kscans

Chapter 152 - The Maiden of the Scales, Attended by a Thousand Blades - Part 2

The [Cradle of Sword-Craft], Sora's Anima—the magic swords generated by that ring possess a number of characteristics that are far from simple.

Beyond the fact that their attack attribute is a 50/50 split between physical and magical, and that they can be levitated without being held via thought control, there are several other points that differentiate them from normal armaments.

First, the resource that constitutes their blades is not a physical material, but Sora's own magic (MP). And the MP cost per blade is ridiculously low.

Max MP is related to the MID stat. You can think of it as gaining about one full MP bar for every 100 points you invest.

Now then. How many magic swords can Sora, whose MID stat currently exceeds 500, generate at maximum?

The answer is approximately 1,500. It's an absurdly efficient fuel consumption that leaves her with plenty to spare, even after creating the thousand blades that now chase me.

"Well, I can't get close, can I... —Whoa!!"

While playing a game of tag with the swarm of magic swords that undulated and pursued me like a great serpent—or a dragon—I parried the occasional independent strikes that flew my way.

Through the dust of sand from the blade I'd just deflected with my [White-Flawed Straight Sword], I tried to figure out how to approach the girl visible beyond the multiple layers of a wall of swords... but unfortunately, no good ideas came to mind.

Characteristic number two of the [Cradle of Sword-Craft]: The performance of the generated magic swords, as well as the strength of control via thought, depends on the caster's (Sora's) MID stat.

With Sora now boasting magic power equal to or greater than a pure mage, the performance of the magic swords themselves should already surpass my [White-Flawed Straight Sword].

Furthermore, her control strength—the power and speed infused through Magic Telekinesis—is on a completely different level from when she first started using them.

However, as you can see from the fact that my Anima, though inferior in simple attack power, can still manage to parry them, the magic swords have a weakness in the low durability of each individual blade.

In addition, their flight speed via telekinesis can't keep up with my AGI-focused build—but.

"If I get surrounded, there's no escape—crap, that was close!?"

A pursuing tsunami.

Scattered single stabs.

And a ring that constantly expands and contracts, always keeping me trapped in its 'frame.'

With Sora meticulously controlling all of these, I'm being forced to fight a one-on-many battle despite this being a one-on-one duel.

Honestly, this doesn't feel like I'm fighting a player at all.

This is just a straight-up boss fight!!

"This is getting nowhere—Shield!!"

Barely dodging the projectiles coming from my blind spots every second, I summon the [Revolving Wheel Shield] to my right hand. At the same time, the [Panga Fool] that had been clutched in my left is stored away—

"A man's gotta have... guts!!"

[Floating Leaf] activated—I performed a 180-degree turn at top speed, using a vector shift to charge toward the serpent of swords I had been fleeing from.

Sora, who must be focusing all her attention on controlling the multitude of magic swords, surely doesn't have the leeway to react to this sudden change... or so I hope, as I brush past the vortex that would mince me on contact.

I know there's a barrier, but scary is scary!!

As a terrifying gust of wind whipped past me at close range, sending a cold sweat down my back, I finally secured my target position.

Now then—I activated [Gusty Rim] and [Reflect Browall] in parallel.

"Hraaa—"

With resolve, I raised my right hand.

"—aaah!!"

With thirty percent fighting spirit and seventy percent desperation—I plunged it into the vortex of magic swords rushing past me!!

Instantly, as expected, my HP began to drain... but the telekinetic projection of the magic swords doesn't have a very high damage-per-hit.

If I block with a shield while having two defensive skills active—the damage is mere millimeters.

And that's why...

"[Tremble—"

This is the perfect opponent to build up the count of this mysterious weapon that calls itself a 'shield.'

"—Slide]!!"

Though the damage was minuscule, the pressure on my right arm was undeniable.

I dug my pinned feet in deeper and used the skill's forced two-meter movement to violently tear myself free from the shackles.

Alright, how many hits did I take...? Ah, of course, the counter's maxed out, everything's going perfectly!

I wasn't able to use its full power in my match with Irori, but now, finally, it's time for its grand debut. I'll say it loud and clear: What kind of 'shield' are you?!

"Revolve and bloom—[Luna Atiara]!!"

My right hand was equipped with the [Revolving Wheel Shield]. With the shield in hand, I balled that fist and slammed it into my chest with all my might—and in that moment.

Silver-blue shields of light enveloped my entire body like armor.

"What... is that!?"

"Secret weapon number one!!"

Sora's surprise reached my ears, her control over the magic swords faltering slightly.

Well, I can't blame her. It's not just my unarmed left hand, like in the fight against the Sword Protector; now, my entire body is clad in shining, floating shields—no, armor. My appearance, clad in a suit of swords, is surely no less impressive than Sora's...

...Okay, I exaggerated. Compared to Sora-san, it's admittedly a bit shabby, but it should still have enough impact to surprise her.

The [Revolving Wheel Shield]—this 'shield' counts the number of attacks received while equipped and deploys additional armor based on the accumulated number.

With just ten or so hits, you only get a second shield like I showed in the Irori fight, but with the counter maxed out at 100...

"It's the tank version you've been waiting for, Sora-san...!"

"Why is its debut in a match against me?!"

Fair poi—Whoa!?

With a dissatisfied cry, the vortex of magic swords began its pursuit again. I dodged it by a hair's breadth, catching a glimpse of a stray attacking blade in my peripheral vision—and ignored it.

"Wha—!?"

Her second cry of surprise and the hard sound of a sword being repelled happened almost simultaneously. What blocked it was, of course, not the safe area's barrier, but one of the armored shields I had deployed.

For the additional armor deployed by [Luna Atiara], the base defense value is calculated by dividing the total damage taken by the number of hits in the count.

Furthermore, the effect has no time limit; it lasts until it has blocked a number of enemy attacks equal to the accumulated count—in other words.

"Ninety-nine more to go!"

"More what?!"

"The number of times I can ignore Sora's magic swords without taking any damage!"

"Hngh... you cheat, Haru! That's not fair!!"

"You're one to talk!?"

While we were engaged in our own lighthearted banter, the scene itself was still that of a boss battle between two inhuman beings.

One freely manipulated a number of swords too ridiculous to count, while the other, clad in shining silver-blue armor, leaped about at speeds that blurred his form.

My health to Sora's is about 8.5 to 10... The long-awaited partner showdown has only just begun.

Ah, this is just—so much fun, I can't stand it.