. As a professional killer, Tatara came there to take care of a traitor and saving Stella’s parents was just a turn of event. She doesn’t intend of being friends and that innocent girls like Stella are someone she really hates. Tatara then says she’s tagging along now because seeing Stella getting beaten up by Edelweiss would be a great show while laughing. Hearing this makes Stella’s face flushed with anger but Ikki tells her to stay calm because they still owe Tatara and they will be fighting together. Tatara negotiated with Astrea and she was allowed to enter the upcoming representative battle as one of Vermillion’s representatives. The car then arrives in front of a small village where Stella and the others have very close view of Edelberg, a mountain over 9,000 meters with steep slopes and sharp edges that make it look like a sword that pierces the sky. Stella and the others also have spotted many Blazers that are planning on making a name for themselves by going after Edelweiss. They then run into an altercation with a group of dozens of men that look like bikers. They are a mercenary group called ‘Murder Entry’ and their leader is Guile the ‘Raging Waves’ who is carrying a huge zanbatou and wants to be the world’s strongest swordsman by killing Edelweiss. Ascarid tells Stella that laws don’t exist in the land they’re in. Before they all can clash with each other, they are stopped by a voice coming from two men that came from the village.
One of the two men that have prevented Stella’s group from clashing with the bikers is a muscular Western man wearing a red riding suit and he greets Stella who is a princess. The other is an Asian man wearing a Japanese clothing and sword. Ikki recognizes the Asian man as the ‘Wolf Blade’, Yoshikazu Kiba-sensei. 15 years ago, Kiba was ranked 12th in the world before he suddenly disappeared from the A-League, and it was the highest rank in Japan at the time until Kurono Shinguuji surpassed the record few years later. He’s a master swordsman that is said to be equal to the ‘Last Samurai’ and many young knights including Ikki admire him. The Western man then recognizes Ascarid from the presence she’s emitting and says it’s been two years since he last met her. Ascarid tells Ikki that the man is Ranbalt Raab, ‘Red Scorpio’, who is a captain in the US Secret Service. In the US, Blazers are referred as psychics and those in the Secret Service are chosen elites. Ascarid met Raab when she was guarding the French President during a conference between US and France two years earlier. Raab says even though he knew Ascarid was a woman from her manner at that time, this is the first time he has seen her face and he didn’t expect to her to be such a beautiful person. Even though Guile’s men became worried after realizing who Stella and Ascarid are, Guile says they’re still women. He also says it’s impossible that Edelweiss, just one woman, was able to annihilate an army of soldiers from the League and Union all by herself. Guile then leaves with his men while laughing. Raab then asks if Stella and the others are also here to go after Edelweiss like everyone else here and Stella replies it’s just her. Raab is here to show that even the world’s strongest sword can’t penetrate the shield of the US.
Stella can feel strong aura coming from Raab and other nearby people that had come with the same purpose. She says she has no intention of getting along and her business here is only with Edelweiss. She then uses ‘Dragon Wing’, manifesting a pair of wings of fire on her back, and tells Ikki and Ascarid to grab on to her because they will fly straight for the top of the mountain. Stella says to Tatara that she’s not taking such an unpleasant person with her, but Tatara says it’s not necessary. Tatara can jump in mid-air as a result of using her Noble Art ‘Total Reflect’ which she continuously reflects the gravity at her footings. Stella and the others then head towards the top leaving everyone else at the bottom behind. After seeing Stella’s dragon ability, Raab says she might get ahead of him and Kiba. However, Kiba tells Raab not to say such cruel thing because Stella won’t even get close, which was something that happened to them 15 years earlier. As Stella and the others are flying towards the top, Ikki can feel from the pressure he’s feeling that they are getting close to the strongest swordsman. They pass the 8,000 meter altitude where the air is thin and there is very little water, which is beyond the adaptation limit of human beings. Ikki spots a small stone cabin between the cliffs and they land beside the cabin. Stella wonders what Edelweiss was thinking for her to build a home at place like this. Ikki thinks it’s probably so that Edelweiss doesn’t end up getting many unwanted visitors.
