kscans

Chapter 550 - A Hero's Tale for You, A Hero's Tale for Another, Part VI

There was no room for thought, not even a moment to cry out—in the instant before the world was stained by black cannon fire, my mind and body moved almost automatically.

[Breath Moment]'s fully automatic emergency evasion activated. But as I dodged away from the cannon aimed at me, I found myself right in the path of another, aimed at someone else.

It was no accident, of course.

"Tch—"

A split-second reflex decision imbued my unsheathed [Rabbit Dagger, Parabellum] with the glow of [Water Enchant].

I thrust the crimson blade into the magic circle before me. A distorted shattering sound echoed—

"[Perfect Espada]."

Amidst the dancing light of the broken spell formula, the [Sword Queen], who still hadn't let go of her caught sword, unleashed a second strike without even swinging, empowered by her skill… and that was the signal.

In the next moment, at the center of the black flash that filled the world—in the very eye of the storm—a hellish close-quarters battle began.

Perhaps there was some trick to its perfect guard earlier. This time, Alicia's strike sent its arm flying, but [Rep-la Nobody, The Black Stain That Slays All] didn't stop moving for a second.

The remaining right arm, still holding my [Alv Stella, True White Star Sword], swung. In the instant it moved, I swapped my dagger for my jade blade and a clean slash severed it at the elbow.

And yet, a pair of shadow arms swung out.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if nothing had happened, it regenerated in an instant I couldn't even follow with my eyes. The ten sharp claws, five on each side, were aimed at—

—the princess, who had just swung her sword.

The creature's speed was now completely on par with 'mine'. This meant it was in a realm where she, who had once been on even footing with my still-developing speed during the Four Pillar War, would be a fraction too slow to react.

However, if a little is not enough, you just need to make up for it.

"[An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the King's Path)]."

As I forcefully deflected the shadow's right claw with my gauntlet-clad left arm, I used my free right hand—which had just sent back [Samidorizuki] the moment I swung—to knock Alicia's shoulder aside.

Struck by a sudden burst of initial velocity she lacked, she masterfully rode the force—the color of her clothes shifted. The sword princess, now clad in the 'blue' of speed, didn't flinch at the pressure of the left claw that grazed her cheek.

"—!"

With footwork that spun and gouged the floor, her sword drew an arc, a flashing blade that struck the jaw of [Rep-la Nobody] in an upward swing.

"—Manifestation, release."

A clean hit, without a doubt. The moment its body was clearly launched upwards, however slightly, I had no hesitation in playing my hand.

I took a step forward, and the instant my left fist made contact, I activated [Rocket]. A modified [Shinden]—a palm strike rather than a punch—landed perfectly, and as the impact that could shatter a boulder to dust shot through the shadow body of [Rep-la Nobody]—the small crimson blade in my left hand shattered.

[An=Ru Galta (Hypothesis: The Wedge-Armor that Sings of the King's Path)] Manifestation Release Ver. [Parabellum Bullet].

"[The Soul-Stealing... Radiant Sword (Angalta)]!"

A roar, and the Authority was established.

My full-powered fist slammed into its abdomen, sending the shadow monster flying as a radiant spiritual sword manifested. Acting like my partner's 'demon sword', [The Soul-Stealing Radiant Sword (Angalta)] formed a circle behind me, unleashing a fatal follow-up barrage of oversized sword-projectiles modeled after the swarming crimson blades.

And just like with Alicia earlier, the radiant sword's volley pursued [Rep-la Nobody] and slammed it into the arena wall, each hit landing one after another—and then, a shattering sound reached my ears.

That makes three.

In a brief exchange, we had beaten the caster, and perhaps because of that, the phosphorescent light of the shattered magic circles danced around us. We let out the breaths we'd been holding at the same time.

"I need time."

"Consider it done."

We both kicked away the option of stopping, exchanged just a single phrase each, and moved forward.

That's right, stopping was impossible.

Its super-speed movement that had completely caught us off guard just now was unmistakably the [Sword Saint]'s Shukuchi. On top of that, its claws possessed an extraordinary hardness and strength, enough to stop the blade of the strongest `Extra` in this virtual world—in other words, it was finally in serious mode, wasn't it?

This is where the real brawl begins… If so, then that's right, no more need to think about holding back or testing the waters. There's no way we're stopping now.

