Chapter 213 - It Runs Swiftly
“[Rabbit Rapid, Crimson Brilliant Bullet].”
It was likely the name of a magic spell, the culmination of the incantation his ears had been catching in fragments.
It was probably an ability hidden within that strangely shaped dagger. Even as Haru gripped its hilt with his right hand behind his back, light leaked from the crimson blade, which remained undrawn in its sheath.
However, there were no other visible changes.
In Arcadia, magic was supposed to be flashy. Even if this wasn't magic, phenomena that required an incantation generally followed that rule.
He couldn't hear the words clearly, but from the movement of Haru's lips, he had recited a mid-to-long incantation… which meant the resulting supernatural phenomenon should be anything but minor—
“…Tch!”
None of that mattered. After a deliberate but fleeting moment of thought, Maru II tightened his grip on his weapons and kicked off the water-filled ground.
Honestly, the only reason this fight was even happening was entirely due to the enemy's good-natured sportsmanship. Since his opponent's outrageous agility completely outclassed his own, there was nothing he could do if Haru decided to focus solely on escaping.
He could even force a [Break] to end the engagement if he wanted to—yet, it was Haru's refusal to do so that had been the single greatest factor in cornering and felling the [Great Tiger], erasing any thought of retreat from his mind.
How admirable, he thought.
It wasn't that Maru II belonged to the battle-crazed faction of Istia, nor was he as fond of a good fight as his combat mentor, the [Great Tiger]. But—yes, that was it.
That attitude of trying to enjoy everything before him to the absolute fullest.
That spirit of unhesitatingly meeting an opponent's full strength with his own.
And…
“—Heheh…!!”
Even just the visible part of his mouth conveyed it all—that utterly innocent and joyful smile, one that could even draw a grin from his opponent.
As someone to revel in a game with, he was admirable in every way.
…So then, just how far would this young man climb?
Short sword, longsword, spear, greatsword, mace, great hammer, scimitar… With his virtual brain spinning at ten times the normal speed, practically on the verge of burning out, he unleashed a shapeshifting offense, changing tactics and forms, yet…
This monster, who parried it all with only a small shield in his left hand, never letting go of the dagger hilt with his right… this white and azure shadow, cloaked in crimson light, who grew faster with every single action… just how far would he go?
Driven by curiosity, the shapeshifter focused his gaze as if to peer into the depths of the hood, and—
“—————”
In the darkness, he thought he saw it—whether it was an eye or not—a brilliantly glowing red.
◇◆◇◆◇
In reality, it wasn't that I was being theatrical or holding back the power hidden in the rabbit dagger. And it certainly wasn't because I was embarrassed to chant those ridiculously profound verses with a smug look on my face.
The reason was simple: this unique effect, [Rabbit Rapid, Crimson Brilliant Bullet], was just hopelessly difficult to use.
Not just difficult, but frankly, it ultimately leads to a state of being completely uncontrollable. In short, it’s an ace of a demonic nature that even my own player skill, honed under the Sword Saint, can’t fully tame—
Yes, a demon card indeed.
I said I wouldn't rely on my joker, but I never said I wouldn't play the demon card.
The creation of [Parabellum Bullets] is merely a secondary effect.
The true primary power of [Rabbit Dagger: Parabellum] is the effect of [Rabbit Rapid, Crimson Brilliant Bullet]—the updating of my maximum speed.
Once this power is activated, the moment my avatar marks its maximum speed allowed by my agility stat, that limit is raised, little by little.
Little by little… meaning it accumulates.
And an avatar's 'maximum possible speed' isn't limited to just running. For example… the speed at which one swings a weapon.
Every time I swing my left hand, armed with the [Revolving Wheel Shield], to bat away the countless incoming attacks.
Every time I swing the defensive shield, designed more for interception than blocking, at top speed.
The AGI value, stacking up bit by bit, materializes as an aura similar to the enhancement effect of Crimson Valor—but this one is somehow more ominous, a clinging, crimson glow.
It felt so exhilarating that I was aware of my own laughter. Perhaps influenced by me, Maru II also quirked his lips into a cheerful smile… but it was no illusion that his cheeks were gradually starting to twitch.
He must be wondering something like this, I bet.
—Just how high will this guy go?
Unfortunately, the only answer I can give to that question is a single, utterly 'lawless' one.
“Keep up, shapeshifter—there's no limit.”
[Rabbit Rapid, Crimson Brilliant Bullet]… its power is the constant updating of my maximum speed.
And for that speed, which skyrockets in an instant—a ceiling does not exist.
“Ggh…!?”
My fist, now moving at a speed that had finally broken past its limits, surpassed his processing ability, which had been compensating for his agility disadvantage with his thought acceleration.
I swatted away the blade of a dagger aimed at my neck and, in the same motion, drove a backhand fist into the side of his face—man, seriously, every single one of these rankers…
Even after taking a direct hit, his gaze never wavered, and he didn't even flinch or reflexively shut his eyes. That's some serious guts you've got there!!
“Bullets!!”
I summoned a multitude of crimson daggers before me. The swarm of blades glittered as they floated in mid-air, and Maru II reacted instantly, but… sorry, that was a bluff.
[Blink Switch]—Ignoring the wall of Bullets I had just created, I summoned the [Giant's Hand Axe] into my left hand. He must have predicted its trajectory from the blade's orientation, as he tried to dodge sideways, just as I expected. I brought the massive black axe down right where he was headed.
The speed of that swing had already made an AGI of 350 a thing of the past. At this point, I'd probably reached that ridiculous number I graduated from a while ago: AGI 500.
No, it would be more accurate to say I had reached it.
Because in this very instant, with that axe swing, I've made even that maximum speed a relic of the past.
—Alright, I can't afford to be leisurely anymore.
The reason why this outrageous power is a 'demon card' and not a 'trump card' has finally begun to manifest. The proof is that my HP, not Maru II's, was chipped away by that last swing, which far exceeded my avatar's limits.
Unlike [Shukuchi], which seems reckless but is built on a solid foundation of technique, the hyper-acceleration from [Rabbit Rapid, Crimson Brilliant Bullet] is more like a doping effect granted by the blessing of the 'Red'.
Excessive power will be one's undoing. In other words, if I continue to accelerate like this, my avatar won't be able to withstand the overload that surpasses its stats and will self-destruct.
Furthermore, this is treated as slip damage from overload, not self-inflicted damage. This means that even if I had started at full health, it wouldn't have met the activation conditions for my unique title, [Acrobat], though it's a moot point since Maru II already chipped away at my health.
And slowing down to stop the updates is not an option. The moment this temperamental dagger senses me holding back, it immediately gets sulky and ditches the enhancement effect…
In other words, if this battle drags on, I will self-destruct.
Well then, the answer is simple, isn't it?
“Let's begin—ten moves to finish this!!”
Pressing for checkmate within a limited number of moves—that's become one of my specialties recently!!
What kind of weapon gets sulky when it senses its owner is 'holding back'?