From then on, the battle became a pure close-quarters combat without magic, and without aura from Gordia.
Although magic could not be used, the effect of Lightning Superconduction, which was applied to Rion and Rami in the early stages, and the lightning ignited in the Demonic Sword Caladbolg still remained, giving Rion and the others an advantage in terms of performance enhancement. Furthermore, Rami’s breath could convert life energy into use, so they also had a wider range of attack options.
On the other hand, for Glostina and Oddrad, who originally specialized in close-quarters martial arts, this situation was a godsend. Even though the opponent was supported by magical effects, it was similar to what happened during the Beast King Festival. They would love and crush the enemy along with the magic used before engaging in a fistfight. That was the style of Gordia, and their muscles danced wildly.
“Uoooooh! What a thrilling and wonderful battle! In recent times, battles have been filled with magic, with most matches seeming to be the epitome of excitement, but after all, matches should be about striking and slashing, wouldn’t you agree, Instructor Milky!”
“I can’t really agree with you there. More importantly, please calm down, Ranruru-san. Your preferences and tastes are starting to leak out quite a bit?”
“Oops, my apologies! The intense battle reminds me of the Beast King Festival in the Beast Kingdom Gaun, and my excitement has reached maximum tension! Someone find me a job placement in Gaun!”
“Hahaha, that’s the spirit!”
“Ranruru! Come be my son’s bride!”
Milky’s warnings were no longer having any effect on Ranruru’s excitement. Even the spectators, who were supposed to be in a dignified position, were catching Ranruru’s fervor and beginning to let loose a little.
“Oh, brother… Well, it seems to be well-received by the guardians, so I’ll let it slide. Once this match is over, they’ll likely return to normal.”
“Dance, muscles! Dance, youth!”
“…They will return, won’t they?”
Milky felt a sliver of unease, but despite her worries, the match continued.
“You’ve gotten good, Rion-chan! That hesitation and softness you showed at the Beast King Festival, you’ve completely overcome it all!”
“Guro-chan, when did you and Ochan hone your combination so well?! Older Kel must be overjoyed!”
“You bet! Lately, Master’s gaze towards me has been scary!?”
“Seriously, only perverts work for the Guild.”
Putting Kelvin aside, Rion’s observation was correct; Glostina and Oddrad’s coordination was outstanding. They covered each other, as if truly dancing… rather, they were actually fighting while dancing, and it was not to be underestimated. Like in ballroom dancing, they would put their hands around their partner’s waist, continue seemingly pointless spins, launch coordinated attacks while holding hands, and sometimes even throw their partners around—it was impossible to predict their next move. Furthermore, this fighting style, which seemed like a joke at first glance, somehow meshed incredibly well.
Of course, Rion and Rami’s coordination was also at a very high level. Among the current Lumiest members, there was no combination that could be more united than them. However, compared to Rion and the others, Glostina and the others were undeniably superior in matching their breathing and bringing out their full power as a pair. In terms of pure skill, Rion, Rami, and Glostina were evenly matched, with Oddrad a few steps below, but Gordia’s unity had raised their skill gap to an even playing field.
“Ko!”
“Nou!”
“Nan!”
“Nou!”
A storm of slashes and blows fiercely clashed. It was a stalemate; no matter how many times they fought, the situation was always the same. They received attacks and were wounded, and in return, they dealt equivalent damage. This exchange had continued countless times. Both sides lacked one more move, just one more, to secure victory in this battle.
“Incredible! The stalemate isn’t breaking! Is this match going to end in a draw like the second match!?”
“However, both teams are nearing their limits. While it’s a stalemate, they haven’t sustained no damage.”
“I see, so a conclusion is near?”
“Probably. The pain accumulated with fatigue relentlessly erodes the body, step by step.”
Milky’s commentary was spot on. After the exchange of magic and ki in the first half and the close combat in the second half, the four on the stage were nearing their limits. It wouldn’t be strange for any of them to be knocked out if they took just one more direct hit.
…And then, the final blow that would decide the match finally arrived.
(Wha… what…?)
(No way, at this timing…?)
It was a faint, fleeting drowsiness. On a battlefield that should normally be exhilarating, an incredibly out-of-place urge to sleep began to afflict Rion and Rami at this crucial moment.
Though their consciousness was momentarily captured by sleepiness, Rion and the others did not let up their attacks. Normally, such a slight lag wouldn’t create an opening. However, this battle was a fierce struggle between evenly matched opponents, and even a minor mistake could lead to an irreparable failure and backfire on oneself.
“I only intended it as a precaution, but I never expected such a heated battle, ne~n.”
“Heated battle, a great phrase! I like it!”
“—!”
Their attacks were simultaneously repelled, leaving them wide open. Naturally, Glostina and Oddrad wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity and ended the match with their full-power attacks.
“Oraaa!”
Fired with perfect precision, it was a fierce back kick. The powerful blows that collided with Rion and Rami’s abdomens easily sent them flying towards the barrier surrounding the stage.
“It’s… decided! The tempo was so fast I could only see afterimages, but it felt like a perfectly critical hit! Instructor Milky, this is…!”
“Yes, I declare the match over.”
At that moment, cheers erupted from the venue. Although the audience had been cheering for Rion and the others at first, after being captivated by such a magnificent match, who won no longer mattered. They were solely focused on cheering and applauding both the victors and the vanquished according to their fervent hearts. It was that kind of battle that left the spectators so fulfilled.
“…To attempt a counterattack from such a broken stance just before being defeated. If I had stepped in just a little deeper, I might have been the one defeated.”
“And my dear friend who attacked me! To unleash her tail transformation at the very end and strike with it… truly fantastic!”
Oddrad’s left chest bore a shallow sword cut, while Glostina’s cheek was also severely swollen, apparently from a powerful blow.
“If my dear friend had fought in her true form, perhaps the result would have been different~. Team battles in an unfamiliar form are too difficult!”
“Well, well, it was good, wasn’t it! More importantly, Master’s sister, it’s amazing that your older disciple’s poison didn’t work! But the medicine seems to have worked well! I’m relieved!”
In the early stages of the match, in that scene where only Oddrad was left on the stage. While the spectators were looking away from Oddrad, he secretly released a certain medicine into the air with an affectionate demon that devours rage. The cause of the drowsiness that had attacked Rion and Rami earlier was precisely that.
“Although, it was just a cold medicine! Master Kelvin wouldn’t let me use any dangerous drugs!”
“Cold medicine, it makes you sleepy when you take it. Well, perhaps because it was a mild medicine, you didn’t notice until the very end? You should thank Kelvin-chan—huh?”
Glostina tried to twist her body, but suddenly knelt on one knee on the stage. Her tone was as usual, but her body was genuinely at its limit.
“…By a hair’s breadth. Yes, it was a match that could have gone either way, a match decided by a sliver. But, a little bit of luck was on our side, and our preparations were a little bit better. I’m looking forward to your further growth, little hero~♪”
