[Match! Let’s get started─!!]
The horn sounded, announcing the beginning of battle. I charged at Mardol with Wolf Fang.
Void Slash is a powerful technique. It becomes disadvantageous once it’s reflected. I cut through the wind and leaped off the ground.
I attempted to thrust my sword into the gaps of her armor. That’s bound to be the weakness when facing full plate armor.
Clang clang.
“Good judgment.”
“…As expected, you’re blocking it.”
However, the clash of steel couldn’t continue and was halted by a glass wall. Moments later, white clones, crafted from transparent crystal, emerged. They wore helmets resembling Mardol more than me.
“Grrk..!”
One of the clones replicated my sword strike from just before, while the other cornered me with a mirrored version of it.
Chink-clank! echoed the metallic sounds, as the glass figures guarding her protected Mardol. Defending against the sudden attacks was difficult.
‘This is cheating.’
It felt like facing myself. With a chilling sense of danger, I created some distance. I needed to think of a strategy. How could I break that Mirror Mirage…
“…What are you doing?”
That’s when I heard her distinct tone from inside the glass helmet, and the heavy-armored knight charged at me.
The same Wolf Fang. If I got hit, that’s what would happen. The distance that was far just a moment ago closed in an instant, and we were close enough for our helmets to clash.
“Mardol, it seems you have no intention of letting me be.”
“Right. It’s unique, after all.”
The princess swung her sword. I blocked it with my steel sword against her glass one. A battle of strength. No matter how strong Mardol was, this time it felt different.
“…Huh? Why am I not being pushed back?”
“About this much… I can endure now!”
The trembling sword’s blade barely held on. Perhaps she thought she’d make me drop my sword.
But now, with my will, I wouldn’t lose in strength. I stomped hard on the ground, as she let out her weight. A crack sound echoed as cracks formed on the arena’s surface.
“Howling Wind.”
At that moment, her golden wolf eyes shone brightly. She gave up on the balance of the fight and immediately launched an attack. Unlike Kainel, her battle experience was apparent.
Awwooo!
The howl of the wolf rang loudly from directly in front of me. The howling struck my ears, and I lost balance in an instant. It was stronger than Leon’s, probably because it was the original technique.
“I was careless. Licht.”
As I staggered, Mardol seized the opening and swung her sword at me.
The sword made from the same material as her armor gleamed with a brilliant blade path, reflecting light and targeting all of my openings. How on earth was she identifying those weaknesses in such a short time?
“Haha…”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Being the daughter of Emperor Rock, she was strong. If I hadn’t possessed the memories of this world, perhaps she would have taken the throne of the strongest.
“…”
But right now, I had to surpass her. I had to take down the Demon Kings too; I couldn’t be pushed back by just the protagonist.
“Drake Style, Second Form. Reverse Scale Stab.”
Come back in 15 years if you want to beat me. There’s a saying, the best defense is a good offense. I aimed my sword at the opening when she attacked.
A technique that originally targeted weaknesses to pierce through dragon scales. Our swords clashed, sparks flew, and our experiences and efforts collided.
“..Ugh.”
This time, it was Mardol who retreated. The Reverse Scale Stab was designed to chain attacks right from the start. Facing it for the first time would be overwhelming.
“I mixed in Shadow Slash too, but… it didn’t work.”
“You need to use that knowing exactly what you’re aiming at.”
Mardol continued, sounding disappointed. She purposely aimed at the shadowed ground to make wounds that would hinder my defense, but like the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense.
‘When it comes to the weakness of Shadow Slash, I know it better than her.’
If you counter with such a strong attack, you can become powerless. If I focused solely on defense, I would’ve been defeated.
Originally, it was a weak technique. That’s why I mostly combined it with Void Slash.
It wasn’t for nothing that players say if you can’t learn the Fourth Form, you’re trash.
In Mardol’s case, she probably intended to use her overwhelming strength to suppress me, but that alone wasn’t enough.
“Like this.”
With my thoughts collected, I stomped the ground hard, circulating the blood flow throughout my body. I gathered wind pressure into my right hand.
“…As expected, that’s how it is.”
Mardol, wearing her glass helmet, had started to mimic my speech with a low murmur.
*
Meanwhile, in the audience seats, four figures sat together.
“Hey, Kai.”
“What is it, Ariel?”
“Um… Who do you think will win?”
The red-haired mage asked the hero next to her as they watched the fight unfold, and Kainel chuckled awkwardly before responding.
“Probably Licht.”
“Why? Not Mardol? She’s really strong too…”
“You’ll understand once you see them fight. The scary thing about that guy always comes from unexpected angles.”
The two who had faced off against each other in the finals had different assessments due to their experiences in battle.
“Right! Kainel-senpai, you know something!”
“Nex, no matter what, our Mardol will win.”
The second-year upperclassmen, who knew the identity of the glass-armored Pina Grancia, had similar evaluations.
