67. Bounty Head and Awakening [10]

Mine and Zack’s gaze met,

「HAAAAAAAAAA!」

「NUUUOOOHHH!」

We started running at the same time as though it was prearranged.

「HA!」

「Nuun!」

Our swords clashed, and a tremendous roar rang out.

「True to your appearance… what brute strength…!」

「Za-Zahaha…! Same goes to you… A ridiculous strength from such a small body!」

Both our physical strengths were evenly matched.

From here on out, swordsmanship will decide the outcome.

(It’s a waste of time contesting strength… Let’s take distance for the time being, and reorganise.)

When I was thinking that,

「Blaze Shield!」

He suddenly deployed a flame shield at zero distance.

「Wha, at this distance…!?」

My vision was filled red, and intense heat assailed my eyes.

「Kuh, Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu!」

When the eight slashes chopped up the shield, Zack was already far behind.

It seems that he hid his figure with the huge shield and jumped far back during that time.

He dropped his center of gravity and shot a『thrust』from far away.

「-〈Blaze Lance〉!」

A scorching lance was unleashed from the tip of the large sword.

「First Sword – Flying Shadow!」

In response to his long-range attack, I shot a flying slash.

However,

「Soft, too soft!」

The raging lance of conflagration penetrated Flying Shadow easily. And it rushed towards me without the slightest decrease in power.

「Wha!?」

I immediately jumped greatly to the right and avoided the lance-shaped flame.

(So Flying Shadow is not strong enough to push it back…?)

It seems that a Dark Roar class attack is necessary to counter the long-range〈Blaze Lance〉.

And while I was thinking about Zack’s attack and how to deal with it,

「-Right after you avoid an attack, you have to increase your guard a little bit more, you know?」

By the time I noticed, there was the figure of Zack brandishing his large sword, right before my nose tip.

「Shit…!」

「Inferno Style – Flame Slash」

Four slashes of flames approached at tremendous speed.

「Uh, Cloud Style – Cirrocumulus!」

I aimed for the gap right when the attack was about to land, and instantly unleashed four slashes which have a short launch time.

However, Zack’s sword was not weak enough to be outstripped by a makeshift attack unleashed from a disadvantageous position.

(What power…!?)

My four slashes were quickly broken.

I desperately twisted my body in an attempt to avoid it.

「Guh…」

Two slashes hit my right shoulder and left leg. Sharp pain of flesh being cut and dull burning pain ran at the same time.

While enduring it, I leapt back and attempted to reorganise.

(…Fortunately, the wound is not that deep.)

It will have no impact on the continuation of the battle.

(The problem is, how do I『break it』after all…)

Zack’s stance was the same as mine, Seigan no Kamae.

The large sword held in front of the navel did not tremble even the slightest – a frighteningly『natural』stance.

(…This stance is not something you can master overnight.)

His was more solid than anyone I’ve ever fought – his basis of swordsmanship.

I’m sure he has spent a huge amount of time training, together with his natural talent.

(…But it’s strange.)

There was one thing in his polished swordsmanship that bothered me.

「Did you learn that swordsmanship from a Holy Knight?」

From the basic posture to the defensive techniques and the way of stepping in up until now – Zack’s movement was exactly the same as the Holy Knight’s Swordsmanship Instruction Book.

And then,

「… Even if I may appear this way, I used to be a Holy Knight.」

He murmured so with a slightly bitter expression.

「What… !? Then why did you join the Black Organization!?」

An international organization that protects the peace of the world – The Holy Knights Association.

A large-scale criminal organization that disturbs the order of the world – The Black Organization.

These two entities are opposites.

「…There are things that you can’t do while serving in the Holy Knights Association.」

Zack whispered so with a grim face,

「-But now, I don’t care about such worthless matters! Come on, Allen! Your shine – show me more sparkly!」

He suddenly shouted, as if to erase the heavy air.

「Extol – Will-o-Wisp!」

Zack cried, and swung the large sword in a big arc.

Burning flames soared, and it gradually took the shape of a creature.

「「「-KON!」」」

It was blazing crimson foxes that were given birth by the conflagration.

The number was slightly over ten. Their sharp fangs bore towards me.

(No way, such power…… !)

Damnit, an ability with a wide range of applications…

「Zahahahaha Let’s begin with the climax!」

「…Come!」

After that, our sword exchanges were extremely fierce.

「Gyarururururu」

「Kuh…HA!」

When I cut the will-o-wisps that were being created endlessly,

「-Right there! Nuun!」

「Guh!?」

From behind it, Zack’s large sword swooped down on me.