They then walk towards the cabin but Stella ends up unable to move forward as if being stopped by an invisible wall. Stella wonders if it’s a barrier but Ascarid replies that Stella just can’t move forward because her soul has become frightened after understanding the significance of moving forward. Stella doesn’t believe it and tries to put more strength to her legs, but a voice tells her to stop because Stella would lose her life if she continues. The voice belongs to Edelweiss who is wearing plain clothes and has her back on the cabin’s front door as shown in a pic. Edelweiss says she is surprised that Iris also came here despite the current situation and Ascarid replies if Edelweiss knows what’s been happening. Edelweiss says the League has made an announcement regarding the situation between Vermillion and Cradleland including the representative battle that will occur a week later. Stella then says she wants to become stronger in order to defeat Or-Gaule and protect Vermillion. While manifesting her device, Stella asks Edelweiss to have a match with her. However, Edelweiss turns down Stella’s request because she doesn’t feel like doing it. She also says she is not interested in fighting someone that doesn’t even require her picking up a sword, while looking down on Stella with cold eyes. Stella asks what that means and Edelweiss apologizes but it’s just like she said. At Stella’s current level, Edelweiss can kill her even with her gaze.
Stella, after hearing such insults from Edelweiss, puts more strength to her legs in order to move forward. But as she takes just one step, her limbs and neck are slashed by an invisible force in an instant. Stella’s body becomes unbalanced and has moved backwards. Stella says she thinks it was caused by vacuum slashes like what she saw during Ikki and Sara’s match. However, Edelweiss says it’s completely wrong because in the first place her ability is not for combat use. All Edelweiss did was release her bloodlust a little stronger, but Stella doesn’t believe that intimidation alone can cause injuries. Edelweiss explains further that it’s impossible for normal people, but she herself is not a normal person. Blazers are people who have the power to change fate, but even among them there are those who can overcome the limit of their own fate and exist outside this world’s cause and effect. Stella realizes Edelweiss is referring to Desperados. Edelweiss then says Desperados can surpass the limit of the talent they were born with, distort this world’s cause and effect, and put their own mark in history. In other words, they can paint over this world’s fate with their own will. What hit Stella earlier was a manifestation of that special characteristic which resulted from Edelweiss’ desire of wanting to hurt Stella a little. Therefore, Stella can’t win against Edelweiss no matter what because of Desperado’s attraction force. It’s the same as when Stella couldn’t win against Or-Gaule and Naseem because the fate they were carrying on their backs was something that would result in her own death. In order for Stella to win against them, there is no other way but to become a Desperado herself as well. Stella argues that it’s for that reason she came here to fight Edelweiss but Edelweiss replies that she has no reason to accept Stella’s request. She refuses to help Stella commit suicide and so asks her to go back.
Ikki then tells Stella that it’s impossible after all, and he feels the gap between Edelweiss’ strength and theirs are larger now. He also says that Edelweiss wasn’t serious after all during that final strike in the last time they fought. However, Edelweiss replies that she actually gave her all during that moment and that the reason Ikki feels the gap has become larger is probably because she has become stronger at a faster rate than theirs. Stella believes that Edelweiss is both kind and strong. Edelweiss could take Stella’s life at that moment before but she was concerned about her and chose to give her a warning. Stella fully understands now that what she’s doing is rash and foolish, but with strong determination present in her eyes she still refuses to give up. Stella might be able to survive the current predicament by depending on people like Nene and Ascarid. However, they might not be present the next time Vermillion is under attack and the person that attacks next time might even be Edelweiss herself. Stella says misfortune could fall on Vermillion at any time and so as Vermillion’s second princess and its sword, she has to become stronger than anyone right now. As she moves forward again, her body receives cuts as shown in one of the colored pics. Despite Ikki’s warning to stop, she keeps moving forward and her body keeps receiving cuts from the blades of cause and effect. Ikki and Ascarid then move to stop her, but Stella then moves faster while saying that she has a responsibility and so she won’t run away no matter what. Edelweiss then says she’s beaten, and the blades of cause and effect disappear once she suspends her bloodlust. Stella’s determination reminds Edelweiss of the same determination Ikki had when he fought her. But that’s still not enough because the strength of the person’s ‘ego (self)’ is important in Desperado’s domain. Right now Stella is so determined that she’s fine with dying, but a stronger determination than that is needed and moreover it’s dangerous for Stella to have no regard for her own life.
