kscans

Chapter 231 - The Sword That Wishes, The Sword That Hopes, The One Awaited is Here, Part Three

In a way, she was the one most worthy of wearing it in this virtual world. Manifesting a crown like a glass sculpture that reflected the translucent moonlight, Iris declared she was getting 'serious' and swung her sword.

To meet it head-on—that option never existed in the first place. I could force her to block an attack I initiated, but if I tried to block her sword, I'd be vaporized in an instant.

Furthermore, this was a strike from her full-power mode, with her unique title's effect, `[Braver, Lone Hero]`, activated. The mere aftershock could probably erase me from existence.

"That—was waaaaay too close!"

—So, I dodged with my absolute, genuine all. Pushing my body, which could only use `[Shukuchi]` for a limited time, to its limits, I desperately escaped not just the sword flash but the entire area in front of her where its aftershock would reach.

The next moment, the 'water' in front of Iris vanished—then, the roar, the shockwave, and everything else that followed the 'result' caught up, stopping my avatar in its tracks as I was about to circle around for a counterattack.

Wait a minute… sword pressure so strong it makes matter, makes water, disappear? What even is that???

That kind of absurdity… my master could… probably do it, actually. You surprising masters of the craft—anyway, I've already researched those monstrous specs…!

In any case, we know far too little about each other. It's great that she's getting serious, but I have no idea what it was that 'resonated' with her.

However, our 'not knowing' is limited to our personalities and personal circumstances—as for the [Sword Queen]'s catalog specs, I've at least memorized the publicly available information.

First and foremost is her 'Gift.' Until it was said that my 'Memory' was one, she was the only known person in this world with a Gift—and that is none other than the 'strongest' right before me.

Since she was originally the only one, her Gift was simply called 'Gift,' without a more detailed name.

But if my Gift deserves the name 'Memory,' then if hers were to be named…—there would be no word more fitting than 'Omnipotence.'

A 'Gift' is, in short, a kind of special ability that arises from an outstanding aptitude with the 'Outer Brain.'

Like my 'Memory'… I suspect Sora's insane magic sword control is some kind of 'Gift' as well—but that's beside the point.

What Iris's special ability, which can only be described as 'Omnipotence,' brings is—to put it simply, enhancement and expansion.

What does it enhance and expand? —Every single thing about her.

I picked up the [Samidorizuki] that was sent flying and once again pressed the attack with my 'master's' techniques as the core—but I couldn't reach her. It wasn't just the weight of her sword that was on another level compared to before.

Her garnet eyes now held only their own natural, crystal-clear brilliance. Without even the effect of a thought acceleration skill… Iris struck down everything I threw at her with her heightened perception and reaction speed.

"—We're just getting started. Keep up."

"I know that already…!"

Her eyes, which had been lagging just seconds ago, now firmly locked onto my form as I raced around freely—and unfortunately, I no longer had the time or leisure to be captivated by her clumsy smile…!

In addition to her avatar specs that transcend numerical performance, the Gift of 'Omnipotence,' which affects her thoughts, perception, and reaction speed, elevates the player known as Iris to a 'different dimension' whether she likes it or not.

Furthermore, with the purely status-enhancing effect of `[Braver, Lone Hero]`, even the base stats that her Gift enhances and expands are boosted, making her completely unmanageable.

The total increase is no longer just additive, but multiplicative—and what's more.

"A constant regen is just cheating, you know…!"

As the ratio of my attacks to dodges gradually shifted towards the latter, I couldn't stop the complaint from spilling from my lips. My blade had reached her a few times since the start of the battle, but that slight damage had already been undone.

`[Braver, Lone Hero]`—its authority provides a status correction and enhancement based on the number of party members. In short, 'the fewer allies you fight with, the stronger you become,' a name that perfectly describes it.

And in a situation of complete isolation, the enhancement of that authority becomes 'insane,' 'absurd,' and 'utterly broken.'

Of course, there's a massive boost to all stats, a constant thought acceleration effect (albeit with a modest multiplier), percentage-based damage reduction, increased resistances, status effect immunity, and to top it all off… continuous HP and MP recovery.

What emerges is a solitary queen who truly needs no army—

…Yeah, well, I guess that's how it would turn out.

Whether she wished for it or not, I'll never know—but being saddled with a power that borders on a cheat, you can't enjoy what should be enjoyable.

Then maybe she should adjust it herself… no, that's not it either. I understand that self-imposed challenges have a certain appeal, but the essence of that act is simply 'endurance.'

If Iris is the same type of person as me—if she's the type who kicks aside patience and restraint and finds joy in giving her 'all,' then,

"—She couldn't stand it."

Yeah, of course she couldn't.

—There's no way she could 'endure' that kind of god-awful boredom.

Why is it? My emotions are overflowing more than usual.

While being aware that my cheeks are pulled into a grin so wide I'd be scared to look in a mirror—I prepared to slam a 'No' back at the girl who seemed to be asking, 'Is this all you've got?'

"—Here I come, Iris."

A graze means instant death, and I'm perfectly fine with that—then I don't need HP anymore.

In the midst of the ceaseless exchange, I forcefully created a breaking point by striking her 'sword' at the start of its swing—I took some distance, threw [Samidorizuki] above my head, and with my right hand drew the crimson blade of the [Rabbit Shortsword: Parabellum].

And—its tip was aimed at one thing only: my own heart.

Piercing my chest, scattering red, the faint sound of shattering echoed.

[Desperate Crimson] activated—my body now held the protection of the [Crimson Rabbit Hairpin]. Instant death was averted, but with the blade still embedded in my chest, my HP plummeted… and then, the enhancement effect of my unique title, [Acrobat], `[Crown Crown]`, manifested.

With that, my tied-up hair came undone, and a cracked crown appeared above my avatar's head—

"This is it—top gear."

I dismissed the scabbard in my left hand and caught the falling sword.

A crimson blade in my right, a jade blade in my left. And when I took a step forward,

My avatar, wreathed in phosphorescence and mana threads, crushed all logic under its overwhelming speed—and my vision truly lost all meaning.