𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞
“Haaaaaaa!”
“Teeeeeei!”
ㅤ
After concluding the military council, the generals returned to their respective fortresses to make final preparations for a unified advance.
On the sixth day of this period, which was said to likely take about a week.
Stella and I were engaged in our traditional swordsmanship duel.
However, the nature of our duel has changed considerably from the past.
Not only has Stella now started using magic in addition to her sword, but even more so. . . . . .
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“Soi!”
“Doryaa!”
“Ei!”
ㅤ
The biggest change is that others have also joined us in the duel.
Apart from Stella and me, the participants include Auntie Elle, Blade, and the entire Hero’s Party supported by Rin.
And the arrangement of the duel is four against just me.
A hero and a Holy Warrior, each with the power of a thousand, aim to crush puny me with their highly coordinated four-person assault.
Even without me, the strength of the unified Hero’s Party would likely surpass the Four Heavenly Kings.
Rather, they might be equal to at least two of the Four Heavenly Kings.
This isn’t about bullying the weak or unfairness anymore; it’s beyond that level.
ㅤ
But this is what I wanted.
Before facing off against the Demon King, I wanted to gain some combat experience against strong opponents and complete a particular technique.
A technique that once dealt a fatal blow to that Demon King, even if he was weakened in the previous world.
The final secret of the Seven Deadly Swords.
ㅤ
Yes.
I haven’t yet mastered the Final Killing Sword.
ㅤ
Rather, my own power hasn’t reached its peak level from the previous world.
After all, I only attained my full power and learned the Final Killing Sword during the battle against the Demon King in that world.
A one-on-one with the strongest enemy.
In the midst of a life-or-death battle where I lost half of my limbs, my sword skills were honed further, sharpened to a razor edge, and finally reached their pinnacle by burning through my very life.
ㅤ
I’m not yet at that level.
Memories from the previous world, the training Stella and I have built up, the battles against formidable enemies on my journey, the duel with Ruberto-san where we staked our beliefs, and the deadly fights against the monstrous Four Heavenly Kings.
Even after walking this long path, it’s still not enough.
I’m just one step away from reaching my peak.
ㅤ
Just one more step, truly just one more step.
I can sense it.
I have reached almost the same level as I did before.
However, the wall that separates me from that one step is incredibly thick and hard.
That’s why I’m engaged in such a reckless duel to break through that wall.
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“Sei!”
ㅤ
In the center of the party, naturally excelling in fundamental abilities, is Stella.
With a remarkable sword technique that combines strength and delicacy, she wields Divine Tree’s wooden sword for taking down small fry and training. She launches fierce attacks.
Stella truly understands how to fight against me, and she employs a nimble style that prioritizes sword speed, making it difficult to land counterattacks.
ㅤ
In response, I counter with a dual-blade style known for its defensive prowess.
Even as I continually parry with my dual wooden swords using Distortion Thousand Hands, I find it difficult to counterattack effectively.
Even when I manage to exploit a small opening to use moves like Flowing Blade and Sky Rebellion, my Flowing Blade is easily defended against, even with its derivative techniques, and my Sky Rebellion merely manages to deflect the sword slightly, far from breaking it.
The frequent use of magic spells, primarily aimed to disrupt my footing, is also a problem.
If it were just an ineffective offensive spell, I could easily deflect it using Calamity Return, but there’s no way Stella, with whom I’ve fought many times, wouldn’t know that.
Most likely, this is the optimal solution for Stella to fight me with her abilities.
Knowing each other’s strategies so well has led to a stalemate where I find myself purely on the defensive.
That being said, I haven’t lost either.
Neither of us can win easily, and as long as Stella can’t break through my defenses, there’s no easy defeat for me either.
We both know each other’s strategies all too well.
Lately, the fights often end in a draw, dragging on indefinitely.
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However, that’s only if it’s one-on-one.
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“YAAARRGGHH!”
ㅤ
From behind Stella’s aggressive attacks, Blade charges in with a battle cry.
His timing is perfect, targeting the moment when I had used most of my resources to defend against Stella.
