When I was sure my fist would land, Kanami laughed.
And then—he changed the color of his eyes.
His deep black eyes, like obsidian, mixed with a purple luminescence, becoming strangely black-purple.
I knew the truth behind that color.
Purple was the color of magic power.
Purple magic power was crawling out of the “bracelet” Kanami wore. It entered Kanami from behind his head, making him glow purple from the inside.
That magic power turned Kanami’s relieved smile into a mad one.
“—Midwinter of Overcrowded Dimensionsaaa—!!!”
And then, in just a tiny, fleeting moment.
Cold air and dimensional magic were constructed.
However, it dissipated immediately. Physically, he shouldn’t have been able to use such advanced magic. But as blood gushed from his mouth and nose, Kanami succeeded in constructing the magic for that fleeting moment—or rather, he had let himself succeed.
The winter magic constructed for just an instant.
Through it, Kanami obtained information on the current space and even succeeded in slowing down the speed of my punch.
With a look of certainty, Kanami extended his broken arm and took my fist. That arm held no strength. However, by placing a wall of flesh between us, the impact on my face was mitigated.
With the sensation of his arm shattering further, Kanami was blown away.
I had dealt Kanami a great deal of damage.
But he had evaded my fatal strike.
I gritted my teeth.
Kanami slid across the ground, kicking up dust, and in that dust, a black shadow rose with a flicker.
As the dust settled, his eerie form was revealed.
His left arm was twisted and broken, hanging pathetically. His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. His entire body was covered in scrapes, and his senses were likely dulled from countless bruises. His magic power was depleted, and he should have had nothing but water in his stomach and intestines. There was nothing to convert into energy.
His body, which had been fighting for over three days without sleep, had exceeded human limits.
Beyond the pain and nausea, the terrifying taste of death must have been rising from the back of his tongue.
He shouldn’t have been able to fight anymore.
Yet, Kanami stood up, sword in hand, and walked towards me.
It was clearly abnormal.
My “God-Imitation Eyes” assessed his condition.
Compared to before the match, his “perception distortion” had increased exponentially.
“I have to protect…—”
Muttering to himself, Kanami walked through the dust.
His gait was unsteady.
But he didn’t feel like he would fall.
“Yeah, I’ll protect you, so rest assured… Ha ha, I’ll definitely protect you…—”
With his black-purple eyes shining, Kanami smiled faintly and stroked his “bracelet.”
Even on the brink of death, his expression was gentle and calm.
This was clearly—
“Whoa… He’s completely lost consciousness. The fact that he’s still moving must be Palinkron’s magic… —Dia, this looks like a pattern where Kanami’s mental contamination is deepening! As much as possible, suppress the abnormality with Divine Magic!”
I moved on to another plan I had decided on beforehand.
“Understood, Rustiara! —
A holy magic barrier was cast over the entire arena.
It was a magic of light that dispelled all darkness and calmed the spirit.
However, it didn’t reach Kanami.
Purple magic power acted as a defensive membrane, blocking the light.
And in response to that light, Kanami charged towards me.
He was faster than before. It was likely the “bracelet” was forcing Kanami to fight beyond his limits.
In an instant, sword met sword.
It was a strange sensation.
I felt contact, but there was little recoil. Kanami’s sword had no power behind it.
I thought it was just due to his ill condition, but I soon realized my mistake.
With a soft movement, Kanami’s sword approached my neck as if my sword had passed through it.
I knew that technique.
Thanks to that, I was able to avoid it at the last second.
“—That was, Alies’s technique!?”
Having recently used Fenrir Aleis’s power, I knew it clearly.
Kanami had undoubtedly used a swordsmanship comparable to a Sword Saint.
Without answering my question, Kanami swung his sword.
I defended against it by the narrowest of margins and retreated.
“—
Dia, judging my anxiety, cast magic.
That rain of fire forced Kanami to choose to create distance.
Some of the flames rained down on me as well. Since she fired in a hurry, her aim was likely imprecise. While blocking the flames with Divine Magic, I also created distance.
In contrast to me, Kanami avoided the attack solely with his physical abilities, without using any magic.
Attacked by countless flames, and hit by some of them, he still moved his neck without haste, avoiding the falling attacks with his eyes. It was a rare sight.
Kanami was probably not even using the slightest bit of Perception magic right now.
Perhaps he judged that magic, which could disappear at any moment due to his condition, was unreliable.
His black-purple eyeballs rolled around, relying solely on his eyesight.
