kscans

Chapter 201 - Resplendent Joy

—At a certain gathering of university students.

'Be prepared—for me to not let you do anything.'

'—Here I come.'

““—Fuuuuuuuuu!!””

“Nice, nice! I like that confident trash talk!”

“This guy’s gonna be popular! A flashy fighting style with that kind of attitude is just awesome!!”

“Ah, haha… Mizuki-chan, is something wrong?”

“Mm… It’s nothing. Probably just my imagination.”

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain gathering of a grandfather and his granddaughter.

“This boy… Haha, not bad at all. He swings his sword with such joy.”

“Hee hee, and he’s not even close to his full potential yet.”

“Hmm… I see. I had a feeling, but—”

“You needn't say any more. I am well aware that I am a doting master.”

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain gathering of two best friends.

'Shine—[Crimson Red Ruby].'

“—…!—, —!!”

“Okay, okay, I get it already. Stop squirming around so much on my lap, Nia-cha… Don’t hide in the cushion, you have to cheer him on properly!”

◇◆◇◆◇

—At a certain family gathering.

“So? This oh-so-handsome Haru-san, do you think you have a chance with him?”

“Please watch the screen.”

“It’s a rare family get-together, don’t be so cold. You’re curious too, aren’t you, dear?”

“Please. Watch. The. Screen!!”

“Haha…”

◇◆◇◆◇

—And, in the great sea of the internet.

'Freaking insane.'

'This isn't even about Tora-san anymore…'

'Acrobat is just broken in every way.'

'Is this what they call a human TAS???'

'Is he really doing this without thought acceleration?'

'Can't see his eyes, so we don't know if he's using it or not.'

'It's been minutes since the fight started, and he's been moving at this crazy speed from the beginning. Thought acceleration skills last for ten seconds at most.'

'I could maybe accept it if he was just fast, but the fact that he's attacking, intercepting, and dodging at the same time makes absolutely no sense.'

'Didn't expect a sword to be his main weapon.'

'Main weapon is one way to put it… it feels more like a different version of him compared to when he was using all those other weapons.'

'I know what you mean. There's something familiar about it.'

'Doesn't he look a bit like the Sword Saint?'

'Mmm… that's a tough one.'

'His movements and style are completely different so far, but…'

'Seriously, what's the trick? How is he seeing those invisible attacks?'

'It looks less like he's seeing them and more like he already knows where they'll be.'

'…A prediction skill?'

'No way.'

'I mean…'

'That would be way too broken.'

'Maybe it's his unique title effect?'

'And what's with him being on fire all the time?'

'Even if he's just fast, he's ignoring too many laws of physics. Going from zero to top speed instantly is a middle finger to physics.'

'The forums are in chaos everywhere lmao.'

'General board, PvP thread, light warrior thread, they all look like hell after just a few minutes.'

'I've stopped thinking and am just staring slack-jawed at how cool he is.'

'This.'

'For real.'

'That's all that matters in the end.'

'Just got a new character to stan!!!!!'

—The Four Pillar War had just begun, not even half an hour having passed. There was little else that needed to be broadcast.

Almost all the footage being transmitted was of that single scene. Naturally, the young man, basking in the focused gaze of the world, was simply enjoying the 'dream' before him.

—The time for the decisive blow was close at hand.

◇◆◇◆◇

“—Daaaah!!”

The Great Tiger's giant jaws grew ever more ferocious, and they were, without exaggeration, a menace. With my HP down to a mere ten percent from self-inflicted damage, even a glancing blow from the edge of those fangs would surely obliterate me.

However, I had challenged him with such confidence because I had a clear path to victory.

The Northern Faction's seventh-ranked member, the [Great Tiger], was undeniably strong. His combat sense, his movements, his masterful spear technique that made my own makeshift skills look pathetic—all of it was top-tier. I had no doubt he could go toe-to-toe with someone like Irori.

—So then,

“You little bastard…!!”

Why was I able to so completely dominate a 'strong' opponent who should, by all rights, be my superior? The answer was simple.

First, as a light warrior, I was definitively faster.

Second, I could unilaterally impose the disadvantage of the watery footing by running through the air.

And most importantly, his entire strategy, built around the ridiculously powerful weapon of invisible, powerful attacks, was completely shut down by my hard-counter skill, [Fatal Leak].

…Alright, about ten seconds left.

As effective as [Fatal Leak] was against the [Great Tiger], it unfortunately still had the massive demerit of being an insane mana-guzzler.

The General was probably watching my status bar with anxiety, so I couldn't drag this out any longer.

“It's about time—for the grand finale!”

“Don't you dare…!! I’m not done yet!!”

My HP was at ten percent—but for me, this was my full-health state.

In contrast, his health had dropped below twenty percent after our numerous clashes. He probably had some kind of defensive skill active, or maybe his stats were just high in vitality. In any case, the surprisingly tough tiger was on his last legs.

And my finishing blow has been ready for a long time now.

“Oraaah!!”

A pillar of water, like an explosion, was thrown up right in front of me by the power of [Cleave Fang], blocking my vision.

Even if he was a pure martial artist, he wasn't a simple meathead.

The [Great Tiger] was trying everything he could to figure out the trick behind [Fatal Leak], but the full details of an undisclosed unique skill weren't something that could be so easily deciphered.

In fact, it was useless to block my vision at this point.

My 'eyes,' which could see ten seconds into the future, had displayed the attack prediction lines before he even moved. My 'Memory' gift had already burned them into my virtual brain.

An pincer attack from the left and right with the tiger fangs on his arms, followed by a spear thrust from the front after a slight delay.

The escape route—is down.

As I felt a tremendous pressure sweep over my head, I threw myself into the water.

My left hand, having released the sheath, grabbed it—the weapon whose position I had memorized perfectly.

“—I can see you, Acrobat!!”

Was it intuition, or did he have some kind of presence-detecting skill? Recognizing his attack had missed, the prediction line extending from the [Great Tiger] shifted from the front to the water where I was hiding.

And yet—I was the one who launched my spear faster.

“Wha—a spear…!!?”

My jade blade on the right parried his black spear, while my crimson spear on the left pierced his chest.

Its brilliant crimson banner fluttering—it was the lethal plan I had stored in this position when I drew the [Samidorizuki].

“Hey—Tiger Star.”

“Gah… What is it, Haru.”

As expected, his toughness was incredible. Reflexively letting go of his own spear, the [Great Tiger] grabbed the base of the Crimson Valor with both hands. With the crimson blade embedded in his chest, he barely managed to hold his ground.

As we exchanged smiles, his unyielding fighting spirit was palpable from the pressure of the raised giant tiger jaws.

A Title Holder through and through. Absolutely splendid.

That's precisely why this next blow is a sign of respect for a worthy rival.

I’ll give you a no-holds-barred, super-finisher, [Great Tiger]!!

“Pierce through—[Caladbolg]!!!”

Activated by the key word, the spear blade shone, and the great crimson banner ignited.

The manifestation of its blazing magic flowed into the spear shaft, which glowed with a dazzling, red-hot light.

“This was super fun!! Let's fight again!!”

And next time—on even terms, without any first-encounter kills!!

“—”

At the very last moment, the [Great Tiger]'s avatar, a look of exasperation softening his lips—

—was pierced through by the spiraling blades of the rotating Crimson Valor, which let out a deafening roar.