This chapter combines both ten and eleven of AKG Zero, so the next chapter will pick off of chapter twelve in the manga.

---

After dropping the food off with Green and Najasho, Akira and Cornelia ended up leaving Guy up in the mountain as well. The two of them arrived back at the inn.

Akira: "Alright, we're here, Corey."

Cornelia: "Yep, thanks."

Akira: "Well, I'm going to go explore around and hopefully look for some information around here. Talk to you later."

Cornelia: "A-Akira!"

Akira: "Hmm?"

Cornelia: "A-After this mission is over, will you, um...would you consider going on a date with me...?"

Akira took a minute to process the information, a blush soon coming to his face as the same blonde girl had her own blush. Scratching the back of his head, he turned around and thought about it. Despite the feelings he felt for the red-eyed girl, he knew they wouldn't reach her, seeing that she wouldn't want to be in a relationship right now.

He made up his mind and decided to give Cornelia a chance. He turned around with a small smile on his face.

Akira: "Sure. I'll keep that in mind."

Cornelia: "R-Really?"

Akira: "Yeah. But after this mission is over."

Cornelia: "R-Right! W-Well...see you later!"

Akira: (chuckle) "Later, Corey."

As Akira leaves, Cornelia squealed to herself in delight. She had finally asked him and he had said yes. She was looking forward to it once the mission was over.

Taeko: "Cornelia."

Cornelia: "Oh, Taeko. What is it?"

Taeko: "I want to talk about the man you were just with. Can you come with me...? We won't go very far."

Cornelia: (confused) "Huh?"

But Cornelia agrees, the dark haired girl leading Cornelia to a secluded and abandoned area. The buildings were run down and destroyed, some of them were even close to collapsing. Cornelia found it odd for Taeko to take her here. Not only that, the dark haired girl had a katana with her, so the blonde beauty was on guard.

Cornelia: "Uh...um, Taeko...are you worried about Akira? He's a good guy and he's real sweet once you get to know him--"

But her eyes widened as she took a huge step back, Taeko having unsheathed her blade and slashed at her.

Taeko: "So you were able to dodge. I didn't want to cause you pain, but..."

Cornelia: "Taeko...are you...?"

Taeko: "I'm an assassin hired by the Revolutionary Army. I really thought we could be friends. But...it looks like this is the way things have to be between us, Cornelia."

With a determined look, Cornelia equips her Shingu, the Crushing King. It was a gauntlet type Shingu that granted the user super-human strength, but the drawback was it could harm the user if used improperly.

Cornelia: "I will finish any enemies that come after me!"

Taeko: "I am the Death Reaper, Breath of Oarburgh, the Untamable Wind. I will show you the way to the underworld."

The two stood at a standstill, both of them wanting to end their lives, despite also not wanting to. They truly wanted to be friends. But they were members of opposing sides.

The swordsman of Oarburgh had quickly rushed forward, using her technique Mountain Gale. It was strong enough to cut the air, forcing Cornelia to jump back in order to dodge it. Cornelia reels her arm back, bring it down as she smashes the gauntlet into the ground, Taeko able to swiftly dodge the attack. 

Taeko tries to get closer, Cornelia only smashing the Crushing King into the ground, creating craters in the ground and making dust rise into the air in order to create a distraction and mask her movements. As Cornelia uses the smokescreen she created to get closer, she stops. She could see Taeko's silhouette, an aura of killing intent radiating off her. Knowing she couldn't attack her, Cornelia thought of something else.

Cornelia: "Take this!"

The blonde girl punches the stone wall above her, Taeko's eyes widening as she looked shocked. Readying her katana, she uses Ridge Wind, this ability of Taeko's slashes the air bifurcates anything from a distance. The stone wall was destroyed and cut in half, but amidst the chaos that was ensuing, Cornelia took this chance as a distraction. She rushes in, Taeko looking up by the time the blonde was already near her. 

Cornelia: "Crushing Blow!"

Reeling her arm back, Cornelia thrusts it forward and it makes contact with Taeko's arm. Gusts of wind rise up from the ground, dust appearing. Cornelia jumps back, waiting for a few seconds before her eyes widened.