Thus, Edelweiss accepts Stella’s challenge but she wants her to do something for her. The people who came to challenge Edelweiss are bothering her and she can’t get some rest because of them. Edelweiss wants Stella to give her some holiday as a present. There are 6 days until the representative battle and if Stella prevents any of them from coming to Edelweiss’ house for 5 days, then Edelweiss will use the sixth day only for Stella. Stella also has to do this alone without anyone lending a hand to her, and Edelweiss wants them to swear to her device, ‘Testament’. She manifests her device and thrusts it to the ground in front of Stella. As Stella is about to give her promise, Ascarid stops her and tells her to be careful because Edelweiss’ ability has been activated. Edelweiss is a causation manipulation type Blazer with the ability to administer contracts. If the person that swears in front of Edelweiss’ device is unable to keep their promise, they will lose their life from their heart being torn apart. This is Edelweiss’ Noble Art, ‘Rule of Grace (flawless pledge)’ which has poor use but its binding power is unrivaled. Stella then puts her hand on the handle of the sword and says to the others that even though she currently isn’t capable enough to make them believe in her, she asks them to make her believe in herself. Ikki then says, while placing his hand on Stella’s, that he believes in Stella and that she will surpass her own limit. Ascarid places her hand as well and tells Stella to do her best because Ascarid no longer wants to see people getting hurt by her younger brother and so it will be helpful if Stella becomes stronger. Edelweiss then says Tatara has to swear as well in order for the contract to be established. Stella then asks Tatara to go along but Tatara refuses at first. Tatara then says Stella has to crawl like a pig, and she will agree if it’s interesting to see. Stella asks Edelweiss if it’s okay to kill Tatara right now so that Tatara won’t help Stella as agreed by the contract, which Edelweiss replies that it should be no problem. Stella then swings her sword in order to cut off Tatara’s head but Tatara manages to dodge. Stella also activates ‘Dragon Spirit’ which causes Tatara to give in to Stella’s demand, and the echo of her scream reaches even the village at the bottom of the mountain.
Chapter 11: White Summit
The Russian Empire, which is part of the Union, invaded Estonia 15 years earlier. At the time Estonia was a non-member state of the League of Mage-Knight Nations, but the League was against the invasion and sent troops there. It was a major incident called the Baltic Crisis, which was one step away from World War 3. However, the incident was resolved before the two forces could clash because a girl wearing pure white clothes and wielding a pair of swords annihilated both forces of 300,000 people by herself. This was the beginning of ‘Twin Wings’ Edelweiss’ legend and resulted in her becoming an international fugitive wanted by both the Union and the League. Attempts to capture her had failed and resulted in oppositions against sending many troops to Estonia in order to capture just one criminal. For the next 10 years since then, Estonia had massive political changes. When the three Baltic States which included Estonia joined the League, Edelweiss was considered no longer part of the country which it abandoned territorial rights of the land where Edelweiss lives.
Stella and the others arrive in Estonia in the morning after they left Vermillion. In a rental car, they head towards the border between Estonia and the land which is now Edelweiss’ country. The car is being driven by Ascarid who's been to Edelberg before, with Ikki in the front passenger seat and Stella and Tatara both sitting in the back. Ikki and Stella were surprised that the person who saved Sirius and the others from ‘Dirty Rose’ was Tatara. Stella thanks Tatara and offers a handshake but Tatara hits Stella’s hand hard instead. As a professional killer, Tatara came there to take care of a traitor and saving Stella’s parents was just a turn of event. She doesn’t intend of being friends and that innocent girls like Stella are someone she really hates. Tatara then says she’s tagging along now because seeing Stella getting beaten up by Edelweiss would be a great show while laughing. Hearing this makes Stella’s face flushed with anger but Ikki tells her to stay calm because they still owe Tatara and they will be fighting together. Tatara negotiated with Astrea and she was allowed to enter the upcoming representative battle as one of Vermillion’s representatives. The car then arrives in front of a small village where Stella and the others have very close view of Edelberg, a mountain over 9,000 meters with steep slopes and sharp edges that make it look like a sword that pierces the sky. Stella and the others also have spotted many Blazers that are planning on making a name for themselves by going after Edelweiss. They then run into an altercation with a group of dozens of men that look like bikers. They are a mercenary group called ‘Murder Entry’ and their leader is Guile the ‘Raging Waves’ who is carrying a huge zanbatou and wants to be the world’s strongest swordsman by killing Edelweiss. Ascarid tells Stella that laws don’t exist in the land they’re in. Before they all can clash with each other, they are stopped by a voice coming from two men that came from the village.
