kscans

Chapter 226 - Changing Stride

The weight of the blow he had taken with his black steel was not that of the Sword Protector he knew. Not only was the power different, but the sharpness of the 'technique' was also on another level—and above all… there was his overflowing fighting spirit.

There were countless words to describe the reputation of the player known as Irori, but among them, the one that was recognized and supported by the most people was undoubtedly his unwavering dedication.

Even in the recent stagnation of Arcadia's progression, there were many who were inspired by his stoic efforts to continue honing his strength—but still.

Before being a ranker, he was a player, and before being a player, he was human… and there are limits to training in an environment lacking stimulation.

Though he had had many opportunities to fight him outside of the Four Pillar War, recently, he had felt that the scope of his growth had diminished…—but now.

"What's gotten into you? It's like you're a different person…!"

"I can't afford to be strolling around anymore, you see…!"

He must have made a dramatic shift in his status points, Uni deduced. Even when he stepped into the effective range of [Regalias, Tree-Calming Royalty], the body clad in formal wear only slowed slightly.

This was just like with the Acrobat… no…

"Tch—!"

"Whoa, that was close!?"

He forcefully compensated for his reduced agility—likely with an excessive amount of strength he had piled on, making the power of [Regalias] even more ineffective than it was against the Acrobat.

Slipping through the defense of his twin daggers, a blue blade streaked past his neck. Pushed back into the maze corridors by the relentless assault… he realized that the eastern base was already out of sight after several turns.

—I messed up. I should have focused on blocking the path instead of getting greedy.

Perhaps the best course of action would have been to use [Engage] on Irori after his first attempt to attack the General Commander failed.

"Ah, damn it… I'm going to get scolded for this…!"

Even now, the commander of the Southern Faction was overseeing the countless containment squads scattered across the battlefield. As he imagined the pressure of that carefully expressionless face, his cheeks couldn't help but twitch—

"Hey, how long are you going to act so余裕…—tch!"

Not that he was acting carefree, but his spirit must have been lacking enough to appear so.

In that case, perhaps it was time to show him his 'hand' so he wouldn't be misunderstood.

In place of an apology—while holding his dagger with his ring and pinky fingers, he formed a 'gun' with his remaining three fingers and raised it… No, this was not a gun.

'It' was the embodiment of a 'tank cannon,' enough to make the Sword Protector's eyes widen and force him to dodge the 'line of fire' with all his might without a second thought.

"—[Pygmalion, Dwarf Gunner]."

"—Ngh…!"

The keyword and the roar were simultaneous. As if a chunk of steel had truly been fired, a deafening blast echoed, unleashing a non-physical cannonball.

Even without a direct hit, the shockwave alone blew away nearby enemies—and the shot, which impacted the indestructible wall of the maze, stripped the entire waterway bare with the massive shockwave it generated.

Drenched in water, Irori's gaze sharpened as he heightened his alert… In contrast, Uni placed the manifested 'crown' on his head and smiled with an unchanging expression.

"You should know by now that I always look like this, right? —I've been serious this whole time, you know."

It was a unique shape, as if mimicking some kind of 'gauge.' A ring-shaped crown with gems lined up at equal intervals like a scale.

Seeing this… or rather, after quickly counting the number of gems that were shining particularly brightly, Irori sighed as if fed up.

"That junior of mine… he left behind quite the parting gift."

"Haha. Well, your last hit gave me three shots' worth, you know? …Now then, it's your turn."

As the distance between them grew, a temporary break for an exchange of words. Uni spread his arms and deepened his smile, offering an 'opening' as if to say, "Go ahead."

This was not a 'taunt'—it was a 'prompt' for the Sword Protector, who had shown his greatest fighting spirit yet, to show his 'true strength.'

He had never lost to him.

But he had never once underestimated his 'sword.'

Stronger than before, sharper than ever, the blade that never stopped advancing, closing in second by second—he had never once failed to welcome it.

He hoped that one day, that single sword would surpass even the Sword Saint and reach 'her'… though he couldn't help but feel that that prospect was being snatched away by the newly emerged supernova.

But that did not diminish his expectations—what he always hoped for from him was what came 'next.'

"…Very well. I suppose it's time for me to stop walking as well."

With a quiet exhale, Irori lowered his blue-bladed Anima and closed his eyes—a cold air, which began to freeze the water at his feet with a ringing sound,

"—…Tch."

—brought a chilling sensation to his spine, hinting at what was to come.

Uni's gaze was fixed on him, a smile unbecoming of battle spreading across his face, which he was well aware of… as Irori's eyelids opened, the blue eyes beneath them shone with a moonlight glow.

"—[Bushin]."

A known keyword was uttered. A physical barrier that would be meaningless against a non-physical 'cannonball'—which was why its power had never been used against Uni before.

So, to bring it out now meant…

"—[Sange]."

…that this known ability had an unknown 'next step.'

The veil of fine ice unraveled at its master's command, surrounding him and glowing like swirling flower petals. And,

"Gather—[Hyouka]."

In his right hand, he held the blue blade of his Anima. And the light that converged in his raised left hand—formed a dazzling sword of white ice.

It had no guard, no decorations whatsoever. But the blade, imbued with a shivering beauty, was a 'white sword' of absolute zero, emitting a pure white cold.

Clad in ice dust, with twin swords at the ready—the pressure that emanated from his standing form was a wave that set him apart from the Sword Protector of before.

"…That's… a more impressive hidden card than I expected…? If I'm the first to see it, I'd be honored, but…"

"Unfortunately, I've already shown it to a cheeky junior of mine."

Even with the lighthearted exchange, the pressure did not diminish. The sheer weight of his quiet stance, so unfitting of his fighting spirit, set off alarm bells in his head so loudly it was almost funny.

Well, damn it. And what was truly damning… was that there was yet another level beyond this. That meant—

"[Blade Road, Advancing One-Sword]."

A frozen crown adorned with ice fragments manifested. And so, Irori, having revealed all of his powers… did not lower his stance, nor did he raise his weapons.

He simply lowered his swords slowly—and quietly, took his stance.

"Now—let's go, Heavy Tank."

"…Haha—let's do this, Sword Protector!"

Whether one was part of the battle-crazed gathering (Istia) or not… it didn't matter. Anyone who gathered here at the Four Pillar War was, without a doubt, equally.

More than human, more than a player, a 'warrior' captivated by the battles of this virtual world—

—there was no one who would not be stirred by the 'unknown' that lay before them!

"Tch—!"

With a grin, baring his teeth, he kicked off the floor and leaped forward.

"My own style, Unnamed Two Swords."

The 'samurai,' wearing an equally ferocious smile, imbued his 'swords,' which shone with the brilliance of absolute zero, with a scorching fighting spirit—and took a step that transitioned from a walk to a sprint.

"Here I come—!"

Without a single shred of hesitation, he charged straight ahead.