Chapter 585 - The Peerless Ice Blade and the Eternal Warbler, Part 3
The reward for being the first to conquer that infinite training hall, the [Shadow-Infested Arena]. The latent ability of my half of the pair, [Nine Tail], is brutally simple and direct compared to its counterpart.
It allows for the free manipulation of the manifested shadow. I can control a mass of it, proportional to my total MID stat, in a truly versatile and ever-changing manner, bending it to my will.
In nature, it’s very similar to the Anima belonging to Maru II, the Amorphous, called [The Dictionary]. This shadow can become threads to pull a person in need of rescue from a crowd, be woven into a wave of capture, and, depending on my imagination, can become a cleaving sword or a piercing spear.
It’s that imagination-dependent part that makes fine control difficult; it has a unique quirk that makes precise manipulation a real pain. But, if mastered, there is no doubt it can become an all-purpose weapon, a special-grade unique item.
And the shadow that seeps from this [Nine Tail] holds one incredibly nasty property, perhaps mimicking the nature of shadow itself.
Once it touches you, that's the end.
Just like the shadow that can never be separated from a form as long as it exists—there is no way to sever the connected black thread, save for the will of the caster.
—Now then, Lord Peerless, allow me to give you a demonstration.
A demonstration of what it means to be connected by a tangible line to this Acrobat.
His response time was, as expected, instantaneous. Just before the arrow struck his shoulder, he had likely already initiated the action, causing ice to erupt from his sword—
But I was faster.
"—[Rocket]."
"Tch…—Gah…!"
I kicked off the air with all my might. The black thread connecting us, and now, I'll be your guide for one.
The strain of being forcefully yanked dozens of meters into the air in a single breath is something even a superhuman avatar can’t escape… no, precisely because it’s a superhuman avatar in a virtual world, the impact is magnified and recognized as immense.
He must have lost control of his Anima, yet he never let go of his sword as he scattered remnants of ice—and the Peerless warrior, body rigid and breath knocked out of him, certainly felt it.
But even so,
"Heh, how's the view…!"
"…You… bastard…!"
His azure eyes snapped open immediately, looking at me with unwavering fighting spirit.
Irori once told me that adaptation was my specialty, but if you ask me, you're pretty much the same, you genius battle junkie.
My sky-abduction combo that follows the shadow link has two variations.
One is to maintain the connection with the black thread and deliver a one-sided beatdown in the air. This would be incredibly effective against most opponents, including Irori, the first time. But against a monster with immediate adaptability and the means to turn the connection to their advantage, it's a risky move.
In his case, he’d get used to it in a second and send a wave of ice crawling up the thread—which means my only choice is the other variation…!
"Tch…! [Genhyo—"
"Too slow!"
[Rocket] re-ignited.
He controlled his posture not just quickly but instantly, and just as the samurai was about to unleash some kind of counter, I took him with me—straight down toward the ground below.
You could see this future coming, couldn't you? So, how will you escape…
"—Show me what you've got, senpai!"
"…Bring it on, you damn kouhai!"
For the third time today, a meteor drop reminiscent of that day. Reversing the battle cries we once shouted at each other, our bodies streaked from heaven to earth in an instant—two falling stars, destined for different ends.
I severed the thread, and a single body slammed into the ground.
In that moment, the superhuman form, infused with immense kinetic energy, unleashed the third and greatest wave of destruction upon the arena stage.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—…Gah…! Cough…! Ugh…"
To be honest, I saw a vision of an unseemly death.
I wasn't careless, nor did I underestimate him, but I was truly bested by one of his usual lawless tricks… The first meteor I had ever experienced was… shocking, both to my body and my spirit.
I was dangerously close to an anticlimactic end without even going all out—and that pathetic fact, more than anything, felt so typical of a match against him.
I can't stop smiling.
"—…I figured you’d be alive, but how did you survive that?"
"Heh, to put on a show… for my endlessly cheeky kouhai."
I used my sword to push myself unsteadily to my feet, and his voice reached me from beyond the thick cloud of dust. I retorted with a lighthearted jab, but that last attack cost me most of my emergency defensive skills.
On top of that, I am genuinely in a near-death state. Unlike in some games, the amount of HP doesn't affect an avatar's physical performance, but once you're in the red zone, it starts to affect your mind.
Unlike a certain fool who carelessly throws his life away, it is a fundamental truth of PvP that whoever gets pushed back first is at an absolute mental disadvantage.
But, yes.
There are exceptions to every rule.
"…—[Bushin]."
For example, an eccentric who gets more fired up the more they're cornered.
"[Sange]."
For example, one who yearns for a long-awaited battle.
"Gather, and come forth—"
For example,
"—[Hyouka]."
An inveterate battle maniac, whose ceaseless elation easily overwhelms any sense of desperation.
And so, yes.
This body of mine is a fool worthy of facing that fool over there.
"Haru, draw your sword."
"—…"
Two blades in hand, my back against the wall. Standing at the peak of this most exhilarating situation, I demanded a sword from the one opponent I absolutely did not want to lose to.
"It starts now. Am I right?"
This man right in front of me.
"…Yeah. It starts now."
This innocent harbinger of spring, clad in a dazzling white.
"Matsukaze branch style, [Kesshiki Itto]…—Now, I shall press forward."
Is my greatest rival.
"—My own style, [Kashiki Nito]… I accept your challenge."
Because this sword, my very soul, understands this.
From here on out.