In front of the wave of attacks by the will-o-wisps and the large sword, I was forced to defend one-sidedly.

(Damn, this number is too much to handle…)

I am alone, and my opponent is Zack and more than a dozen will-o-wisps.

The『difference in numbers』was overwhelming.

The large number of will-o-wisp get in the way when I try to attack, and I receive a hard counterattack instead.

However, if I go into defense, the fierce wave of attacks like now will continue.

(What the hell am I supposed to do…?)

And when I was desperately thinking of a way to break through,

「Will-o-Wisp – Crimson Lotus!」

「「「KON! 」」」

Eight foxes, charged toward me simultaneously in a coordinated manner from all directions.

「Kuh, Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique- Mirrored Sakura Slash!」

And when I repelled the eight foxes with eight slashes,

「Inferno Style – Great Flame Slash!」

A powerful downward slash came in from behind.

「Guh!?」

I somehow managed to block it even though I was in an unreasonable position, and I deliberately jumped back greatly to kill the shock.

「Zahaha! What an astounding reaction speed! Even your defensive technique was perfect! I thought I broke through perfectly, but I never imagined that you would defend it!」

Zack said calmly, and again produced ten will-o-wisps.

(At this rate, the situation will grow worse for me… I have no choice but to insert it here…!)

The positioning is perfect.

All that’s left is to wait for him to come.

When I was waiting for the opportunity, while holding on to Seigan no Kamae,

「What’s the matter, you can’t win simply by defending you know? Will-o-wisp – Raging Fire!」

「「「KON!」」」

Zack shot all the will-o-wisps he had created all at once.

(-It’s coming!)

Right after that.

「Second Sword – Hazy Moon!」

Twenty slashes that have been inserted so far, cut through all the approaching will-o-wisps.

「Hou! So you can use some pretty interesting techniques!」

I can’t miss this opportunity when the will-o-wisps has been reduced to zero.

「First Sword – Flying Shadow!」

With all my power, I unleashed a flying slash that was a size bigger than usual.

「Zahaha! I already showed that it doesn’t work! -〈Blaze Lance〉!」

The moment when the terrific burst of flames tore through Flying Shadow.

「-It’s a feint.」

I approached closer to Zack while hiding behind Flying Shadow, and took his rear.

The perfect opportunity was finally created.

「Fifth Sword – World Judgement!」

I aimed at his defenceless back and unleashed my ultimate attack.

However,

「It’s not a bad aim but my rear is not a blind spot for me.-〈Blaze Circle〉!」

The next moment, an enormous burst of flames circled around him.

A dreadful shock wave assailed my body, and an intense heat wave pierced at my skin.

「Guh…!?」

Blown away by the tremendous shock, I somehow managed to perform ukemi and grit my teeth hard.

「Right, you had that technique…」

Although they were taken by surprise, the powerful shock wave knocked down the president and the Holy Knights in a single blow.

(To think it could be used for defense…)

And when I was gritting my teeth hard,

「But you have a strange body… Normally, if you took the attack just now, you should have suffered severe burns…」

Zack inspected my body and murmured something.

Meanwhile, I analyzed our conditions.

Little by little, damage has accumulated on my body.

My right shoulder and left leg which received the slashes.

In addition, small burns that occurred while defending against the will-o-wisps can be seen in various places.

Zack, on the other hand, was almost unhurt.

The damage on him was only at the level of small cuts on his skin, and there are basically zero definitive damage.

(…I’m beaten. At this rate, I might not be able to win…)

There was only one reason why this fight was so agonizing – the absence of soul dress.

In the end, what stood in my way is the big wall known as『talent』.

(I have no choice but to do it…)

It’s frustrating, but Zack is a better swordsman than me.

I have to pull out that guy’s power. I’ll never win as I am right now.

Recall it.

(…Zack was saying)

I don’t have to physically make him yield, I just need to pull out a part of his power. I just have to make him yield with my mind.

(…Even that guy said the same thing)

『Strength of mind』and above all『resolve』was not enough.

Then I slowly went inside my consciousness – sinking deep into my soul.

I will win.

I will beat the enemy in front of me.

To protect Ria.

To protect the daily life with Ria.

That’s why.

It’s enough for just today.

No, it’s enough for just this moment.

That’s why.

(Hand over your… power!)

When I said so resolutely – As though engraving it onto my soul, as though thrusting a sharp blade into my chest,

Deep within my mind – I heard that guy’s voice.

【Brat… I wonder if you can do it…】

At that moment.

「This is…!?」

Blacker than black, as though『darkness』itself was condensed into the shape of a black sword – it tore through space and appeared.

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