Chapter 589 - The Acrobat's Explanation: Part 1
"—Whoa, whoa, whoa…! Wait, you're seriously wobbly, are you okay?"
"I told you I'm not okay…"
Although I had followed them to the teleport destination with all my might, the moment we arrived at the familiar 'Training Room,' my body swayed, and I fell onto my butt.
I gave a tired response to a wide-eyed Mi-na, and just as I was about to fall backward, two hands caught my shoulders.
They were slightly different sizes on my left and right. It was probably Tetra and Ri-na supporting me.
"It's been a while since you've been this beat up, hasn't it? What did you do, senpai?"
"Ah, well… I did something a bit reckless, beyond my means."
My head lolled back, and the two faces that came into view were, as expected, upside down. The one in black glanced at the other as if to ask, "What does he mean?"—
"He was using Arts."
"He uses those all the time."
"Not [Kesshiki Ittoryu]."
"—…………………Ah, right. Well, it's you, senpai."
I hadn't planned on using it this time.
In other words, I'd expected its 'debut' to be much further in the future, so the only people who knew about it were my master and my partner, who had helped me with secret training at the dojo.
It's no wonder they were surprised, but the way they accepted it was extremely frustrating.
"Wow, even Mi-na-chan is super surprised, what a shocker. When did this happen?"
"If you're asking when I acquired it, it was at the end of last month."
"So, two or three weeks ago, huh?"
The concept for the technique itself… or rather, its implementation using various skills, had been completed around the time of the Starry Paradise event. The system officially certified it as an Art right around the time I finally managed to master the 'technique' to make it work without skills.
"Well then, I've got a bunch of questions, but…"
"This comes first."
"Well, you don't really need to worry about m—"
"Yeah, that's right. C'mon, mister, show us, show us!"
"I'm not asking you to coddle me, but could you at least show a tenth of a half of a half of your partner Ri-na's consideration and restraint… actually, never mind. It's my fault."
"Hey, isn't that way of taking it back a little too harsh? What's with you? You want me to be so nice it's creepy…?!"
Go ahead and try. I'll treat it as teasing and deal with you accordingly—anyway, putting aside the noisy ball of energy who seemed to be more worked up than usual.
Even if I were to give the 'explanation' they asked for, Tetra, who had been fighting Hina-san at a different venue, wouldn't have a clue what was going on. So, for now, we'd start by watching the recorded footage… or rather, I could just answer questions as we watched.
I summoned the system window and opened the management screen exclusive to the Eastern Faction War Base, the [Subterranean Castle of a Different Layer - Ruvalest]. Using the authority granted to a 'ranker' of the faction, I delved deep into the system—and there it was, user authentication.
When I tapped the play button, a large movie screen was projected into the air. Displayed on it was the arena, with me and Irori from a few moments ago.
It's not usable everywhere, but you can watch footage like this in the 'Castle's' training room, the Round Table we were just at, or in a clan room with the function unlocked.
Of course, the footage is unedited, but since the person who started it can intuitively control the camera angle and playback speed with their thoughts in real-time, the viewing experience is completely adjustable.
"Whoa, the number of spectators is insane."
"I bet yours was insane too, right?"
"Well… all the guys there to see Hinayo-san, you know."
Or so says the young ranker who apparently has a lot of female fans.
Well, popularity aside. Fights involving Tetra are generally quiet affairs, so they're a poor match for the 'spectacle' of Four Pillar War events. It can't be helped.
"Alright, I'll let it play, so if you have any questions, just as—"
"Right here!"
"That was fast. What is it?"
The instant I started taking questions, a single hand shot up energetically.
"This ZGAAN thing. I didn't see a skill effect, so what's going on?"
"Ah, that… well, that's probably the core of the whole Art thing you guys are most curious about, but…"
Mi-na was asking about the 'stomp' I did at the start of the match to get myself hyped up. While the phenomenon itself wasn't that big of a deal, the lack of the light effect that occurs when a skill is used was a clear anomaly.
As expected of a ranker, she unerringly catches the important details.
"Okay then… Tetri-na. I'm fine now, so give me some space."
"Okay."
"What's a Tetri-na?"
I sat cross-legged to stabilize my posture and thanked the two who had been supporting me, asking them to step back. Then, using the training room's functions, I summoned a small wall right beside me—
"Cover your ears, and don't be surprised."
I pressed my right hand against it, offering a word of warning to the three watching me with interest.
Alright… hhhhh, this should do it.
"—Whoa!"
"Gah!"
"Tch…"
From a complete standstill, a roar and destruction. Seeing my little magic trick of blowing away the wall without so much as a twitch, the younger members all jumped.
"Well, as you can see—"
"No, I can't see, I don't get it! That's why I'm asking you to explain!"
"Try harder, senpai. You only grow stronger by thinking for yourself."
"This isn't school!!!"
For the record, this technique is similar to, but distinct from, Kesshiki's `[Shinden] `.
That one generates destructive power by transmitting the output of `Shukuchi` or an equivalent skill to a target through contact. What I did was simpler; I just slammed it with 'force.'
Of course, I can't use `Shukuchi` without using a skill to simulate it. So, from the ground up, the underlying technology is different.
However, as for the type of 'force' I'm using—…ah, it seems the other senpai has brilliantly figured out the answer on her own. Good girl.
"'Outer Force?'"
"Correct. It's not 'layering Outer over Inner,' which is the foundation of Kesshiki Ittoryu. This is a technique for causing trouble by using 'Outer Force separated from the body.'"
"…Huh? You can do that?"
As if using vague and esoteric concepts like 'Inner' and 'Outer' wasn't confusing enough, being told you can then separate them further must be hard to visualize.
Tetra shot back a look that plainly said, "I have no idea what you're talking about," and I gave a single nod.
"You can. In fact, Ui-san did it before I did."
"Seriously? As expected of Ui-chan, that's insane."
That would be Kesshiki's secret technique, none other than the final strike, `[Yuikaze] `.
The core of that move, which preserves the power of a preceding attack to deliver a finishing blow, lies in the 'rotation' of her body and weapon in a divine, whirlwind-like motion…
Well, there's a limit to how much you can explain a principle based on an incomprehensible concept with words alone.
In that case—
"Ri-na, I need your help."
"…? Okay."
When I beckoned to her, she tilted her head but seemed to understand what I needed. She obediently approached and placed both hands gently on my head.
And then,
"—`[Anhelmia] `."
Without needing an incantation, one of the two star magics in this virtual world activated.