Chapter 15
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Episode 3 - The duel of the strongest [4]
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After the assistant handed out the numbers, my next opponent was:
’Rinna, eh.’
This ti, I can’t win with the advantage of the pure attribute.
As the next Holy Maiden, her attribute purity is at its maximum.
She is the chosen one of the God of Trials, the God of Light.
Naturally, she doesn’t need to undergo the refining process.
’She has an enormous advantage in purity, but she’s a mage.’
One could say that, for a swordsman, a magician is easier to face.
But, curiously, for magicians, a swordsman is easier to face.
Facing an enemy of the sa specialty is considered extrely difficult, but if you face enemies of other specialties, you’ll notice that the difficulty drops.
’Besides, Rinna has already killed villains; she has experience in combat against users of the Dark attribute.’
Logically, one would think he would be defeated, but that won’t be the case.
’I’m different from any villain Rinna has faced so far.’
Those are my traits; my advantage lies in them.
As a side note, Rinna was a character destined to die if the final enemy were Adel.
No matter what tactics the players employed.
The plan was to make Rinna’s death at Adel’s hands inevitable.
’If I take the ga’s setup into account, I can ensure victory.’
In these cadet duels, I’m gaining combat experience.
That’s why I’m reluctant to lose or give up.
’If I make it to the finals, my opponent will be Lumina. The outco is unclear; it all depends on whether she uses one of the Five Swords or the sword technique she created herself.’
By the way, the sword technique she used in the opening ceremony was her own style, which she created.
She calls it and perfected it through more than three thousand iterations.
Finally, he mastered the art of the sword from one of the Five Swords.
As I was lost in thought, a voice snapped out of it.
I turned my head to the side and saw that a girl had sat down next to .
"Saint."
It was none other than Rinna, the next Santa.
She smiled happily and said:
"Hello, Adel. I ca to talk about the duel we’ll have."
"Oh, yeah... Do you think you can beat ?"
She paused for a second and then said:
"If we’re talking about a fight without using our attributes, then I’ll lose, but it’s not because I’m arrogant; I have confidence in the purity of my mana, you know?"
Look at this proud little Santa.
I smiled and said,
"Maybe it’s true, but I’m different from any other Dark attribute user. I don’t fully trust the purity of my mana, you know?"
She looked at surprised when I answered her in the sa tone.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Well, uh... how’s it going... ah, have you ever been told that you’re a joker?"
"..."
"No."
"..."
"You’re not funny."
I wasn’t sure if she was good at this type of conversation, but it’s definitely better not to listen to her too much.
In any case, as the current duel ca to an end, Rinna said:
"Looks like it’s our turn, doesn’t it?"
"I suppose so."
In silence, neither of us said a word, and we both stood up and walked toward the platform.
Shortly after we stepped onto the platform, I thought:
"She is my strongest opponent yet."
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel uneasy.
However, after this match, I’ll likely face Lumina in the finals.
So, without hesitation, I unsheathed my sword.
"Greetings."
"I am Rinna, rank 9."
"I am Adel, rank 1."
"Let the battle begin."
After the referee spoke, magic gathered around Rinna’s hands and a white light appeared.
At the sa ti, I imbued my sword with Dark-attribute mana.
’I’ll be quick; dragging this out will only cause trouble.’
I don’t intend to go easy on Rinna. Although it could be useful to gain experience fighting a Santa, I’ve already learned enough from Clana about Light-attribute users, especially now with Rinna.
So I decided to be quick.
When Rinna’s magic was launched at , I followed the blue points and stabbed my sword there.
Naturally, the magic disappeared, and it didn’t take long for Rinna’s disbelief to show.
Just like with the other cadets and the professor.
This was natural; normally, nullifying a magician’s magic is almost impossible.
Unless you understand the structure of his magic and dismantle it at the right mont, before it hits you.
So, for almost everyone, it’s impossible; for , it’s like breathing.
"Sacred Fire."
"Chain of Light."
"Bind."
Rinna cast several more spells in rapid succession.
Red lines and dots appeared everywhere.
I stabbed the sword where the blue color was, and the magic was destroyed.
At the sa ti, a large red dot appeared in front of ; it was a white hot fla.
The blue light was small in comparison to other spells.
’This demonstrates his mastery of light magic.’
Of course, it was still easy for , so I cut the flas in half and advanced toward Rinna.
She was surprised and quickly cast another spell, but...
"... I think I win here."
"..."
Just then, however...
"You fell."
Apparently, Rinna had been waiting for to approach her.