One of the two men that have prevented Stella’s group from clashing with the bikers is a muscular Western man wearing a red riding suit and he greets Stella who is a princess. The other is an Asian man wearing a Japanese clothing and sword. Ikki recognizes the Asian man as the ‘Wolf Blade’, Yoshikazu Kiba-sensei. 15 years ago, Kiba was ranked 12th in the world before he suddenly disappeared from the A-League, and it was the highest rank in Japan at the time until Kurono Shinguuji surpassed the record few years later. He’s a master swordsman that is said to be equal to the ‘Last Samurai’ and many young knights including Ikki admire him. The Western man then recognizes Ascarid from the presence she’s emitting and says it’s been two years since he last met her. Ascarid tells Ikki that the man is Ranbalt Raab, ‘Red Scorpio’, who is a captain in the US Secret Service. In the US, Blazers are referred as psychics and those in the Secret Service are chosen elites. Ascarid met Raab when she was guarding the French President during a conference between US and France two years earlier. Raab says even though he knew Ascarid was a woman from her manner at that time, this is the first time he has seen her face and he didn’t expect to her to be such a beautiful person. Even though Guile’s men became worried after realizing who Stella and Ascarid are, Guile says they’re still women. He also says it’s impossible that Edelweiss, just one woman, was able to annihilate an army of soldiers from the League and Union all by herself. Guile then leaves with his men while laughing. Raab then asks if Stella and the others are also here to go after Edelweiss like everyone else here and Stella replies it’s just her. Raab is here to show that even the world’s strongest sword can’t penetrate the shield of the US.
Stella can feel strong aura coming from Raab and other nearby people that had come with the same purpose. She says she has no intention of getting along and her business here is only with Edelweiss. She then uses ‘Dragon Wing’, manifesting a pair of wings of fire on her back, and tells Ikki and Ascarid to grab on to her because they will fly straight for the top of the mountain. Stella says to Tatara that she’s not taking such an unpleasant person with her, but Tatara says it’s not necessary. Tatara can jump in mid-air as a result of using her Noble Art ‘Total Reflect’ which she continuously reflects the gravity at her footings. Stella and the others then head towards the top leaving everyone else at the bottom behind. After seeing Stella’s dragon ability, Raab says she might get ahead of him and Kiba. However, Kiba tells Raab not to say such cruel thing because Stella won’t even get close, which was something that happened to them 15 years earlier. As Stella and the others are flying towards the top, Ikki can feel from the pressure he’s feeling that they are getting close to the strongest swordsman. They pass the 8,000 meter altitude where the air is thin and there is very little water, which is beyond the adaptation limit of human beings. Ikki spots a small stone cabin between the cliffs and they land beside the cabin. Stella wonders what Edelweiss was thinking for her to build a home at place like this. Ikki thinks it’s probably so that Edelweiss doesn’t end up getting many unwanted visitors.
They then walk towards the cabin but Stella ends up unable to move forward as if being stopped by an invisible wall. Stella wonders if it’s a barrier but Ascarid replies that Stella just can’t move forward because her soul has become frightened after understanding the significance of moving forward. Stella doesn’t believe it and tries to put more strength to her legs, but a voice tells her to stop because Stella would lose her life if she continues. The voice belongs to Edelweiss who is wearing plain clothes and has her back on the cabin’s front door as shown in a pic. Edelweiss says she is surprised that Iris also came here despite the current situation and Ascarid replies if Edelweiss knows what’s been happening. Edelweiss says the League has made an announcement regarding the situation between Vermillion and Cradleland including the representative battle that will occur a week later. Stella then says she wants to become stronger in order to defeat Or-Gaule and protect Vermillion. While manifesting her device, Stella asks Edelweiss to have a match with her. However, Edelweiss turns down Stella’s request because she doesn’t feel like doing it. She also says she is not interested in fighting someone that doesn’t even require her picking up a sword, while looking down on Stella with cold eyes. Stella asks what that means and Edelweiss apologizes but it’s just like she said. At Stella’s current level, Edelweiss can kill her even with her gaze.