In Nex’s case, he had directly accompanied her, knowing the abilities of the peculiar junior with the Black Knight helmet.
“Do you really think so? Shar?”
“..Yes, she’s stronger than anyone.”
The saintess, who circulated divine power in her fists. Schartines was merely supporting her acquaintance hidden within the glass armor. She couldn’t let Pina’s efforts since childhood go to waste.
“Void Slash. Do you really have to use such a big technique?”
At that moment, Kainel spoke up, looking displeased as he observed the match. After all, it was a technique that would simply be reflected by Mirror Mirage.
The hero wondered, ‘Why is Licht using such a big preparation move?’
He had mentioned that the weakness of the Drake Style was its pre-movement. Such thoroughness of character didn’t quite fit. It was contradictory.
“Seems like he’s got something in mind. Our Licht-senpai!”
“Eh? Nex, what do you mean…?”
A curious purple-haired man tilted his head at the remark. After all, wouldn’t it be blocked upon reflection?
Having seen Ariel’s match previously, he recalled it was the same back then.
Tu-ka-ka-ka-shing!!!
Licht’s Void Slash was unleashed, and as expected, Mardol erected a glass wall, countering with several times greater force. The winds clashed in a chaotic storm.
“Look at that.”
Out from the chaos appeared the Black Knight helmet-wearing man. Watching Licht emerge through the dust, Nex wore a cunning smile.
“Am I right? To be honest, I don’t know anyone stronger than Licht-senpai among our second-years.”
It seemed Void Slash was a technique that was originally intended to be blocked.
“Ah, no way…”
He must have turned the big movement’s weakness into a strength. Watching him, Kainel thought, he might really win against me, and a grin formed on his lips.
*
The weakness of the Drake Style lies in its need for pre-movement. It doesn’t utilize mana and carries many openings, and as Kainel pointed out, it burdens the body a lot.
‘Every technique has its pros and cons. But then again, that’s true for anything.’
After using Void Slash, I charged straight ahead. Just like Mirror Mirage, that technique also has weaknesses.
After continuously charging in and gauging the results, I realized it was slightly slower than the original. I swung my sword to destroy all the clones that were using Void Slash against me.
Since Void Slash was inherently a slow technique, duplicating it would widen the gap even more. I slashed, leaped, and cut through the wind blowing towards me.
The dust scattered by the offset storm veiled Mardol’s vision. An opportunity I couldn’t miss.
“…Huh? How?”
“I combined Reverse Scale Stab with Void Slash. That’s a technique you don’t have.”
I had somehow closed the gap to her face and swung my sword again. A flurry of wind-filled strikes followed, overcoming her weakness with the Second Form of the Reverse Scale Stab known for its speed.
The Drake Style’s swordsmanship is made up of imperfect techniques that complement each other. Originally a result of the master’s solitary effort.
But paradoxically, that’s why it could be stronger than anyone else. When I grasped the Magic Hat, I also employed the Demon King Kill by combining all techniques.
If I cut through like this, it would be my victory. I could instinctively feel the mana protection peeling away. In that moment, the amplified speed overwhelmed Mardol.
“…You’re really strong.”
Mardol, cornered, spoke. The golden light in her eyes glinted with a fierce spirit, refusing to accept defeat.
“Glass Knight.”
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over my vision, and a massive sword descended from above, aiming to crush me.
“What..?”
Based on the judgment gained from combat experience, I utilized Wing Flap to deflect the suddenly attacking great sword. Upon closer inspection, something had sprung up behind Mardol.
[A giant glass knight appeared behind Mardol! It’s as if a colossus has emerged! How will Licht face this situation!?]
A gigantic knight with only its upper body. It seemed to mimic her actions like a puppet. How did she do that? Is it magic?
It sparkled as if made of glass, appearing so dignified it resembled a large spirit. Did the knight class have such a skill?
“Licht, do you think you can fight me seriously?”
I retreated again. Head-on, I would be crushed under the strength. I lowered my iron sword for a moment to catch my breath.
That technique would have involved my allies if I had been caught in the Void Slash.
‘Couldn’t use that against the Magic Hat, could I?’
I was struck with awe. Someone capable of twisting the concept of steel to sculpt glass to such a size. This surely proved her to be the protagonist.
“Same goes for you, Mardol.”
I honestly felt joy. As a player who loved games, what could be more delightful than this? The burning desire for victory engulfed my whole body.
“I believe in love.”
Rain began to fall. A downpour rushed forward, and a cobalt-colored sword fell from the sky, embedding itself at my feet. I concluded I wouldn’t be able to win her over with this iron sword I had always used.
“…I’ll also give it my all.”
The difference between a puppy and a wolf is knowing love.
I had to prove that I was not just a puppy but a wolf.
More specifically, I needed to shatter that glass knight’s armor using the sword forged from my beliefs.
