“Satomi-sama... you...”
Ruth who had been watching Koutarou from behind on the other saw what happened. Despite having seen it, she was still surprised.
Immediately before El-sama fires, the barrier near the barrel vanishes for a moment! Satomi-sama punched him during that small window! I understand the theory, but just because you understand the theory, it's not that easy to put it into practice!! Just how much training would you have to do to be able to pull off something like that!?
That was a move made possible by the power given to him by Sanae and from his combat experience. Elexis had a habit when he fired his gun. Just before shooting he, would hold his breath, and that showed in his aura. Koutarou's experience told him that was a common trait amongst marksmen. So by swinging his fist at that time, he would be able to strike Elexis before he could fire his gun.
“Ouch, the barrier recovers quickly.”
While Ruth seemed surprised, Koutarou was shaking his right hand in an attempt to ease the pain. That was because he had been repelled by the reformed barrier, but his actions were so carefree that it was hard to believe he had just easily done something so amazing.
“I see, Neanderthal-kun, you aimed for the opening when the barrier was down!”
That was when Elexis realized what had happened. The tactical support computer on him reported on what Koutarou had done.
“But now that I know, there's no need to fear!”
Elexis ejected the magazine loaded into the gun and quickly exchanged it with another.
“All I have to do is attack you with lasers without lowering the barrier!”
The new magazine contained miniature irradiation devices that fired lasers. And by loading those into the pistol, it would be able to shoot lasers. Since it was a prototype, there was a limit to the amount of shots it could fire, but this generality was the selling point of the gun.
“You've surprised me quite a bit, but it looks like I win, Neanderthal-kun!”
After changing his magazine, Elexis ordered the computer to change the barrier settings. Normally, Forthorthe's protective barriers guarded against lasers as well. But Elexis changed that setting to allow lasers to pass through. That meant that he could fire at Koutarou without having to lower his barrier.
“Let me tell you something good.”
“Is this your will? I'm no knight, but I'll at least hear your final words.”
Pointing his gun at Koutarou, Elexis waited for his words. He was absolutely certain of his victory now.
“Unarmed, I have no way of breaking your barrier, and you can attack me all you want. All I can do is run around, but I won't be able to save Theia like that.”
“That's right. You can at least understand that.”
“However―”
Koutarou began running towards Elexis once more.
“Did you get so desperate as to resort to a suicide attack? I guess that is only fitting for a neanderthal.”
Elexis confidently kept his aim at Koutarou. He had no need to defeat Koutarou with this attack. He only needed to buy time, he only had to not lose. There was no chance that an unarmed opponent could break through the barrier. Elexis had been a little surprised over getting punched, but he was still dominant.
“Satomi-sa― Ah...”
At first, Ruth had thought that Koutarou was throwing his life away too. But then she noticed that Koutarou was smiling. It was the exact same kind of smile he would show when he was teasing Yurika.
“―my partner is the slyest of them all.”
Before Elexis could fire, several lights came pouring down from above.
The lights passed through his barrier and struck the gun in his right hand, and the barrier generator on his waist and destroyed them.
“W-What!?”
Elexis was once again taken aback by surprise as the unexpected happened. However, he didn't have much time to be surprised as Koutarou swung his fist down at full force. Without his gun and barrier, Elexis had no way to defend himself and standing still, he was just an easy target.
“Guhah.”
Koutarou's fist buried into Elexis's stomach, and he easily fainted.