Chapter 643 - An Immature Nova
The Southern Faction, Sotalm’s, tenth-ranked member, the [Heroine] Oume Touri.
Brawling Sister, Bare-knuckle Lady, Rock-Paper-Scissors-Always-Rock, Prayer (Physical)—she had been given many nicknames, but if one were to describe her abilities in a single phrase…
Her name was, the Walking Epicenter.
Taking a single step forward, the [Heroine] lightly—far more lightly than Kanata had drawn his dagger with a single flourish of his right hand—twirled the great hammer that vastly exceeded her own body volume.
Not a hammer… but a mallet. From handle to head, the great mallet was made of jet-black ‘wood,’ a simple block of timber save for the golden script carved into its head like a Shinto prayer.
[Grace Ruquait (Earth-Shaking Root Vine)], a Fifth-Tier Anima—its hidden ability was worthy of the name ‘Walking Epicenter,’ a forced vibration impartation to matter that required no attack power or impact force whatsoever.
The reach of that power…
“Alright, let’s begin.”
Naturally, it included even the very earth itself.
There was no sound, no shockwave, no phenomenon that clearly screamed of the mallet striking the floor. Twirled as if she were toying with a pen between her fingers, the great mallet simply touched the ground at the [Heroine]’s feet.
“Ngh…!”
The next moment, a massive vertical tremor assaulted Kanata. Even with the superhuman physical abilities of an avatar, he would have been utterly unable to remain standing had he not been prepared.
And then…
“—Hoh?”
Right in the epicenter of the quake where walking was all but impossible, two figures moved. With an unnatural blur, Oume Touri leaped forward and threw a casual punch, which was dodged. A voice filled with amusement and interest escaped her as her eyes keenly tracked her target.
To fulfill the declaration he himself had made, the boy charged forward head-on, kicking away instinct, reason, and all fear as he swung his right hand.
He charged head-on—then, tracing an arc at five hundred kilometers per hour, he gained her back and, casting aside all hesitation and doubt, struck straight for her neck.
To her neck, the blade approached, and—
“—I see, that makes sense. No wonder you were chosen as a runner.”
“So… hard…?!”
His dagger, which should have struck a perfect vital point on her shimmering golden hair, was repelled head-on with a high-pitched metallic clang.
He was surprised, but his mind, drilled by endless sparring with a thousand blades to ‘never stop thinking, even in a panic,’ spun instantly.
A step with his left, then his right. His avatar, sliding at top speed without being hindered by the lingering tremors, instantly created a massive distance between the monster and Kanata.
What resulted was a scene after their initial exchange of greetings, their faces revealing their inner thoughts.
On one side, Kanata. This was only the second time he had faced a ranker in battle; there was no way he could be used to it. The pressure he felt at close range was immense, and while his resolve hadn't wavered, he couldn't ignore the tremors running through him.
He had only just started running. Though he had the will to learn and emulate, he was still a far cry from becoming like them, and he couldn’t possibly muster a defiant smile. He disguised the trembling of his blade, a tremor unrelated to the numbness from striking what felt like steel, by pressing his free left hand against his wrist.
On the other side, the [Heroine] watched Kanata without pursuit, unperturbed.
“I like you. It’s been a while since a non-ranker got the first hit on me.”
“…I’m honored.”
She spoke with a crisp, clear tone that suggested a complete lack of duplicity as she brushed back her hair, as if to tidy it after being struck.
With a face that showed not a hint of concern that a weapon had just been slammed against her neck—and indeed, with not a single scratch on her body or her HP—she smiled brightly.
“I haven’t forgotten, but tell me your name again.”
“Ah, uh… K-Kanata.”
“Alright, Kanata. I like your spirit and your momentum. I’ll be sure to remember you.”
She had let go of the great mallet to throw a punch, but now it was back in her hand. The [Heroine] spun it again, weaving her words cheerfully—and in this very moment, it was nothing less than…
“To be honest, I wanted a one-on-one with the [Acrobat], which is why I split from the others… But it seems I didn’t draw a losing hand. I’m glad.”
“—!”
…A declaration that she was raising her motivation, and shifting up a gear.
The pressure, which already felt crushing, swelled without limit. The small but courageous challenger unconsciously swallowed hard—
“Once more, I am Oume Touri, tenth rank of the Southern Faction, the [Heroine]. You can call me Oume-san.”
Her face, which could be demure if she stayed quiet, twisted ferociously with overflowing battle spirit.
“Now, come at me—and don’t you break too easily, Kanata.”
And though she said to come at her,
The [Heroine] stepped forward herself, as if to say, but I won’t wait.
Though he may be immature, his brilliance already shines.
Think he seems similar to someone? They're friends.