At that very mont, a thin spear tip appeared beneath my feet.
Caught off guard by the spear, I didn’t have ti to dodge it completely.
The spear grazed my chin, and I thought that would be the end of it, but...
At the sa ti...
"Sword of Light."
A dozen floating swords appeared so close that I couldn’t move fast enough.
Instantly, the swords flew through the air, slicing it apart. The next second, my body was covered in cuts that left small wounds.
My cheek, my arms, and my legs.
At least a dozen small cuts covered my body.
"This is the first ti I’ve been wounded since I arrived in this world."
Rinna had probably planned for this outco.
I imdiately counterattacked, moving the sword toward the blue line on Rinna.
Then, a wound appeared on his arm, and I kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backward.
After about three seconds, the fight was called off.
"Cadet Adel wins."
As always, there were no cheers or applause; just boos and curses directed at .
Instead of stepping off the platform, I approached Rinna, who was panting on the ground.
Before they took her to the infirmary, I approached her and...
"Huh, what are you doing, Adel?"
"Healing your arm."
Since she had hurt , I took this opportunity to rub my blood on her wound. Almost imdiately, her wound closed as if nothing had happened.
Rinna looked on in disbelief and surprise.
"W-what is this? How did it...?"
I put a finger to my lips.
"Shh... Let’s keep it a secret. Since you’ve been so kind to , I don’t want you to get hurt because of ."
Then I stood up and went to sit down, leaving Rinna behind.
Of course, I made sure no one noticed.
The others probably thought I was apologizing to Rinna and expressing my regret.
’Well, they can think what they want.’
***
After my duel with Rinna, the semifinals ca to a close with Lumina defeating Diana.
Lumina’s next opponent was Julián, and my next opponent was Charlotte.
I defeated Charlotte with little difficulty, and Lumina was equally dominant against Julián, knocking him out with her second attack.
In any case, my last opponent is, naturally, Lumina.
"First and second place are facing off now, huh."
"I hate to admit it, but those two are definitely the strongest."
"Who do you think will win?"
"Honestly... I’m rooting for Miss Lumina. Rumor has it she has mastered the art of the Five Swords."
"What? So the winner is already decided, right?"
By the way, commoners are mostly people who hate nobles.
As people who hate nobles, they gather together as if they were an organization.
In any case, commoners aren’t like nobles when they see .
They’re more neutral, and they don’t care about attributes.
They treat users of attributes just like any other user.
The only ones who spoke up this ti were so nobles and most of the commoners.
’Still, everyone is on Lumina’s side.’
I can’t bla them; if I were in their position, I would think the sa.
’There are only two ways to defeat Lumina in my current situation.’
First, the most natural way would be to have a star superior to hers.
Second, she wouldn’t use the sword technique, one of the Five Swords.
With a bit of luck, I could use Inverted Heaven, but since I’ve barely learned it, I still don’t know how to use the first form in combat.
While I was climbing up the platform, Lumina was already on the other side.
"..."
Her eyes were fixed on Professor Franklin.
More precisely, in the elixir she was holding.
’It seems she wants the elixir, eh?’
I could give her so of my blood without her knowing, since she is the key to reaching the final Chapter.
If I give her my blood every ti she’s seriously injured, it will be very important.
"Still, I feel reluctant to cut myself just to give my blood to others."
Sighing, I stood in front of Lumina, and the referee raised his hand.
"Greet each other."
Lumina, however, did not bow and simply said:
"I’ll defeat you in two strikes."
"..."
Ignoring her words, I bowed and said.
"I’m Adel, Rank 1."
Before the referee could say anything, I said,
"I will rise to rank 1."
"..."
"Let the fight begin."
Once the referee had said everything he needed to say, Lumina, without hesitation, charged at , unsheathed her sword, and...
’What...?’
Her first move was to use her sword art, Fallen Moon.
In my True Sight, everything around turned a deep red.
I couldn’t see any way out, and unless I counterattacked, I would get hurt.
Closing my eyes, I used Mana Sense, Weakness Detection, and True Sight to their fullest extent, everything my current self could draw upon from these abilities.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
My sword followed the few blue lines and I blocked the first form of Fallen Moon.
Just as I was about to counterattack...
"..."
A voice from behind startled .
"I’m here."
’How did you evade my senses!?’
But that wasn’t the important thing; the important thing was the next attack Lumina made.
"Second form..."
Lumina used the second form of Fallen Moon, and as soon as she did...
The only thing I could "see" again was darkness; even with my True Sight, I could not predict Lumina’s attack.
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