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EX Drive. That was Crim’s trump card, and the conditions to learn it were still unknown. Without her doing anything specific, that simply appeared amongst her Skills one day.

At first, it just looked like a jumble of corrupted characters. But over time, it slowly became more legible, until it recovered enough to be read just a few days before the tournament.

So far it remained uncertain whether someone else with a similar skill allocation as Crim would also acquire it. Crim suspected that perhaps her unique fighting style or combat track record contributed to her obtaining this Skill, making it a personal trump card of sorts.

◇◇◇

She’s gotten so much faster than before.

Sorleon thought this as he narrowly dodged and parried the girl’s rapid attacks. After her hair turned red, her speed and power had dramatically increased. Yet, she had not quite reached his level with Draconification, indicating he still possessed greater potential. But then again…

I’m also fast and strong. So why is she able to push me back like this..?!

Her attacks, supposedly inferior to his, felt exceedingly heavy. Her body was battered, missing a limb, yet his attacks couldn’t find their mark. For the first time, Sorleon felt a twinge of anxiety. That was an emotion he refused to acknowledge, as it signaled the first step towards defeat…

◇◇◇

On the other side, Crim was still grumbling about her opponent, the strongest she had ever faced.

My attacks won’t reach, what a beast..!!

Despite having used her two trump cards, Blaze Blood and Ephemeral Spectral Sword, it wasn’t enough yet. She realized there were no other means to gain more power at that level, so the difference between her and Sorleon had to be in their actual ability.

Nevertheless, she was finally in a more advantageous position and wasn’t about to let her prey escape. Continuing to swing her crimson knight sword with her right arm, the other swords would follow with a brief delay, mimicking the movements of the one Crim wielded and lashing out at Sorleon. A single swing of her sword dealt six hits, leaving claw-like marks. This was the source of the weight Sorleon was feeling; the constant barrage of hits hindered his movement.

But this technique had its drawbacks. Using this art exerted a significant strain on the user’s mind and reaction speed, resulting in an increasingly painful headache that wore down Crim’s mental stamina.

I can only control five extra swords with my swings, at least if I want to remain sane.

Adding more swords to her attacks would overwhelm her mind, giving Sorleon a chance to counter. However, five swords were sufficient for now, allowing Crim to finally match Sorleon. Yet…

“There..!!” Having only one arm left made it harder for her to maintain balance, and the weight of the swinging sword often caused her to tip to the side, creating momentary openings. Sorleon had noticed this and, the next time Crim attacked, he rushed in from her left, her unprotected side and a bit of a blindspot since she had lost her left eye.

However, his attempt was thwarted by a high-pitched metallic clang as his swords rebounded against a pair of crimson swords.

“…Ugh, these things are really getting annoying!”
“Keheh, ahahah! That sounds good to me, embrace that anger!!”

Crim’s floating swords skillfully blocked Sorleon’s attack, leaving him grumbling and annoyed. The pent-up anger Crim had towards Sorleon was now somewhat alleviated, seeing him frustrated for once. She relished in this and tried to further aggravate him.

Anyone else would not be able to protect such an opening. But Crim could control those crimson swords with her mind, creating an impenetrable defense around herself. Sorleon was now fully aware of this.

“…I’ll admit it, as far as close-range combat goes, you have the upper hand.”

Suddenly, he began to retreat, taking a proper stance for the first time since the fight began. He held his swords carefully, creating a tense atmosphere that Crim could feel.

“If a head-on fight won’t work, then..!!”

She sensed what was coming next. He was about to use an art obtained with 100 Points in a Weapon Skill, a secret technique exclusive to those deeply dedicated to their weapon, as rare as the Ultimate Magic used on a different battlefield.

“…Ultimate Sword Art, Yellow Dragon!!”

Yellow bolts of lightning enveloped Sorleon’s body, resembling the jaws of a dragon. Concurrently, the fiery wings on his back surged in power, propelling him forward at an astonishing speed.

Meanwhile, Crim extended her hand, summoning the twelve swords to gather in front of her. She channeled all her remaining mana into them, overloading the swords until they glowed red. Grasping one, she pulled it back as if drawing an arrow, aiming it at Sorleon.

The remaining eleven swords mimicked the movement, clustering around her and pointing towards her opponent.

Whether I win or lose, this is the end. Take it away..!!

“…Legion Reave..!!” The eleven swords beside Crim began revolving rapidly, emitting red sparks while their tips remained fixed on Sorleon. They combated against Sorleon’s dragon aura.

As the two forces collided, brilliant flashes of light engulfed the battlefield.

Crim’s Legion Reave acted like a massive drill, eroding the effect of Sorleon’s Yellow Dragon. Concurrently, Yellow Dragon strained Crim’s swords, causing them to creak ominously, struggling to withstand the assault.

Lightning bolts erupted from their clash, wreaking havoc on the surrounding area like a ferocious storm. Eventually, a high-pitched sound signaled the breaking of one of the swords, soon followed by another, then a third. However, Sorleon’s yellow aura was rapidly diminishing as well.

“Get…throughhhhhh!!!” Crim shouted, exerting more force to push forward. Finally, one sword pierced through Yellow Dragon, hurtling forward.

“Wha…t… Ghah?!” Sorleon looked shocked as more swords penetrated, their cracked blades impaling him repeatedly.

“Ah…I hate it here…dammit…”

Crim, who heard that mutter, quickly looked up. Before her stood Sorleon, his eyes brimming with frustrated tears upon realizing his defeat, yet a satisfied smile played on his lips.

In the next moment, the remaining four spinning swords dismantled Yellow Dragon, allowing Crim to advance and impale Sorleon with the sword in her hand. He soon turned into Remain Light and departed from the battlefield.

After that, all the swords dissipated like mist, and Crim’s red hair reverted to white. “…Hahh…hahh…” She exhaled, breathing heavily after the prolonged tension. The once lush garden, now a silent battlefield, bore witness to her victory.

“I…won?” No one was there to confirm her victory; Sorleon, her adversary, was gone. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, Crim slowly began to savor the taste of victory, until…

Nock

A sudden thrust into her small chest jolted her. The HP bar in her peripheral vision, blinking red for so long, abruptly disappeared. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed onto her knees.

“…Huh?”

Confused, she looked down. Her shrunken body had caused her breastplate to fall off, and most of her armor was broken, revealing her delicate clothes that offered little protection. In the center of her exposed white chest was a thin arrow, emanating a sizzling sound and fumes. The arrow was made of silver.

“I really feel bad for having to do this, seriously, but this is still a competition.”

Hearing that voice, Crim weakly looked up to see the gray-haired man who had accompanied Sorleon, himself in a terrible state, his body mostly scorched, especially the left side where his arm had been burned to ashes. He still had his right arm, equipped with a small crossbow built into his gauntlet, aimed at Crim. His expression was emotionless.

Soon, Crim saw particles of light floating up, just as they had from Sorleon’s body earlier.

Ah…I’ve been shot.

Crim’s mind pieced together the events. Her heart had been pierced by a silver bolt, exploiting her species’ vulnerability, and depleting all her remaining HP. She was now transforming into light.

[Afterword]

Cheval: “Everyone booed at me after that.”