Chapter 1018 - This Budding Feeling, Over and Over Again
A declaration and an incantation────that is, a conclusion and a beginning.
While the power of [One's Gift] allowed Iris to unconditionally and fully activate the enhancement effect of her unique title [Sword Queen], [Braver], Haru's chant was just beginning.
Naturally, the one who reached top gear with a single word would seize the advantageous first move.
"Tch…………kuh…!"
If his opponent were one to whom such common sense applied, he wouldn't be smiling like this.
"────'Memory is carved into my soul.'"
Challenging the 'strongest,' whose every single spec had skyrocketed, was the might of platinum, which had separated from his avatar and once again formed into two arms in concert with his 'armor.'
They moved just like knights protecting their lord's incantation.
Which meant the assault was limited to two arms, lacking their master who was busy chanting.
"[God-Wedge Sword-King]…!"
The incarnation of a hollow knight, which had been accumulating knowledge and growth to rival its master's in the midst of battle, forcefully pushed back Iris, who until moments ago had been evenly matched against their three-in-one assault.
She could handle it, of course. She wouldn't fall behind, naturally.
However────
"────'My glittering crown resides in my body.'"
From the [Sword Queen], a mere few seconds.
But it was enough to steal a few utterly perfect seconds of her time.
"[My name is Rega-Lielta, the King Clad in Crimson]."
His 'True Theory' was just that absurd.
""────""
After several moves that could not be shortened no matter what, Iris blew the twin arms away, securing her stance for 'one step' forward at the exact same moment Haru's eyes became tinged with deep crimson.
Their gazes met. For a single beat, a moment felt like an eternity.
""──────────!!""
A chaotic dance of light. An affair of swords, far too fast for any eye to follow, had begun.
◇◆◇◆◇
'Three Claddings' activated, plus a five-fold acceleration from my open golden right eye.
Leaving the Trams behind for a moment, as they couldn't possibly keep up at this speed, I engage her with [Samidorizuki] in my left hand and the [Rabbit Shortsword, Parabellum] in my right for one hundred, two hundred, three hundred clashes.
The senses of my virtual body, far sharper than in reality, combined with the extreme concentration of high-level combat to extend my perception of time, all multiplied by three different thought-acceleration skills.
My thoughts are racing at a speed far beyond a simple 'five times,' pushed to their absolute limit as I kick off the ground and kick off the air, moving in an endless straight line towards the only figure reflected in my eyes.
At this point, we're both just going wild.
No matter how slow the world seems to move, we ourselves are just too damn fast. I swung my sword, it was parried, maybe it grazed her, nope it missed—that's about the best I can process.
And on top of that, there's only one emotion endlessly bursting forth.
"──────Tch, hah!!!"
"──────Tch… hehe!"
It's so fun it feels like my head is going to explode. That's it.
[Desperate Crimson] has been active from the start. Same with the generic version of [Trickster of Zenith]. On top of that, I've unleashed [King of the Gleaming Rabbit (Rega-Lielta)], and we're finally on even ground.
I can't get enough of this. Of course, the thought acceleration from my [Eyes Oculus] is being copied by her through the sensory sharing ability of [One's Gift]. Well, that can't be helped.
But even so, when it comes to footwork, I'm undeniably far superior…──
I'm pouring everything I have into this—Shukuchi, Matoi, sword techniques, skills, all of it—and relentlessly hammering her with superior speed, holding nothing back────
"You… ultimate idiot!!"
"Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment!!"
It doesn't get through.
She doesn't waver.
The [Sword Queen] does not fall.
I've gotten stronger. No, seriously, I've gotten insanely strong. So unbelievably strong that not only my friends and acquaintances, but even my master gets half-mad at me for it.
"Tch…, …………!"
And yet,
"…! …………, …!!"
And yet,
"──────Tch, Haru!"
You really are.
"────Keep up with me! To the very end!!"
The invincible, unbeatable princess.
"You little…!!"
I love you from the bottom of my heart, Ashe.
◇◆◇◆◇
A split-second maneuver, a full-force blow lands.
Not on the 'enemy'—Haru—before her. But by striking down his jade and crimson blades, she seized an opening and slipped past the twin greatswords that had attacked with perfect timing────
"Hah… hah…! …────A resident-type, released form."
"Fuh, gh… ngh, gueh… hah…………!"
In a fleeting moment, a gap that didn't even last a beat, shattered into fine pieces. It wasn't through precise thought but pure instinct that Iris chose the 'correct' answer, delivering her 'sword' to,
"Its manifestation time and output scale don't align… Tch, then there must be another 'weakness.'"
The third head present on the field.
"If there isn't a demerit to match the merit, it just doesn't make sense…!"
"────………………Haha…"
That would be the 'knight's helmet' that appeared alongside the twin arms────the brain, which had been intently watching Iris with its shining eyes, learning, and skillfully manipulating the arms.
Its movements were slow, and its size made it nothing more than a 'large target.' The moment Iris's 'sword' cleaved it in two,
"…Correct."
The helmet and twin arms that had been attending Haru both exploded into a phosphorescence of platinum light.
""…, …, …………, ………………""
Ten meters apart.
Neither of them had fallen to their knees, but they were breathing so heavily it wouldn't have been surprising if they had. Their swords were still in their hands. And the fighting spirit in their eyes, reflecting each other, showed no signs of fading.
…Probably.
Surely, most likely.
"…Fuh, fu."
We're thinking the same thing, aren't we.
I bet you're thinking the same thing I am.
The feeling of wanting to toss aside my sword and embrace him, to be embraced by him, right this second. And the feeling of wanting to cross swords with him forever and ever.
I bet your heart is filled with the same impossibly contradictory feelings as mine.
"…────Haru."
She whispered his name. The eyes staring back at Iris flickered, scattering a golden glow.
"…………You know, more than I expected,"
Neither of them spoke the rest of the sentence. They didn't have to. It was already understood.
────You're such a crybaby.
────It's your fault.
────Yeah, yeah, my fault, my fault.
They exchanged such playful words without speaking, knowing full well this wasn't the time or place. What were they doing, having a secret rendezvous with their eyes locked in a public venue?
They both let a smile slip, for the same reason.
────And it was then that their ecstatic hearts finally noticed something was wrong.
"Tch…?"
The phosphorescence,
"Ah… let me correct what I said earlier."
The platinum phosphorescence that filled the space.
The remnants of the armored knight weren't scattering. …And thus,
"That weakness────you were half correct."
The platinum reversed, becoming a brilliant, shining gold.