Stella, after hearing such insults from Edelweiss, puts more strength to her legs in order to move forward. But as she takes just one step, her limbs and neck are slashed by an invisible force in an instant. Stella’s body becomes unbalanced and has moved backwards. Stella says she thinks it was caused by vacuum slashes like what she saw during Ikki and Sara’s match. However, Edelweiss says it’s completely wrong because in the first place her ability is not for combat use. All Edelweiss did was release her bloodlust a little stronger, but Stella doesn’t believe that intimidation alone can cause injuries. Edelweiss explains further that it’s impossible for normal people, but she herself is not a normal person. Blazers are people who have the power to change fate, but even among them there are those who can overcome the limit of their own fate and exist outside this world’s cause and effect. Stella realizes Edelweiss is referring to Desperados. Edelweiss then says Desperados can surpass the limit of the talent they were born with, distort this world’s cause and effect, and put their own mark in history. In other words, they can paint over this world’s fate with their own will. What hit Stella earlier was a manifestation of that special characteristic which resulted from Edelweiss’ desire of wanting to hurt Stella a little. Therefore, Stella can’t win against Edelweiss no matter what because of Desperado’s attraction force. It’s the same as when Stella couldn’t win against Or-Gaule and Naseem because the fate they were carrying on their backs was something that would result in her own death. In order for Stella to win against them, there is no other way but to become a Desperado herself as well. Stella argues that it’s for that reason she came here to fight Edelweiss but Edelweiss replies that she has no reason to accept Stella’s request. She refuses to help Stella commit suicide and so asks her to go back.
Ikki then tells Stella that it’s impossible after all, and he feels the gap between Edelweiss’ strength and theirs are larger now. He also says that Edelweiss wasn’t serious after all during that final strike in the last time they fought. However, Edelweiss replies that she actually gave her all during that moment and that the reason Ikki feels the gap has become larger is probably because she has become stronger at a faster rate than theirs. Stella believes that Edelweiss is both kind and strong. Edelweiss could take Stella’s life at that moment before but she was concerned about her and chose to give her a warning. Stella fully understands now that what she’s doing is rash and foolish, but with strong determination present in her eyes she still refuses to give up. Stella might be able to survive the current predicament by depending on people like Nene and Ascarid. However, they might not be present the next time Vermillion is under attack and the person that attacks next time might even be Edelweiss herself. Stella says misfortune could fall on Vermillion at any time and so as Vermillion’s second princess and its sword, she has to become stronger than anyone right now. As she moves forward again, her body receives cuts as shown in one of the colored pics. Despite Ikki’s warning to stop, she keeps moving forward and her body keeps receiving cuts from the blades of cause and effect. Ikki and Ascarid then move to stop her, but Stella then moves faster while saying that she has a responsibility and so she won’t run away no matter what. Edelweiss then says she’s beaten, and the blades of cause and effect disappear once she suspends her bloodlust. Stella’s determination reminds Edelweiss of the same determination Ikki had when he fought her. But that’s still not enough because the strength of the person’s ‘ego (self)’ is important in Desperado’s domain. Right now Stella is so determined that she’s fine with dying, but a stronger determination than that is needed and moreover it’s dangerous for Stella to have no regard for her own life.
Thus, Edelweiss accepts Stella’s challenge but she wants her to do something for her. The people who came to challenge Edelweiss are bothering her and she can’t get some rest because of them. Edelweiss wants Stella to give her some holiday as a present. There are 6 days until the representative battle and if Stella prevents any of them from coming to Edelweiss’ house for 5 days, then Edelweiss will use the sixth day only for Stella. Stella also has to do this alone without anyone lending a hand to her, and Edelweiss wants them to swear to her device, ‘Testament’. She manifests her device and thrusts it to the ground in front of Stella. As Stella is about to give her promise, Ascarid stops her and tells her to be careful because Edelweiss’ ability has been activated. Edelweiss is a causation manipulation type Blazer with the ability to administer contracts. If the person that swears in front of Edelweiss’ device is unable to keep their promise, they will lose their life from their heart being torn apart. This is Edelweiss’ Noble Art, ‘Rule of Grace (flawless pledge)’ which has poor use but its binding power is unrivaled. Stella then puts her hand on the handle of the sword and says to the others that even though she currently isn’t capable enough to make them believe in her, she asks them to make her believe in herself. Ikki then says, while placing his hand on Stella’s, that he believes in Stella and that she will surpass her own limit. Ascarid places her hand as well and tells Stella to do her best because Ascarid no longer wants to see people getting hurt by her younger brother and so it will be helpful if Stella becomes stronger. Edelweiss then says Tatara has to swear as well in order for the contract to be established. Stella then asks Tatara to go along but Tatara refuses at first. Tatara then says Stella has to crawl like a pig, and she will agree if it’s interesting to see. Stella asks Edelweiss if it’s okay to kill Tatara right now so that Tatara won’t help Stella as agreed by the contract, which Edelweiss replies that it should be no problem. Stella then swings her sword in order to cut off Tatara’s head but Tatara manages to dodge. Stella also activates ‘Dragon Spirit’ which causes Tatara to give in to Stella’s demand, and the echo of her scream reaches even the village at the bottom of the mountain.
