Chapter 1049 - ........................
...I've seen this... or rather, it feels familiar.
Within a range of about ten meters. Compared to the monstrous battles of the level cap zone that felt like a supernatural world war, this was a small fight that fit into a tiny space.
But because of that, techniques without the intervention of miracles, the skills, stood out.
"........................"
I inhaled quietly and exhaled long and thin.
Suppressing the virtual physiological function of blinking with a single thought, I remained motionless with my right hand on the hilt of the [Hayami-zuki]... simply watching.
Ashe, who understood what she could do in her current state within seconds of the fight's start, used thrusts as her primary mode of attack. It was extremely efficient considering her realistic physical specs.
Tora-kichi, who seemed to rely on wild instinct but was actually surprisingly logical. His fundamental combat style was the opposite of my intuitive one, as he maneuvered with extreme coolness despite his roars.
Both were magnificent. They established a game of wits against a shadow doll with an estimated five or ten times their physical ability, all while having Status levels in the single digits.
...Even if that was the result of being played with.
As predicted from its appearance and aura, its Status was a typical physical power type with Strength leading and Vitality following. It was easy to read from its movements.
That was why they could keep up, because its Agility wasn't specialized.
Speed is the absolute rule of the virtual world. No matter how much one dominates in other specs, if the opponent is faster, there is usually nothing one can do.
Well, that's what miracles, the skills, are for overturning...
"Hey, you're pushing too hard! Use me as a wall!"
"I know...!"
"Your movements say otherwise!"
...
Again, both were at the peak of excellence. Because they trusted each other's skill and judgment, they used sophisticated coordination to squeeze out their meager Status and fight without skills.
Their normal physical driving speed wasn't that inferior.
Instead, the greatsword swings and sudden lunges using momentary bursts of Strength, which was likely a substantial value, completely outclassed them.
They used the former as a foothold, and for the latter, they relied on the intuition and reflexes garnered from their vast combat experience. They were fighting remarkably well.
...With the caveat that the enemy was in a saved state, for some reason not always releasing the maximum output it showed when it first dodged Ashe's surprise attack.
There was no sign of it using any special abilities similar to our skills. I didn't know if it wouldn't or couldn't, but it simply didn't use them.
A single greatsword and its own body. That was all.
"........................"
Without moving my eyes from the battle, I focused on the presence watching my back.
Beings that wielded only weapons and techniques without skills, displaying power that rivaled or sometimes easily surpassed us players. I had many ideas, but that could wait.
I was told to face it.
I could ask all I wanted after completing what was requested.
"........................"
I inhaled quietly, exhaling long and thin, and then...
"...Ugh."
Three minutes and twenty-six seconds after the start.
As I watched, I cut my breath and put heat into the five fingers resting on the hilt.
And then, a step.
"...! Ta..."
"I KNEEWWWW IIIIIIIT!"
I stepped forward quietly, slightly late. That was the signal.
Ashe, who had narrowly dodged another flash, backed away. Simultaneously, Tora-kichi, who had attempted another forced weapon break, was instead violently repelled and retreated.
A small fight that fit into a tiny space.
Thus, those simple movements were enough to swap the front and back.
"..."
As the two who had fulfilled their roles left the stage, a new duel took shape.
On one side was the shadow doll. A featureless tall figure with long flowing hair, wielding a greatsword larger than its body with superhuman abilities.
On the other side was me. A reckless person defying the supernatural with specs that were, well, not quite an ordinary person's but were pushed down into the realistic range.
Thus, the latter stepped forward with a hand on the hilt of the katana still in its sheath.
...
The shadow doll took a step back.
I took a step forward. It took a step back.
I took another step forward. It took another step back.
It looked back at me as I stared straight ahead, finding eyes in that featureless face. Despite having physical abilities far beyond mine, the shadow doll retreated slowly, inch by inch.
Advance, retreat, advance, retreat... the defense that seemed endless was brought to a close by realistic circumstances in the virtual world.
...
With a small clack, the shadow doll's heel was blocked by a pile of rubble.
It was a dead end. Pushed back to its starting point, it swallowed a moment of hesitation as if looking for an escape to the left or right without turning its head.
...
With an almost exaggerated movement, as if it had made up its mind, it raised its greatsword again.
...I wondered if it had some capacity for thought. While thinking that in a corner of my mind, I cornered my prey with total concentration.
"...Closing Form: Single Blade."
My fingers were placed, not gripped.
"Zero Blade: [Mukyoku]."
The sheath was on my left hip. My right hand, supporting the hilt, was in an underhand draw position. My left hand was raised, ready to catch the hilt in mid-air to form a two-handed grip upon drawing.
I opened my eyes wide, watching every detail of the enemy etched in my memory.
Come at me.
No matter how much higher its Status is compared to ours...
...
There's no way my eyes, which have sprinted through heights far beyond that, can't catch you.
Accumulated power for over twelve hours, External Rotation Output Kai convergence release.
Thanks to the efforts of the other two, I've memorized its behavioral habits. Thanks to Ashe's lightning-fast adaptation and surprise attack, I've even memorized its approximate maximum output.
If so, a full charge from something merely around Level 50...
"..."
...Matching the timing is child's play.
The clash, a single flash.
As a result of the shadow doll closing the distance with a full-speed step, only one blade flashed.
The base value was extremely meager. However, the power built up over time was anything but small. Compared to my usual full power, it was still infinitely inferior, but...
However.
No goddess's blessing, the skill, was used. This was a set created through the authority of the Soul Vessel and the Title.
In this extreme and special environment, the katana that was alive swallowed every bit of the bonus draw power from the living sheath, becoming a single strike...
...
Beyond the point where it burst from the sheath.
It bisected the incoming enemy right down the middle.