Chapter 647 - Two Winds
The flash of lightning that coursed through his avatar stole exactly ten percent of his HP. In exchange for that price, he gained a slight status boost from the weapon and a single, memorable skill—memorable to both Kanata and the world at large.
Though it had only become widely known a mere four months ago, the name of the skill that the Acrobat had shouted time and time again during the last Four Pillar War had left a vivid impression as his 'signature move'.
[Ignition]—the power of this former unique skill was its ability to achieve incredible zero-to-one-hundred acceleration by eliminating the 'acceleration' phase from any action.
Since its existence became known, countless light-armored warriors had tried and failed to acquire it. Now, that very skill propelled Kanata's avatar.
No wind-up, no bracing was necessary.
His right leg, achieving top speed in mid-air with no foothold, flashed out and caught the chin of Oubai Touri, whose eyes widened at the sight of the red lightning she, too, must have remembered.
It connected. The sensation of hardened flesh didn't come from his toes as they grazed her, and while Kanata's martial arts couldn't pack the same absurd power as his 'senpai's'... even if it dealt little damage to her HP, it still had an effect.
In Arcadia, it was the universal nemesis of every player.
"—, —...Tch!"
Stun—a forced stagger from a critical impact, caused by a surprise attack hitting a vital point on the human body.
The Heroine's fist, its speed drastically reduced, grazed Kanata's cheek and hit empty air as he performed a strange mid-air maneuver to deliver the kick and dramatically shift his posture.
And so, seizing the golden opportunity that would surely be his first and last,
"Haaaah—!!"
The boy who had inherited a step too great for him to bear reached out desperately.
[Breath Moment] activated. The skill, normally used for evasion, kicked the laws of physics aside and brought Kanata's still-airborne body crashing to the ground at maximum speed.
He landed behind her. The second 'trigger' had been pulled, and his body was already in motion.
Lightning coursed through him. He wouldn't waste a single instant of the opening he'd earned.
"[Merciless]!"
He dropped into a low trajectory, almost prostrate on the ground—condition met. He initiated a back-attack—condition met. And his target was afflicted with a status ailment—condition met.
The flashing [Lycoris Milles] swept across Oubai Touri's left Achilles tendon, and a dark orange effect erupted, proving the skill had taken hold.
[Merciless], a high-tier skill in the Dagger Aptitude category, was a movement-impairing debuff. When its effects were perfectly applied, the maximum incapacitation time was...
"—...Damn, you're good."
A mere three seconds flat.
In other words, more than enough time to escape.
And that golden opportunity...
The third trigger. As he slashed her tendon, he threw his sword aside, his right hand flashing—reaching out, Kanata grabbed Oubai Touri's arm just as she was about to recover from the stun.
"[Rebellion]!"
Without hesitation, he went on the offensive.
The three absolute conditions for activating the glide of the Anima [Rebellion] were: being grounded, the left-right alternating rule, and setting a trajectory that did not contact any obstacles.
And the power that transported Kanata and Kanata's belongings at top speed...
Had no weight limit.
Seven meters, the absolute limit. The corridor's less-than-spacious structure worked in his favor as his 'boots' ran along the floor and then kicked off the 'wall.'
His perspective shifted from vertical to horizontal. Now, after having ascended a mere two meters—
His plan to invite the Heroine into the air had succeeded.
Alright, one more time.
"[Crowly—"
He squeezed the trigger.
"—Rivind]!"
He released with his right hand, sheathed with his left, and then drew anew with his left.
In place of the black dagger [Panga Fool], he drew the twin to [Lycoris Milles]. Its blade was aimed at the Heroine's left leg, now suspended in mid-air.
[Crowly Rivind], the highest-tier assault skill in the Dagger Aptitude category.
A dagger user's 'finishing blow,' boasting the highest marks in the category for initial speed, top speed, and power—it was an undeniable blade of death, imbued with a power that ensured a 'kill' even if it didn't finish the job outright.
Among the many status-inflicting skills in the Dagger Aptitude, which were of the same family as [Merciless], if this technique was used on a part already afflicted with a foundational debuff...
The small dagger would become a merciless reaper's scythe that was guaranteed to cause a part break.
With three seconds, escape would have been possible. But that was only if she had been willing to let him go. If he could have truly broken through with such a simple tactic, there would have been no point in fighting her head-on in the first place.
The Heroine, Oubai Touri, was a 'Ranker'—a being of the same 'caliber' as the heavenly figures Kanata looked up to. There was no way she didn't have one, two, or even three trump cards up her sleeve.
That's why. To ensure he followed through on his declaration,
"—Aaaah!!"
"—Hah...!"
He had steeled himself with the resolve that taking a leg or two was the bare minimum.
One sword, not two. Thus, the condensed blue light effect shone and burst forth with intense brilliance. And so, the desperate strike that had followed his carefully crafted strategy certainly reached its mark—
"—Excellent work, Kanata. You are strong. I praise you from the bottom of my heart."
"...I'm honored."
The result was a boy on the ground and a lady looking down. Their positions, top and bottom, had been reversed from air to ground, and the finalized outcome signified the challenger's defeat...
"In reality, this is my loss—to think I'd be forced to use my crown against a non-Ranker."
But Oubai Touri, with the 'proof' now lit above her head, spoke of her own defeat with a bitter yet deeply satisfied smile. That praise, devoid of any deceit, was both gratifying and...
Yet, it was also unbearably frustrating. Kanata simply went limp.
"...In just over a minute, all three?"
"...What was that?"
Once, twice, and now a third time. He let out a weary smile at the scene his eyes had captured. Oubai Touri voiced her confusion, as if asking, 'What are you talking about?' but it was obvious.
Considering her tendency to lose sight of her surroundings when engrossed in a battle, it wasn't surprising that she hadn't noticed.
And that meant she had been that focused on him, which was gratifying.
Gratifying, yes, but still, the frustration—and embarrassment—won out.
A wind began to blow.
"—Yo, Kanata. Looks like you were giving it your all, huh?"
The wind, which had been approaching step by step, trailing smoke like a signal fire...
"You did well. Leave the rest to your senpai."
"...Yes. I'll be sure to learn from this."
...was now smiling right beside him, her long, long white hair swaying.