I felt reassured.
A mage without magic power posed no great threat.
Kanami’s tactics, based on Dimensional Magic that grasped all space at all times, were vicious. However, conversely, it could be said that he was overly reliant on it. Without it, Kanami would be nothing more than a slightly skilled swordsman.
Even if his “Swordsmanship” was comparable to a Sword Saint, that was still within an acceptable range.
With renewed determination, I attacked Kanami.
“—Blood Magic
I consumed magic power to specialize in close-quarters combat.
Then, without giving Kanami, who had evaded the rain of fire, a moment to breathe, I attacked.
In response, Kanami showed a peculiar movement.
His sword stance was different.
Placing the tip of his sword on the ground, he prepared to face me.
That unique stance, lowering the sword and waiting for the opponent’s movement—
It was the same “Swordsmanship” as Sera Radiant, who was behind me.
The moment I closed the distance, Kanami swung his sword upwards. I dodged it by rotating my body. It was easier to avoid because I was familiar with the technique.
However, even after it was dodged, Kanami would re-stance and repeat the upward slash.
It was indeed Sera-chan’s “Swordsmanship,” but… it lacked depth entirely. As I easily dodged, I was about to unleash the finishing blow—
Kanami’s left hand moved.
A second sword lunged towards my eyes.
I instinctively pulled my sword back to defend. I recoiled with astonishment.
Kanami’s left arm should have been completely broken. Yet, he held a sword and attacked me.
—That feint, it’s like Ragune-chan…
I was narrowly saved from losing an eye.
I created distance, observed Kanami, and learned the identity of the second sword that shouldn’t have existed.
Part of his left arm was frozen.
Ice clung to his broken elbow, fixing it in place. His hand was the same. This way, he wouldn’t drop his sword due to pain.
Although he couldn’t bend his elbow, he could minimally function with the sword.
“How forceful…”
And then, without regard for my surprise, Kanami pursued me.
This time, he didn’t hide his frozen left arm.
He fought, wielding two swords freely.
—Next, dual swords…!!
It was close to Helvishein’s technique.
Although the completion level was low, it was reminiscent of the past Hein Helvishein.
I was bewildered by the variety of his ever-changing swordsmanship.
There was no doubt that the initiative was slipping away from me.
To regain momentum, I layered more magic.
It put a strain on my body, but I couldn’t afford to worry about that.
“—Double Deployment, Blood Magic
If I was hesitant with dual swords, I would just get advice from a dual sword expert for the time being.
I saw through all of Kanami’s dual-sword techniques and began to gain the upper hand in the battle.
The difference was overwhelming.
Soon, Kanami’s clumsy dual-sword technique began to falter, and his sword was knocked from his hand. Only the sword in his frozen left arm remained.
Confident of an opening, I moved to grab Kanami’s arm.
If I could just get close, his frozen left arm, which couldn’t bend, would be irrelevant.
I grabbed Kanami’s right arm with my free left hand and was about to lock his joint.
However, the next moment—after a strange feeling of floating, my arm was instead grabbed.
“—!?”
It was a soft yet swift “Martial Arts” technique.
The moment he grabbed me, I realized Kanami had done a somersault. But I had no idea how he broke my grip and managed to grab me instead.
—Is this strange “Martial Arts” Glen Walker’s? No, Snow’s? Ah, I can’t figure it out anymore!
Perhaps it was because Eltralyu Academy’s “Martial Arts” were mixed in, but I couldn’t trace the origin of the technique.
Or rather, if my “blood” doesn’t recognize it—perhaps it’s “Martial Arts” from another world that doesn’t exist in the Allied Nations.
“—
Given this distance and his condition, I didn’t know what would happen.
I cast magic to forcibly overturn the situation.
With power and speed exceeding the limit, I flung Kanami’s arm away, kicked his abdomen, and immediately retreated.
It was only a few seconds of magic, but the strain weighed down my entire body.
I had used it in my fight with Snow yesterday, so the backlash was severe. Even when my body was in perfect condition,
As distance increased, Dia’s magic rained down again.
Kanami was stalled by it and couldn’t pursue me.
We returned to our respective starting points.
Despite the many exchanges of techniques, we were back to square one.
“—I will pro-tect… absolutely…”
And at his starting point, Kanami muttered.
“I’ll protect you— ah, —ha, hahaha-ha-ha!!”
Laughing, he swayed.
He looked like he would collapse at any moment.
He had clearly exceeded his limits. He could barely even refine his magic power.
