EP.40
Time Interference.
It is an extraordinary supernatural ability that only a select few born from the bloodline of the House of Count Seryas possess, allowing temporary interference with the world’s ‘time’—a truly broken ability.
In the current era, Magic Studies cannot interfere with the element of time; however, members of the House of Count Seryas are able to interfere with time, albeit temporarily, solely because they are born with such supernatural abilities.
Beyond the surface of space-time, anyone can feel how powerful the ability of ‘Time Interference’ is when it allows for interference with the fundamental elements that constitute this world.
Yet, as Erekaya knows, the ability of ‘Time Interference’ born from the bloodline of Seryas is dreadfully imperfect.
First, those who possess the ability of time interference cannot manipulate ‘time’ itself.
At best, they can only manipulate a very minute factor that exists on the surface of space-time.
For example, Count Seryas, Altina’s father, possessed the ability of ‘Momentary Foreknowledge’ to see three seconds into the future, while Altina herself had the ability of ‘Time Acceleration,’ which disrupts the relative time between herself and others.
In other words, the reach of those with the ability of time interference is limited entirely to a portion of space-time.
They cannot manipulate time itself, and the fact that they can barely manage just a fragment serves to highlight how inadequate their ability truly is.
Secondly, the application range of the ability of time interference is limited to one’s own body.
Count Seryas could not share the view revealed through his Momentary Foreknowledge with others, and Altina’s Time Acceleration only accelerated her own bodily time.
In contrast to those with other supernatural abilities, who can generally interfere with the world, twist the laws, and showcase powerful anomalies, those with time interference abilities cannot influence the world itself.
On the surface, it may seem like an invincible ability, but the reality reveals a very shabby and hollow capability.
That is the true nature of the time interference ability possessed by the members of the House of Count Seryas.
Yes, it had to be just so. But now, the ability Altina is displaying… feels different.
Originally, Altina’s ability of ‘Time Acceleration’ should only apply within her body, having no impact on Erekaya or the world around them.
However, what Altina displayed just moments ago successfully hit Erekaya, breaking through all the constraints tied to the ability of time interference.
‘…Could it possibly be that she used her Idea?’
If Altina had reached the level of surpassing the Master and actualizing her thoughts in reality, and if she had used her Idea to compensate for her imperfect time interference ability, then the current situation is not completely nonsensical.
An Idea is the representation of human imagination and its very possibilities.
No matter how imperfect an ability may be, if it can be ‘enhanced’ through an Idea, it would possess greater precision and completeness than it does now.
…However, there is still one point that doesn’t add up.
How on earth did Altina manage to utilize her time interference ability without Erekaya’s synesthesia noticing it?
Currently, Erekaya has been using her synesthesia, and has not missed a single moment of Altina’s movements since the duel began.
‘…No, wait.’
The premise had been mistaken. If Erekaya had indeed not missed it, then what if, while observing Altina’s attack, she did not recognize it as an attack at all?
“I think I’ve taken a hit, Altina. It turns out that Desperado isn’t limited to just firing anti-demon bullets.”
That’s right. The miraculous Desperado was not simply a basic magic gun that only shot powerful anti-demon bullets, as Erekaya had thought.
In a most outrageous twist, Altina had managed to fire her very own ability through Desperado!
“I thought it felt a little odd. Desperado is undoubtedly the most effective means for you to strike me at this moment. So, using Desperado right from the start to draw out my caution wasn’t like you at all.”
Just moments ago, the anti-demon bullet that Altina shot towards Erekaya was not an attack directed at her.
The true nature of that attack was merely a strategy to launch a future attack by transcending time.
“Your ability to evade my attack was due to accelerating the surrounding time to the extreme, thereby distorting the trajectory of the attack. The attack that came from outside my consciousness must have ‘transcended time’ along the bullet’s path, reflecting an attack you’d made in the past. Well done, Altina.”
Wiping the blood from her lips, Erekaya spoke sincerely, seemingly in admiration.
No, more precisely, she admired Jin, who had brought Altina to such a level in just a month.
She felt proud. Almost as if it were her own achievement, she felt a sense of pride.
The fact that Jin’s skills surpassed her expectations and that he had such remarkable talent for teaching others warmed Erekaya’s heart.
As far as Erekaya was concerned, Altina von Rudel Seryas was never a match for her.
While Altina reaching the level of a Master in just one month had taken her by surprise, it was still far from enough to draw out Erekaya’s true feelings.
Yet, look, the current Altina not only displayed skills that exceeded Erekaya’s expectations but also managed to land a hit on her!
‘Jin.’
Ah, how can one not feel joy? How can one not be moved?
Those who inherit the bloodline of Pendragon are exceedingly few, even across the entire continent.
Not only is it a family with very few members to begin with, but the elders of the clan are excessively obsessed with ‘pure blood,’ which further limits the number of individuals in the lineage.
In this moment, though she may be collateral, discovering that someone who inherited the Pendragon bloodline possesses such extraordinary talent is something that truly fills Erekaya with joy, especially knowing that she is destined to rise to the position of head of Pendragon in the future.