With precise aim, he swings down his Divine Tree greatsword.
ㅤ
“What?!”
ㅤ
Normally, Blade’s attack is something I could handle effortlessly, but when it hits me while I’m completely off-balance, it’s a real threat.
Moreover, this guy has been popping in and out of my vision ever since my duel with Stella began, making me wary and stealing my focus.
He’s undoubtedly one of the reasons I’ve exposed such a gap in my defense.
Lately, Blade has become quite adept at this type of fighting.
ㅤ
Still, I manage to somehow block Blade’s attack, not with my wooden swords, which I had already used against Stella, but with my Mithril chest armor.
I then use the momentum to rotate and release an attack.
Given the poor stance caused by Stella, I can’t use my skills effectively, but I manage to pull off a successful strike.
Using Blade’s swung-down greatsword as a stepping stone, I close the distance and unleash a spinning kick!
ㅤ
“『Flowing Blade: No Sword』!”
“『Holy Shield Barrier』!”
ㅤ
However, the attack I released while bearing the brunt of the damage is easily deflected by Rin’s well-prepared barrier magic.
The two front-liners prepare to counterattack.
I use the barrier into which I’d just kicked as a foothold to instantly reposition myself, ready to counter.
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“『Ray of Light』!”
“Ugh?!”
ㅤ
Blindingly fast, light magic flew from Auntie Elle towards the two of us.
It’s a basic-level spell that’s easy to use and quick to activate, albeit not very powerful.
Although I sensed it at the last moment, my unstable posture—due to the spinning kick and its timing—meant that even if I could deflect it, I couldn’t redirect it at anyone using Calamity Return, rendering my counterattack ineffective.
I had no choice but to block it with my wooden sword and convert the impact into speed using Rapid Current. It wasn’t the best decision, but it was necessary.
Had I simply deflected Auntie Elle’s magic and stayed put, I would have been an easy target for the two vanguards’ follow-up attack. However, the distance I created now made it easier for all the party members to aim at me.
ㅤ
They wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Instantly, Stella, Blade, and Auntie Elle—the trio responsible for attacks—prepared their heavy artillery.
Consequently, each unleashed their long-range ultimate techniques so as not to interfere with each other.
ㅤ
“『Holy Sword』!”
“『Great Soaring Sword』!”
“『Sacred Light Beam』!”
ㅤ
Stella’s sword of light, Blade’s soaring giant slash, and Auntie Elle’s concentrated beam of light all converged on me.
It’s not something I could deflect with Distortion.
Nor could I bounce it back using Calamity Return.
However, I could disperse it using Slashing Sweep.
Slashing Sweep is a technique that slices through a wide-ranging attack, dispersing its energy.
Three separate attacks are closing in; even if I used Slashing Sweep with both swords to disperse two, I’d still get hit by the third. It all depended on the way I cut.
By slicing in such a way that I also repel the other attacks, I could survive this ordeal.
ㅤ
But that would only delay the inevitable.
I may have regained some footing when I distanced myself, but it was far from perfect.
And executing a perfect Slashing Sweep under these conditions would be incredibly difficult.
Even if I succeed, it’s easy to imagine that it would throw off my already precarious balance.
ㅤ
In contrast, they are all well-prepared and could immediately unleash a coordinated attack even if I deflect this one.
Simply defending will only buy me a few more seconds.
What I need now is that particular technique.
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━━The Final Killing Sword.
ㅤ
If I can’t use it, I’ll lose.
This desperate situation is the perfect opportunity to dig deep, driven by need and experience, to find an answer and sharpen my skills.
I drop my left sword, gripping a single blade with both hands, just like when I fought the Demon King.
And then, I prepare to make the same move as before. . . . . .
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“Huh?!”
ㅤ
. . . . . .and the next moment, I realized.
I can’t do it.
This technique will not succeed.
I knew it the moment I positioned the blade against the attack.
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I hastily switch tactics, attempting to disperse the attack with a Slashing Sweep.
But given my already unstable posture and the abrupt change from a failed attempt, executing the technique perfectly was impossible.
