kscans

Chapter 572 - The Arrow Chasing the Horizon

[Haze Oculus]—an unorthodox unique skill in the thought acceleration category, which typically involves 'imbuing the eyes with an effect,' that requires one to close their eyes to activate.

Maximum duration: twelve seconds.

Acceleration multiplier: limitless.

The authority granted in exchange for offering up 'the present view' is—future prediction.

"Tch…!?"

A right step. A flash of the left sword. Just before lunging, I threw a weapon at his feet as a feint, and my now-free right hand grabbed not Kanata's two hands, but the left wrist he had moved after dodging them.

Simultaneous execution of induction and capture. The surprise of someone who instantly understood that their movements had been completely read shook Kanata's eardrums like praise.

Based on that understanding, the future blurs.

Beyond countless, the branches diverge so much that they cannot be counted.

A violent tsunami of information that would be impossible for a human mind to read one by one rushes through my virtual brain—and it's not a rational act of choosing.

"—Aaaah!!"

I grab onto the 'future' that I just happened to see, the one I hope is the best, and the intruder into this divine realm operates their avatar as if driven by a white-hot thought circuit.

I pull the captured left hand—his right crimson sword is coming for my right hand, so instead of the sword, I set my short sword on the trajectory of his swinging arm—he'll abort the attack with the crimson sword and then a palm strike from his unarmed hand will come, so I'll pivot with a left step—he'll swing me around at super speed while still holding my left hand but I'll ignore it and a right roundhouse kick will come, so I'll release my hand and fall back onto the floor—and the resulting situation is,

"—Hah…!"

—at the end of a series of dodged 'counters', [Haru the Acrobat] is left defenseless in mid-air, and,

"[Crowly—…!!"

—directly beneath him, the challenger has grabbed the weapon he threw earlier, and a blue flash of light now resides in the two overlapping blades. And,

"—Rivind]!!"

Initial speed, top speed, and power.

All undeniably of the highest class, a high-end assault skill from the short sword category.

Once activated after catching a defenseless opponent in range, it's a true 'sure-hit' hailed as an inescapable, genuine 'finishing blow' no matter who the opponent is—

"…Huh?"

—is what I should have unleashed.

Suddenly, the countless 'futures' vanished from my mind, leaving only one.

In an instant, anticlimactically, as if waking from a dream… Seeing the future that had been decided, Kanata opened his eyes to see—the blue of a clear sky.

My hands, my weapons are gone.

My feet, not touching the floor.

My body, floating—then, after feeling a distinct sense of weightlessness, a strong wind brushed against my cheek, and I finally realized that my body was falling.

And when I turned my head to see where I was going.

It was the same as the determined future. Holding Kanata's lost short swords, he was smiling, his eyes saying it all.

—The twelve seconds aren't over yet.

"—Tch…!!"

That's right, it's not over yet.

That's right, I haven't given up yet.

Even with the huge cheat of seeing the future, I couldn't see through him completely—even if there was no way my tiny fangs could ever reach him…!!

"—[Breath—…"

Driven by admiration, I desperately arrived at this stage.

So that I can praise myself for showing my full strength without any regrets.

"—Moment]!!"

I have to enjoy this dream stage with this incredible hero to the fullest.

Within a five-meter radius. I activate a skill that safely delivers my body to the desired position and slip past my own weapons that were waiting for my falling body.

I landed, once again, in his blind spot. To the back that was now so close I could touch it without reaching, I thrust the backup dagger I had drawn from my thigh—just before impact, I stepped with my right foot.

From his blind spot, to his front.

In other words, into the true blind spot of [Haru the Acrobat], who had reacted instantly to my teleportation into his blind spot.

"Tch—"

Five centimeters until the tip touches.

Four centimeters.

Three.

Two.

One—and the blade, having lost its target, pierces the air.

The white and blue figure vanished in a flash… and my own short sword was gently placed against my neck.

"—I already know, but…"

"…Yes."

A voice from very close by. I felt my body rapidly losing strength, and I desperately held onto my consciousness to keep from collapsing.

"May I ask your name again?"

A gentle voice, completely devoid of the tension I felt. I couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

"…It's Kanata."

"Okay, Kanata—That was fun. Let's do it again."

The future I had already seen. An honor I don't deserve… I laughed at my own thoughts, which had fallen completely into the swamp, as if they belonged to someone else.

"…I'm beaten. I surrender."

The curtain fell on the dream stage.

The explosion of cheers sounded as if they were celebrating me, who, from a self-satisfying perspective, had 'done it'… but well, that's probably just my imagination.

—And then,

"Oh, sorry. I'm Haru. I should've introduced myself before asking for your name, huh."

"…Ahaha. I know that much already."

It was an exquisitely anticlimactic fan service, perfectly in character for him… and that extravagant postscript is something I'll never forget for the rest of my life.