However, contrary to Erekaya’s proud emotions, Altina was currently gazing at Erekaya with a look of dismay.
She believed she had perfectly caught her opponent off guard.
During the last month, she thought that with Jin’s help, she had created a time-transcending technique called ‘Echo of the Heavens’ that would allow her to completely suppress Erekaya.
Yet even after sustaining considerable injuries, Erekaya maintained a condition sufficient to continue the duel.
Although she was bleeding profusely, those were merely superficial wounds, and before the last attack hit, she had managed to dodge sufficiently to avoid any fatal injuries.
In short, Erekaya’s condition couldn’t be said to have weakened significantly compared to usual. Could Altina truly achieve victory against such an Erekaya?
…No, let’s not think weakly. Hadn’t she promised before the duel that she would give her all, regardless of the outcome?
She had laid bare all her concealed trump cards. From now on, it would be a testing ground where they would compete with the skills they had accumulated up to this point.
Taking a deep breath, she focused, driving all distractions from her mind, and charged at Erekaya.
Kaaah!
Altina dashed toward Erekaya like lightning and swung her sword.
Immediately after, the sword in Altina’s hand began to blur and simultaneously ‘appeared’ in multiple locations across time and space, targeting Erekaya.
That was the application of the ‘Echo of the Heavens.’
Using ‘Time Acceleration,’ she manifested the trajectory of the sword she had previously attacked with alongside that of her current swing, creating a strike that bordered on unfair!
“…Kuh!”
Ultimately, Erekaya had no choice but to be pushed backward, overwhelmed by the flurry of sword strikes that Altina unleashed.
Altina’s own skills were already close to Erekaya’s level, and with her sword transcending time and appearing in multiple locations, even Erekaya found it difficult to parry those attacks easily.
‘…It connects. No, it has connected!’
Seeing Erekaya being pushed back by her own sword, Altina felt a surge of joy.
I am currently fighting on equal terms. For the first time, I have succeeded in forcing Erekaya, who I’ve always chased after and looked up to, into a corner, even if just for a moment.
She felt an overwhelming sense of joy and pride.
No, this was not enough. She could not be satisfied with just this. For the sake of her Master’s reputation, it was unacceptable to be defeated by you here.
I will surpass you.
Kaya, I will undoubtedly surpass you here!
Ultimately, Erekaya found herself cornered against the wall of the training grounds, with no more room to evade or escape.
‘Chance!’
The trajectories of blades that had densely filled the space suddenly vanished. Only Altina remained, holding a single sword.
Erekaya realized what Altina was intending to do, but it was already too late. Altina had completed all her preparations.
The strike infused with ‘Acceleration’ released through Desperado would inevitably connect with Erekaya, transcending time and space.
This was the maximum and fastest attack Altina could currently execute. There was no way that Erekaya could emerge unscathed from this strike!
‘Blade of Heaven!’
Altina’s sword descended with a speed imperceptible to the human eye. No matter how Erekaya reacted, there was no way she could respond to an attack that transcended time and space!
And then—
Clang!
The sound of a sword breaking echoed through the air. Erekaya and Altina stood still as if time had stopped for a brief moment.
After a moment, Erekaya slowly opened her mouth while gazing at her fractured sword.
“Excellent, Altina. In a sense, you have indeed surpassed me.”
“…Surpassed you? Me?”
“Indeed. You are by no means inferior to me. I, Erekaya del Pendragon, acknowledge that.”
It was truly a close call. At the last moment, Altina’s attack was one that even synesthesia could not perceive. Erekaya herself could not discern where that attack began or ended.
…However, she could predict the ‘trajectory’ of that attack.
This was because Erekaya del Pendragon had a deep understanding of Altina von Rudel Seryas.
In that split second, Erekaya combined all she knew about Altina’s habits, preferences, and actions, predicting the trajectory of her preferred attack and positioning her sword in that direction.
No matter how much Altina’s sword transcended time and space, it was impossible to ignore the cause and effect.
As a result, Altina’s sword, which had been accelerating to the point of invisibility, failed to reach its maximum speed upon colliding with Erekaya’s sword—
Fwah!
The backlash from the failed technique redirected all the power back to Altina’s own body.
With a soft rustle—
The sword Altina had been holding crumbled into dust, slowly scattering into the air. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Altina’s mouth.
However, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Erekaya was far from defeated. On the contrary, it burned even more fervently as she stared at Erekaya.
“…I will absolutely, absolutely not give up. Next time, I will surely surpass you. I promise.”
“Sure, anytime. I will never refuse your challenge, Altina.”
With those words, Erekaya looked intently at Altina, capturing her in her gaze.
Unlike before, when she had failed to acknowledge her, she now recognized her as a person.
Yes, perhaps she should be content with this for today.
Although she had some dissatisfaction with the outcome, she was not alone.
With her Master by her side, she could surely surpass Erekaya next time.
With that thought, Altina slowly closed her eyes.
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