ㅤ
“Argh?!”
ㅤ
My Slashing Sweep managed to disperse most of the attack, but not all. I suffered significant damage and was sent flying.
I managed to brace for impact and felt Rin’s protective barrier, but I still couldn’t fully negate the blow. I tumbled and crashed into the fortress wall.
It hurt.
ㅤ
“Allan?!”
ㅤ
Seeing me in that state, Stella rushes over first and begins to cast Healing Magic.
I’m grateful, but it’s also embarrassing.
Few men would want to show such an unsightly side of themselves to the woman they love, even if it’s necessary.
Well, we’ve seen each other’s flaws since childhood, but still.
ㅤ
“Are you okay?!”
“Yeah. Both my arms are broken, but it’s not a problem. Rin’s barrier helped me.”
“Don’t say you’re okay when you’re not! Seriously!”
ㅤ
Stella continues to cast Healing Magic while puffing her cheeks in anger.
However, her facial expression suddenly changes from anger to worry.
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“Hey, haven’t you been going a bit overboard lately? You’re worse than you were at the time of Blade.”
“I need to do this much. Actually, it’s still not enough.”
ㅤ
Maybe it’s because the training lacks real killing intent, but we’re not pushing ourselves to the limit.
As always, real-life combat seems to be the key to breaking through the final barrier, but we can’t go looking for powerful enemies right before a decisive battle.
So even if there’s no killing intent, training against my clearly stronger teammates should be the most effective.
Actually, I feel like I’m slowly breaking through that final barrier.
It’s definitely not a waste.
ㅤ
“Even so, one misstep and you could die from a teammate’s attack! If you die like that, I’ll cry! Well, I’ll cry no matter how you die!”
“Uh. . . . . .I’ll be careful.”
ㅤ
Certainly, dying during training with teammates because I couldn’t focus would be neither funny nor a good story.
I’ll really have to be careful.
ㅤ
“Really, be careful. . . . . .Hey, Allan.”
“What?”
“Did you know? With that last match, I’ve actually overtaken you in wins.”
“What?”
ㅤ
What’s this about? I can’t let that go.
Well, since I’ve started this training, I’ve been racking up losses, but still. . . . . .
ㅤ
“25,444 battles, 12,234 wins, 12,233 losses, 977 draws.”
“You. . . . . .you’ve been counting them all?”
“Of course. That’s how much I hate losing.”
ㅤ
What a tenacity. . . . . .
About a hundred of those battles were like the one we just had, where we fought with all our friends, but I was the one who chose that format.
So I have no excuses.
Grrr. . . . . .!
ㅤ
“So, I’ll be coming to your room tonight.”
“Huh? Wait a minute. Isn’t that a non-sequitur?”
“It makes sense to me. So, just be quiet and wait for me in your room tonight! Got it?”
“O, Okay.”
ㅤ
I nod involuntarily, pressed by her mysterious zeal.
Satisfied, Stella gives a “Alright!” and rushes over to Auntie Elle and Rin.
The healing is already done.
And with that, Stella leaves with the two other girls.
Given that it’s already quite late and we can’t afford to carry fatigue into the next day for whatever decisive battle awaits, today’s training is probably over.
Fatigue is harder to heal than injuries, even with Healing Magic.
As Stella leaves, her face is filled with determination, as if she’s about to challenge the Demon King. Auntie Elle slaps her back, injecting more spirit, and Rin is talking excitedly about something.
The remaining Blade gives me a silent thumbs-up before leaving.
ㅤ
What’s going on?
Something feels off.
I sense that some sort of plan is in motion behind my back.
Judging from Stella’s earlier words, tonight might be the culmination of that plan.
What on earth is going to happen?
I have some vague ideas, but. . . . . .
ㅤ
Afterwards, unable to go back on my words, I anxiously waited for Stella in the room of the fort where I’m currently staying.
Finally, around nine o’clock at night, Stella shows up in my room.
With a flushed face, and for some reason, carrying a bottle of what appears to be strong liquor in her hand.
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