Queen's Blade: Sword of the Unicorn, chapter 0-b

Regarding the Holy Instruments poll, Laila's wings won with 28v-63%, followed by Sigui's burning mace with 10v-22%, and last was Laila's cannon with 6v-13%.
Heh, I somehow knew the wings were gonna win. Independent flight is too much of a temptation, ain't it~

And next poll, now that some time has passed since Unlimited OVA 1's release, did ya fellas got around to watching it?

So, here he finish the SOU prologue! Time to introduce our new hero(ine?), plus finish the Tomoe vs Airi fight! Also, Eiwa pics; we've only just begun! :3

Enjoy!




The girl ran through a dark underground corridor, her breathing heavy from exertion. The torch in her right hand bathed her dress in a pale red light. Her fair skin, which almost made it look as if she’d never seen the sun before, was dyed in a light pink and her feet, which weren’t used to running for such long periods of time, were crying out in pain.

[I probably have a blister or two by now.]
Running in such lavishly decorated shoes turned out to be a bad idea.
“Oww!”
Severe pain suddenly washed over her, causing her to frown.
[I can’t keep this up, I’m almost at my limit.]
She flicked away at her silvery hair, clinging to her forehead with sweat, then stopped to look back. A pale phosphorescence was approaching, wobbling.

“Talk about persistent…”
(C’mon, just give up already.)
The blinking light somehow answered back.
(This is no place for you to be.)
From deep within the underground tunnels, the pale flame shook, giving rise to innumerable spirit orbs.
(Come back with us, Milady.)
(If ya get back before Lady Airi returns, we promise to keep quiet.)
“Can it!”
The girl roared at the lights, her tone as imposing as any boy’s.
“‘Come back with us’? Are you kidding me? You think I want to be sacrificed?”

Her resolve renewed, she revealed the hidden weapon in her left hand.

It was a strange weapon, peculiar in shape: its blade more akin to a pointed cone, like a snail’s shell or an animal’s horns. It was no bigger than a knife and thus small enough to hide with ease.

(Now now, Fifi, just come back and…)
The girl suddenly thrust out her torch at the orb.
(Wha!? Watch it!)
Despite having no physical body, the floating light tried dodging the strike.
Anticipating this, the girl suddenly struck out with her hidden weapon to where she thought it’d dodge.
(Ngaaah!)
And with a short scream, the floating soul was suddenly sucked into the conical blade before vanishing.

(W-What the hell kind of weapon is that!? No one told us jack about this?!)
A spirit orb moved around in confusion, sensing its own annihilation closing in next.
“Do you want to disappear too?”
The girl threatened with the blade.
“Well, do you?”
Prompted by the very direct threat, the disembodied spirit wavered, hesitating for a moment…
(Eeeek! This is bad, like, really really bad!~)
Before fleeing for its life away and further down the corridor, leaving a pitiful cry in its wake.
“Phew…”
A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
[Looks like I managed to buy some more time, I’d better made my escape.]

***

Now Tomoe stood alone in the arena, all that seemingly remained of Airi being the sound of her voice.

"You have my thanks. Now I can fight with my full power."
“I see, then I’ll have to use my full might as well.”
Aiming for the direction Airi’s voice came from, Tomoe thrust out her sword without mercy.
*CLAAANG*
Her blade bounced off of something in the air, making a metallic wail.
“Show yourself, foul being!”
Tomoe shouted, her tone filled with ire, ashamed she’d shown any mercy to this inhuman monster.

“Oh my, that was a close one. I nearly got skewered there.”
Airi’s shape slowly came into view.
“You may consider me a foul thing, but I do ask you stay patient with me, Lady Warrior Priestess.”
The ghostly maid spoke, her charming tone brimming with calmness.
“You’re certainly a calm one…”
Tomoe’s hands trembled as she clutched her sword in rage.
[Wait, why am I angry? I stand no chance unless I compose myself. I can’t allow her any opportunity to catch me with those fingertips of hers again, otherwise I’ll lose both my strength and this match.]
Her quivering hands had inadvertently reminded Tomoe about the importance of keeping her wits about her. If she kept up the battle in this state, those shaking hands would no doubt make swinging her sword in any accurate way impossible.

The priestess took a deep breath, keeping watch for sudden movements from Airi, and tried to recall every detail from the fight thus far.
The maid could become invisible and, apparently by touching foes with her fingertips, could also steal away others’ strength. Dragging the battle out only worked against Tomoe.
[In that case…!]
Tomoe kicked at the ground and charged towards Airi.

[Attack. And keep attacking.]

“My apologies, I must have misunderstood your title. You’re certainly more ‘Reckless’ than ‘Priestess.’”
Airi taunted the shrine maiden, parrying the sword strike with her scythe again. However, her voice fell on deaf ears.

[Attack! And keep attacking!!]

Without aim, Tomoe swung her sword again with full force. An uncouth slash, devoid of any elegance.
“Kyaaan!”
Blown away by this second strike, the maid fell to her rear loudly. She was surprised at Tomoe, to think that girl could still house so much strength… Airi couldn’t even begin to hide her joy.

However, the foreigner didn’t hesitate and swung again, this time with an overhead blow to her fallen foe.
“Well done… Very well done, Lady Warrior Priestess.”
And with a smile on Airi’s face, she collapsed yet again onto the ring.
[Is it over?]
The referee statue hadn’t declared a victor yet.
And so, Tomoe did not break her fencing posture, readying herself for Airi’s counterattack.
It was then that a group of bluish-white spirit orbs welled up around the collapsed maid, protecting her.

One of them drew closer to Airi and whispered something into her ear.
“What did you say?”
The smile on Airi’s lips vanished.
And at that moment, Tomoe thrust her sword before the wraith’s eyes.
“Do you intend to keep fighting?”
The maid only shook her head at the question.

“Sadly, it’s my loss. *Chuckle* I’ve been losing so much lately, my Mistress is sure to punish me.”
Another orb flew around the self-deprecating Airi and whispered something else to her ear.
Tomoe didn’t miss the look the wraith made then, apparently that had put an end to her good mood altogether.

“Winner, the Warrior Priestess!”
With Airi admitting defeat, the referee statue declared Tomoe’s triumphant win.
Tomoe! Tomoe!
But despite the storm of cheers raining down from the audience, the priestess simply put her sword away in silence.
[What an embarrassing display. I merely contented myself with swinging my sword around like a brute, this battle could not have been any further from the concept of elegance… There’s more to winning than this.]
“I still have so much to learn.”
Seeing Airi off as the orbs helped the wraith get back to her feet, Tomoe made a show of waving to the audience.

***

Queen’s Blade.
A massive competition held once every 4 years, made to select the Continent’s Queen.
So long as they were over the age of 12 and female, anyone was free to participate, resulting in droves of women joining in the hopes of fighting their way through to the top.
Was it glory and victory that awaited them? Or perhaps crushing and utter defeat... maybe even death?
They won’t know that unless they fight!

--

I did mention back in Unlimited that Michel's introduction scene kind of resembled Fio's, even if only from a conceptual point of view. Now that we can compare them side by side, it's kind of a bit shameful (especially since Michel is quick to lose the attitude), oh well :p