Despite the power she used for Crushing King, Taeko was still standing, although the arm she used to take the hit was severely damaged. Cornelia rushed forward, instead of using her fists, she used her legs, dislocating them so she could extend her reach. 

Taeko: "She dislocated her joint and stretched her legs!?"

Cornelia: A technique my Papa taught me that only I can use! You were too focused on my fists!"

Taeko: "Then I'll remove my limiters as well."

Using her ability called Twister, Taeko removes her limiters. She quickly disappears from Cornelia's line of sight, the blonde girl looking for her as she tries to sense her presence. Coming from the side, Cornelia raises the Crushing King to block Taeko's attack. Cornelia goes to counterattack back, but Taeko met her attack head on, parrying all of them. Not only that, Taeko's own speed had shot up immensely. 

But she couldn't lose. The kind smile of Akira soon flashes in her mind. She couldn't lose. Not only did she train superior in martial arts, she had a promise to keep with him. But she stopped when she started to cough up blood. Taking this small chance of her vulnerability, Taeko kicks Cornelia, sending her back.

Cornelia: "This is..."

Taeko: "She who lands the first strike...has the advantage."

Cornelia: (thoughts) 'Poison! She nicked me back then...'

Taeko: "You looked like you were trained to resist it, but it's starting to finally work because you're moving around so much. It's a powerful Oarburgh special concoction. There is no antidote. You won't live, Cornelia."

Cornelia: "I don't know about that. I grew up in the wild, so I'm pretty confident about how tough I am. I'l defeat you and get plenty of rest, Taeko."

Despite heavily damaged, and weakened, Cornelia still kept her resolve. Taeko had already lost the limiter effect, so she needed to plan her next move wisely. Taeko then rushed forward and thrusts her sword forward, Cornelia raising the gauntlet up to block it. A small crack was then heard.

Cornelia then lunged her foot upwards, striking Taeko's face. With the dark haired girl skidding back, Cornelia runs towards her, hoping to reel her fist in to Taeko's gut. But Taeko uses her technique, Light Gale. Sheathing her sword before she unsheathes it, a bright light emitted from the blade as she goes for a slash. But it was easily blocked by Cornelia. The blonde girl then jumps into the air, bringing a kick down into Taeko's stomach.

Taeko: (thoughts) 'Even my speed strikes didn't...my movement is becoming dull?'

Cornelia: (smirk) "You're not doing so hot yourself. The impact from Crushing King damaged your internal organs."

Cornelia was confident, running at the other girl as she lets out a barrage of attacks. She was able to land a kick in Taeko's side, causing her to let out a cry of pain. But she soon stops as Taeko assumed the stance of her technique, Floral Wind.

Cornelia: "...Taeko...let's put an end to this."

Taeko: "...Yes, Cornelia."

Putting her all into a single blow, Cornelia had rushed forward and reeled her fist back. Taeko could even feel the air pressure of the attack, it pushing her back as she was slammed against a stone wall. However, despite her back against the wall, Taeko could see a small liability in Crushing King. 

The small crack she made earlier had created a weak point. Using Light Gale, Taeko swifly slashes her sword to where the crack was, demolishing Crushing King and slicing Cornelia's hand off.

Cornelia: "...Huh?"

Taeko: "You blocked too many strikes with your weapon."

Cornelia then lets out a cry of pain, Taeko slashing her along the chest. Cornelia falls to the ground in pain, crying. 

Taeko: "I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't landed the first strike...!"

Cornelia: "It burns...it hurts! It hurts...Papa...Papa!

Taeko: "...I'm sorry. It'll all be over soon."

Cornelia begins to crawl away, looking back to Taeko as she pleads. She still wanted to live, to see them again. To live with them. To be with all of them once more. But Taeko, with tears of her own, thrusts her sword through Cornelia's throat, piercing her windpipe, her slowly dying.

Taeko: "The next time we meet...I hope we're on the same side."

Cornelia: (thoughts) 'Akira...forgive me...'