Chapter 584 - The Peerless Ice Blade and the Eternal Warbler, Part 2
I switched the rabbit dagger to my left hand and extended my empty right arm straight out to the side.
On it was a bracelet fashioned from nine layers of black. It was one half of a matching pair, a gift from the world's system to myself and Ashe, the sole conquerors of the [Shadow-Infested Arena].
The deep violet gemstone flickered, and seeping from its form was—a tangible shadow, black as night, that wavered like smoke and flowed like water.
"…"
Across from me, Irori sensed another unfamiliar phenomenon and quietly readjusted his grip on his sword. It was quite gratifying to see him heighten his guard… In that case, you’d better dodge this well, Lord Peerless.
Because if he mishandles this—
"—Sen."
He could be looking at a game over in a single hit.
"Tch…!"
The abnormality was immediate, the scale immense. The shadow I unleashed in accordance with the keyword erupted, spraying out radially like a torrent of countless intertwined threads.
Its destination: straight ahead. The action taken by the Peerless warrior who had to respond was—
"Run, Shirosou!"
Nothing less than the optimal solution.
The blade of his [Frostblade Shirosou], swung as if to sweep the ground, shone brilliantly. In that same instant, a colossal pillar of ice erupted, standing firm against the torrent of shadows. It did more than just hold them back; the ice spread from the tips of the threads it touched, rapidly closing in on me, their source.
Okay, just as I expected.
"[Rocket]."
I severed the shadows from the bracelet and, a split second before being swallowed by the advancing ice, kicked off the ground and shot upwards. That single leap into the air wasn't to escape danger,
"Senten—…!"
It was a step toward my next attack.
I forcefully reined in the rampaging shadow, a wild steed that only barely listened to its master's commands. I wove the threads together, wrapping them around my right arm to form a jet-black gauntlet.
And then,
"[An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Armor that Sings of the King's Road)]!"
As I summoned the left gauntlet, my eyes met his azure gaze as he looked up—no, it wasn't just our gazes that met.
"H—ere I come, you bastard!"
"Bring it on—!"
We also exchanged vicious grins, the kind you probably shouldn't show in polite company.
Another ignition of [Rocket], a strike from directly above—he dodged again, my left arm smashing the floor spectacularly, but this time it was an evasion, not a retreat.
After dodging, deflecting, and weathering even the flying fragments of the floor, a lethal sword stroke flew at my neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I brought my right arm up to meet the hand that swung it—ah, this guy is really…!
"What is with your battle instincts?!"
"It is simple enough to understand just by watching!"
And so began the second act of our ultra-close-quarters brawl, shouting at the genius who had instantly shifted his arm's trajectory upon seeing my guard, avoiding contact with my shadow-clad right arm.
If it touches you, it's over. Most people wouldn't be able to react in time, even if they knew…!
A left punch—feinted, pulling the fist back halfway to transfer the momentum into a spinning roundhouse kick—followed by a downward right punch, as if my whole airborne body was falling into it. Then, planting both hands on the ground for a Capoeira-like spinning double kick… followed by two backfists as I sprang back up.
This unorthodox martial arts style, which Rinne personally drilled into me during the two-month `[Berumail]` boot camp, should have been difficult enough to deal with on its own—and yet…!
"What kind of kinetic vision do you have?!"
"Do not underestimate a former kendo champion, you fool…!"
"This is way beyond that level!"
I seriously can't comprehend how he's dodging everything without even bothering to guard.
Of course, part of the reason is that I'm deliberately holding back my speed. Except for the moments I decide to fire off [Rocket], I haven't unleashed even thirty percent of my full speed.
But that restraint is precisely why I can even engage in a tactical battle with this guy.
Going full throttle is out of the question. The moment I do, my movements will become simplistic and predictable. Irori would read me, land a counter, and the match would be over.
That was a lesson learned from my own experience. Against a ranker who can handle super-high-speed combat, I can't afford to carelessly go all-out—but at this rate, we're getting nowhere.
So—!
"Manifest—"
"Tch…!"
No more holding back. I'm forcing this through, whether you like it or not…!
"—Release!"
"You…!"
I summoned the small rabbit dagger into my hand and immediately shattered it, activating the Phase Shift of my armament.
The form of Ver. [Parabellum Bullet] is—
"[Angalta, Soul-Stealing Sword]!"
A barrage of giant swords, glowing crimson.
Following the straight arc of my left fist, the brilliant blades formed a circle behind me before surging toward Irori, who had instantly distanced himself with [Extended Step], tracking his every move.
It wasn't the insane tracking of a high-homing spell—the kind that turns at right angles like the ones that made me cry during the last Four Pillar War. But for a diversion, its power and pressure were more than enough.
I'll use the time I've bought to make my next move.
As the peerless samurai played tag with my projectiles—dodging some, swatting others down with a single stroke, their numbers dwindling with every passing moment—I gave an order to the writhing shadow.
Long, sharp, and swift. The image is a spear… no, a sure-hit arrow nocked on a bow.
"Sen—"
"—…!"
I raised my right arm. In my sights, Irori noticed my movement and, as he sliced through the last of the spectral blades, revealed a faint hint of alarm.
Seriously, what is with your intuition?
He probably understood in an instant—that I wasn't going to miss.
"—Rai…!"
The keyword was declared. The shadow overflowing from [Nine Tail] swelled like a flower bud, tensed—and burst. The jet-black arrowhead shot forward in a straight line, faster than any wall of ice could block it.
It struck him in the left shoulder of his ceremonial kamishimo.