This is without a doubt the peak of the excitement—all that's left is to go full throttle!

Ignoring the 'song' that began to echo behind me, I kicked off and activated [Lumina Raygust]. I charged towards the wall where [Rep-la Nobody] had been slammed, and the storm I'd wrapped myself in blew away the thick, billowing dust.

In that instant, a black blade appeared before my eyes.

"Tch—"

It had only lost a third of its lives. It was obvious it wouldn't just be lying there, still kicking. That's why I anticipated its welcoming strike and dodged it by leaning forward until I was almost scraping the floor—Kesshiki Ittoryu, Seventh Strike.

"[Nanahoshi]."

I constructed the pre-motion, then used a brute-force technique to make up for my lack of skill with an excessive output from seven consecutive [Rocket]s, bringing the [Sword Saint]'s divine art down to my level.

My HP vanished in a flash, and a cracked crown appeared above my head. It's not like it would be sending any attacks I could survive with a graze anyway, so activating [Crown Crown] was a net gain.

A multi-angled simultaneous attack of seven flashes in an instant. The reason I chose [Nanahoshi] over its derivative, the original [Kiraboshi], was because I wanted precision, not just a frenzied slash—as a result, the single sword I swung while dodging its counterattack slipped through and, just as I'd planned, once again cut off both of the shadow's arms.

"—[Hisui]!"

I dove deep into its guard and unleashed a second strike at its open neck—but it was blocked by its arms, which had once again regenerated instantly.

I see, I see.

It seems breaking through its defenses alone is too much to ask for.

My blade was easily stopped by its 'claws' just like before. I instantly gave up, sent back [Samidorizuki], and seeing the prison of newly deployed magic circles, decided against staying put.

More than ten, more than twenty, over thirty maws of magic were aimed just at me. Expecting to handle all of that in an instant was beyond even a superhuman feat, so—

"—That was close…!"

I jumped straight up with a full-power [Rocket], and at the same moment, the overlapping magic cannons detonated with an indescribable roar. It was the very embodiment of violence, a pressure of absolute destruction so intense that even I, who had taken a large distance and stuck my feet to the ceiling, felt as if my eyes and ears had been seared.

That fox-lady sure has turned into a magnificent monster—excellent. More than enough of a challenge, I could probably face her ten times and still have change left over!

This is getting fun, and I'm not even kidding!!!!!

"Let's… go, you bastard!"

Kicking away my fear along with my footing, all I had to do was charge forward and fulfill my 'role'. I threw the brakes away and spammed [Rocket] with abandon, repeatedly challenging a monster that, on my own, I could barely even annoy—

—I kept challenging it, for twenty seconds flat. Is it time yet, Princess…!

I dodged the 'claws' I couldn't match, and with a well-placed blade, I lopped off its arms again for the umpteenth time before disengaging for a split-second break. Trying to hide my ragged breath, I cast my gaze in two directions.

One was the magic circles, which had been silent until now.

They had been smoking from Alicia's grand magic a short while ago. Their repairs must be nearing completion, as they began to glow darkly, looking ready to fire their magic spheres at any moment.

The other was my partner, the princess, who continued to hum a 'song'.

It was a long chant, comparable to the previous 'Myriad Thunderbolts'. The fact that she chose it at this juncture meant I could trust it was a finishing move worthy of this monster—but would it be enough?

They were ready at the same time.

Just as the magic spheres began to ooze from the reactivated wall-covering circles, just as Alicia was about to conclude her long, long chant, just as [Rep-la Nobody, The Black Stain That Slays All] could no longer ignore the rising tide of magic and lunged at her with Shukuchi…

…my arm, which had released the wind I'd gathered and shot forward at full speed, snatched Alicia's body away. All of this happened in a single instant. And, in my arms—

"'Usurp, for I am the Queen.'"

The [Sword Queen], who wove magic with words, declared a new law upon the world.

"[Disastor]."

In the center of the arena, in a three-dimensional sense, a small thunder sphere materialized in the empty air.

Expecting another 'grand magic' spell from the length of the chant, I was momentarily taken aback by the small, silent magic that appeared. "Eh?" I thought, for just a second… and in the next.

"—Wha-"

There was no one who could defy it.

The queen's 'lawlessness' had begun.