Even if he could use it, it would only be a simple beginner’s spell after agonizing suffering.
Yet, I couldn’t win.
Kanami wasn’t using his favored Dimensional Magic.
Moreover, there was a possibility that the current Kanami wasn’t thinking at all.
He was only thinking about “protecting.” Zero thoughts on anything else, all his actions were purely reflexive. He was just using the techniques he had seen and learned in this world one after another, haphazardly. Not thinking complicated thoughts, just—
Yet, he wasn’t weak.
“What is this… Perhaps Kanami, who doesn’t rely on Dimensional Magic and doesn’t overthink things, is stronger…?”
I broke out in a cold sweat.
Normally, one’s abilities would decrease when their thinking capacity is reduced. It was only natural to think so. However, this abnormal boy was not ordinary.
When Kanami had the leisure to think, he would overthink things. If he had abundant MP, he would waste it. He would hold back his abilities for various reasons. As a result, he would be wasting his precious eyesight and reflexes. Because of his kind nature, he would always consider his enemies. His perfectionism proved detrimental, leading him to become negative over trivial matters. And so on, and so forth—
The current Kanami was free from all these bad habits.
Just because he couldn’t use magic didn’t mean I should think with negative modifiers.
“…Dia, let’s go all out. Shoot your magic as if you’re going to turn his limbs into cinders.”
I instructed Dia behind me.
“R-Rustiara… are you really going all out…?”
“He’s too dangerous. His power is like a short blade, but he definitely has the power to kill us. His sharpness is nowhere near what it was with Snow… Even though he’s lost stamina, magic power, thinking ability, and judgment, he’s still frighteningly dangerous…!”
“…As expected of ‘Christ.’ Understood, I’ll aim to crush one or two of his limbs…!”
“If you see an opening, take me out with it too.”
“…Understood.”
At that moment, a wolf’s cry, filled with criticism, was heard from behind. But I ignored it.
If I concerned myself with my own safety here, I wouldn’t be able to win.
At worst, even if I were half-killed, as long as Dia was safe, she could heal me.
I absolutely had to win this battle.
Even if it meant my sacrifice—!
“Let’s go! Kanami, Dia, Sera-chan!!”
I declared to everyone and charged.
At that moment, Kanami skillfully used his frozen hand to hold a bow.
Then, swiftly and elegantly, he nocked an arrow and fired it in rapid succession.
It was exactly like me during a festival long ago. It was nostalgic.
However, that nostalgia deepened my resolve.
—It was the resolve to save Kanami at the cost of my own life.
The bow’s aim was accurate, but such a projectile wouldn’t be effective now.
While running, I arched my body and dodged the arrows.
As the arrows passed by, Dia’s
It was a highly concentrated beam of thermal energy, but Kanami, having read its initial movements, had already finished evading it. The laser passed behind Kanami, punched a hole in the barrier, and melted the wall behind it.
The strength was just right. She predicted the barrier’s strength and adjusted the
After evading the laser, Kanami discarded his bow and drew his beloved sword from the empty space.
Once again, sword met sword.
This was the Aleis family’s “Swordsmanship.” I defended the refined technique of a Sword Saint with my own refined technique as a Sword Saint. With the same “Swordsmanship,” my physical specs were superior. Yet, somehow, I was losing.
Kanami’s “Swordsmanship” clearly surpassed that of Sword Saint Fenrir.
It was definitely Rowen the Guardian’s doing. He surpassed the current generation’s Sword Saint with ease. Kanami, who had seen him up close, seemed to be on a similar level.
Monstrous sword flashes passed by my skin by mere millimeters, again and again.
My skin was already covered in cuts.
Just moments ago, my ear had been grazed.
After what felt like an eternity, Dia’s support arrived.
“—
Arrows of light rained down from the sky.
Even as support, her aim was almost indiscriminate.
Kanami tried to dodge them with his eyes. The shining arrows looked difficult to see. I could tell Dia was thinking hard behind me.
Seeing Kanami focused on defense, I cast magic.
I needed to end this duel as quickly as possible.
So, in my heart, I swore to myself.
—I will absolutely save Kanami. Absolutely.
Otherwise, Kanami, who had saved me, would have died in vain.
Kanami was captured by Palinkron because he saved me. Maria-chan too.
So, if I don’t stake my life to save him here, his act of saving me would be meaningless.
I would have no face to show the Kanami who had regained his memories.
So—!!
“—
Through magic construction that exceeded all limits, my life was being whittled away.
