Chapter 119 - Guardian's Frost Blade, Endless Sky Dash - Part Three
The [Frostblade Shirosou]—among all existing Anima, it is the only one that takes the form of a pure Japanese sword. In an unofficial ranking of superior Anima, it is listed as the sixth-best in the armor category.
The name of the ability hidden within its silver-blue blade is [Bushin]—a power that deploys a spherical physical defense barrier around the user's body.
This barrier, like a veil of diamond dust, doesn't block or parry physical attacks—it deflects them, making them slide off as if on ice.
Apparently, it has a numerical durability value, but since it automatically deflects everything, it’s a cheat-level soft shield.
Breaking it with a frontal assault is unrealistic. After much debate, the only established strategy to counter it is to simply chip away at it with magic attacks.
—That’s right, magic only.
“What a hard counter to physical attackers…”
After my all-out strike was nullified, I managed to narrowly escape the merciless counterattack that followed and shot a resentful glare at this embodiment of sheer unfairness.
“How rude. I am more than capable of handling mages as well.”
The [Sword Protector] countered, gesturing with his Anima as if to say, With just this one sword, and smirked.
True to its magnificent appearance as a katana, it was also a top-tier weapon.
In the first place, Anima don’t have durability—meaning they essentially never break. Just getting one in the weapon category is considered a huge win.
And this particular sword had been forged in the hands of a top-tier player, a Ranker, and even possessed an exceptional defensive ability that hard-countered physical attacks. It was no wonder it made the rankings.
…………So, what do I do about that?
I don’t have a single magical attack option.
Well, I do have one hidden card that at least looks non-physical, but I’m pretty sure its damage calculation is still physical…
“…Well, it’s not like I have any other choice.”
From the start, I went into this match knowing that if that didn’t work, it was a losing battle. All I can do is give it everything I’ve got.
“Now then… I know it’s unreasonable, but if you have no other moves, this is checkmate.”
He had probably figured out from my reaction that I was a pure physical build. As if he no longer needed to even be on guard, he lowered his sword and spoke.
“I don’t enjoy torturing my opponents. I recommend you surrender.”
As you can tell from his leisurely chatting, that unique ability has no time limit.
On the other hand, if it’s ever destroyed, it apparently has such a long cooldown that it can’t be used again for the rest of the battle… but against someone like me, it’s literally an invincible defense.
[Sword Protector]—figures. Damn it.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m not the type to give up easily.”
I summoned two weapons into my hands: the [Panga Fool] and the [White-Flawed Straight Sword].
“…I did say I don’t enjoy this.”
Despite his words, the expression on his handsome face was not one of disapproval.
You battle junkie, that’s just so typical of you Istia players—[Blink Switch].
“…Hm?”
I sheathed the black short sword and the white straight sword, then summoned my next set: the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor] and the [Revolving Aegis].
—[Blink Switch].
“What are you…—Hk!”
He noticed.
Having come to some sort of realization, the [Sword Protector] dropped his look of composure and charged forward.
That teleportation again—in that case, I’ll counter with this!!
“Parabellum Bullet!”
First, I summoned daggers between all the fingers of both hands and tossed them straight up with just the right amount of force.
Then, without even trying to read his presence, I stored the [Giant's Hand Axe] and [An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)] I had just summoned into my inventory and leaped straight up with all my strength.
And—
“Wh-haah?!”
Along with the sound of a sword strike hitting empty air, a voice of pure astonishment came from far below.
It wasn't because I had managed to summon a duplicate even though the main [Parabellum Rabbit Dagger] was broken.
And it wasn’t because I had just leaped over ten meters into the air in a single bound.
The crimson daggers were rising straight toward the sky, slowly, like paper airplanes, showing no signs of falling.
And I was kicking off their hilts, soaring fifty meters above the arena floor as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His shock was likely for both of those things.
That’s a great expression you’re making. I hope you’ll just keep watching from down there.
At the apex of my jump, just as I was about to begin falling, I summoned another Parabellum Bullet, pinched it, and dropped it straight down with a trivial amount of force.
The dagger, glinting in the sunlight, once again defied the laws of physics and began to fall slowly and straight down—[Blink Switch].
I summoned the [Panga Fool] into my left hand again, and the [White-Flawed Straight Sword] into my right, used them as footholds, leaped toward the preceding Parabellum Bullet below—kicked off its small red hilt, and launched myself back into the air, repeating the loop.
As I began to hop around by myself high in the air, I showed no signs of stopping my bizarre, or rather, skillful, antics, all while under the intense gaze of countless eyes.
—It didn’t take long for the murmuring from the venue to swell into a roar that reached even the highest point of the arena.
◇◆◇◆◇
““—…………………………””
“Ah…”
Come to think of it, he hadn't done that yet.
Watching the two people beside her—and indeed, everyone in the special seating area—fall into stunned silence, Sora finally remembered.
She had been so captivated by all his cool moments that she had completely forgotten.
“When you think of Haru, you think of… that, don’t you.”
It was undeniably incredible, and an amazing feat no matter who saw it, but the movements required to achieve it were strangely comical and lacked a certain grace.
And because he himself did it so casually, with a calm expression on his face, it looked even more so. To be honest, that part of him is also something I—
“…………”
What was I about to say? As if to escape from the thought she had abruptly put the brakes on, Sora cast her eyes downward. Beside her—
“Well, yeah, I guess that makes sense…”
“It would, wouldn’t it…”
The two beside her murmured, their gazes fixed on the stage. The arena, which had been filled with confusion, was now transitioning to the next stage of the situation.