kscans

Chapter 583 - The Peerless Ice Blade and the Eternal Warbler, Part 1

Here I come.

---

Layering 'Outer Force' upon the 'Inner' that runs ahead, a multi-stage acceleration—the Matoi footwork, which approaches the Sword Saint's Shukuchi. Having mastered it and used it countless times, it's no longer a technique I need to consciously employ.

Like breathing, I take a step.

With a single stride that casually brushes against the speed of sound, I open the battle—and in a flash, less than a blink, a single, decisive sword strike meets my advance.

Scarlet and azure clash, and a piercing ring echoes through the air.

And then,

""—————…!!""

At point-blank range, neither of us gives an inch, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. A head-on brawl begins.

I lunged in, and Irori met my charge. Our first exchange, a greeting filled with as much force as we pleased, sent our weapons—and our right hands—recoiling sharply. A spin, followed by a reverse-grip thrust.

As the samurai's left hand, glowing with a faint blue light effect, caught that wrist mid-arc, the sword, its recoil expertly managed, began its next strike—a rising diagonal slash.

"—'Suitei.'"

"Tch—"

In response, my counter-check is a spoken word. Crossing my left hand over my captured right and thrusting it forward… I present my armored gauntlet, no less protective than plate, and force a choice.

Push or pull? The [Peerless]'s answer is,

"'Idome—…!"

Neither. He stops.

My left hand, which would have served as a 'cage' had he advanced, is avoided. The frost-laden blade, now perfectly still, erupts in a vortex of extreme cold.

Ice is the natural enemy of water magic.

A counter to my counter, achieved by standing still. Irori's frustratingly calm judgment cuts off my incantation… and well, I'll have to concede the opening exchange to him.

As the effect on his left hand, which held my right, finalizes after that brief exchange of tactics, the activated skill robs my body of weight and all other 'resistance,' and—

"[Floating Castle]."

—my body is flung like a piece of paper with the same force as my initial charge. The destination is not horizontal, but vertical.

Up or down? Of course—it's down.

A slam that takes the shortest possible route. Faced with this mercilessly efficient attack, the optimal solution I can muster in less than an instant is—activating [Shadow Leaf].

"—…!?"

Just before I'm slammed into the floor, his arm, its direction now changed regardless of his own will, flings me in the complete opposite direction, scooping me high into the air.

Vector-jacking another's body on the condition of contact.

No wonder he's surprised; this is the first time I've shown it. Furthermore—just tossing me into the air won't do a damn thing to me, and you know it!

Full power.

"—[Rocket]!!"

No longer requiring a price, the legs that soar through the heavens are truly a part of me now, unleashed. The absurd propulsion, now an extension of [Rega-Lielta], naturally brings about one thing.

A violent, excessive acceleration that turns my falling body into a meteor.

Another choice. The samurai, who once met a similar situation, chooses—as expected—the most calm and rational option: evasion.

The [Enpo] skill, which makes a single step seem like teleportation. The surprise at my unfamiliar feint lasts less than an instant. He immediately retreats, and into the spot he just vacated… a high-speed spinning heel drop, carrying the full force of [Rocket] and Matoi, lands.

I feel the heel of my [An-Vogalta] caress the arena floor as if it were soft sand—and in that moment, a roar, and an explosion.

This is no mere playful 'stomp' from before. The floor, hit with the full, unrestrained force of my attack, shatters, and the stage's structure is blown to smithereens.

Haha, I'm a complete monster, I know. And speaking of which…—

"…Seriously, you're way too composed. Be more surprised, dammit."

"It's just that your hand and footwork have gotten a little worse. If I reacted to every little thing you did, there'd be no end to it."

Beyond the billowing cloud of dust, he stands there looking at me with a frustratingly cool expression. I think it's safe to say he's in the same monster category.

"Besides, I was plenty surprised. What was that creepy thing just now?"

He's probably talking about [Shadow Leaf]. Irori doesn't even try to hide his disgusted expression as he shakes his left arm—…I see, so it's time for some banter, is it?

He must have noticed that all my nervousness has been blown away by that little exchange.

"Heh, that's my first hidden ace. It's super useful in PvP and the cooldown isn't even that long. I'll be using it every chance I get, so be ready."

"Hmph. The condition is most likely direct contact… physical contact between our avatars. Which means all I have to do is not touch you. An easy counter."

"Can you please stop figuring things out instantly on the first try???"

And I'm sure he's also seen through the fact that I'm just bluffing to make him wary of close-quarters combat and restrict his movements. The smile on his face is one of utter confidence.

This guy, seriously… Anyway.

"Hey, Irori, is this okay? Am I going to get in trouble for this?"

"It's just an instant-generated instance field. There's no need to worry about repairs or anything."

"That's a relief. So, I guess I can go ahead and smash it to bits without leaving a single piece behind."

"That doesn't mean you should act so crudely. Your technique has become a little more refined, but your fighting style is fundamentally sloppy—"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not interested in a lecture on a grand public stage. Can't be helped, I'm saddled with a bunch of 'unruly horses.' When I go all out, this is what happens."

As we continue our lighthearted exchange, I refocus my mind on the fight.

That's because the spectators, who had fallen silent for a moment, are gradually recovering from their stunned state and starting to roar again.

If the gallery is ready, then it's time to begin—

"Alright, let's kick it up a notch. Try and keep up, senpai."

"Who do you think you're talking to? Don't you dare slip up and make a fool of yourself, junior."

—the second act, beyond the opening feints. Now then, just as I declared…

"Time for the grand reveal—[Nine Tail]."

Let's crank it up as high as it'll go.