My body became hotter than flames, and my muscle fibers exerted their last ounce of strength.
It had been a long time since I felt this.
Before, I used to cast this magic by negating fear through blessings. But now, I was casting it through resolve and an oath. I was happy about that.
For Kanami, who had changed me like this, I would fight and win—!!
I finished constructing the full-power enhancement magic.
Kanami watched it coolly.
He probably thought it was another idiotic brute-force tactic.
With a big smile, I swung my full-power fist—towards the ground.
The artificial earth shattered.
I had gauged the hardness of the ground in my match with Snow.
With my current strength, I could pierce a ship with my bare hands.
The footing collapsed, and rocks of various shapes flew upwards, defying gravity.
Light arrows fell from above, and rocks fell from below.
Even Kanami, with his power, wouldn’t be able to grasp it all—or so I thought.
However, Kanami’s power increased even further at this point.
He clearly couldn’t see, yet Kanami closed his eyes and dodged it all. Moving on instinct, not a single scratch.
Seeing his movements, I resolved to end it all in this instant. Perhaps the longer this fight dragged on, the more Kanami’s strength would increase. I had such a premonition.
I staked everything on this one moment—and ran—
Using the rocks in mid-air as footing, I attacked Kanami.
We were both in mid-air.
Here, his precious “Swordsmanship” would be useless. Most techniques assume a solid footing. They can’t exert their full power in mid-air.
Excluding “Swordsmanship,” the battle would come down to physical abilities.
And in terms of physical abilities alone, I should have the advantage.
With my life on the line, I lunged at Kanami.
—A brief battle began in mid-air.
We slashed and were slashed, blood splattering. Still, I continued to strike Kanami’s sword.
And finally, Kanami’s right-hand sword was knocked away. I smiled and was about to swing my returning sword, but my posture suddenly collapsed.
Kanami, using his broken left hand, had grabbed and pulled my long hair, which had spread out around me. The ice freezing seemed to be something he could deactivate at will. The sword adhered to his hand was gone.
I felt a strange irritation. I didn’t know its origin. But I immediately judged that my hair wasn’t the priority and cut it near the roots with my own sword. This way, he shouldn’t be able to grab me anymore.
However, in this melee where not a moment’s inattention was allowed, that action left me vulnerable.
A kick from Kanami hit my wrist, and I dropped my sword.
It didn’t matter.
The important thing wasn’t lethal force.
Stripped of my sword, I closed the distance with Kanami and grabbed both his shoulders.
In response, Kanami grabbed my neck with his right hand.
And then, Kanami and I fell from the sky.
Kanami’s grip crushed my throat. In return, I gained the right to freely manipulate Kanami’s body.
With all my strength, I slammed Kanami into the ground.
“—Guh, ugh!!”
Above Kanami, who had cracked the ground and lay sprawled out, I landed and took a mount position.
Immediately, I brought my fist down on Kanami’s face.
With no means to resist, Kanami’s face deformed with a wet thud.
However, even as he bled, Kanami’s right hand had grabbed my “bracelet.” This was likely a desperate gamble. He believed the match would end if he destroyed the “bracelet.” However, this was precisely my greatest opportunity.
To me, the “bracelet” meant nothing. The outcome of the match meant nothing.
My objective was the destruction of Kanami’s “bracelet.” Even if it was crushed in his grip, I wouldn’t stop. If I could destroy Kanami’s “bracelet” in exchange for my own, it would be my victory.
“—Aaaargh—!!”
Kanami roared.
Then, pouring all his strength into his right hand, he crushed my “bracelet” with his muscles tearing.
Simultaneously, my final blow was delivered to the “bracelet” on Kanami’s left arm.
Everything was broken, and a roar of finality resounded.
My “bracelet” was shattered by his incredible grip strength. Shards flew, and Kanami laughed. However, Kanami’s “bracelet” met the same fate. The “bracelet” along with his left arm was crushed and pulverized into dust.
Kanami slowly turned his gaze to his broken arm—his broken “bracelet.”
The smile of victory contorted, replaced by an expression of despair.
“Ah, aaaaa… ahhh…!!”
He had lost what he sought to protect.
At that moment, Kanami’s spirit was completely broken.
Simultaneously, the purple magic vanished.
My “God-Imitation Eyes” sensed the disappearance of the magic that had bound Kanami.
While his mental abnormality remained, it would not worsen any further.
Finally, the source of all disaster had been destroyed.
Confirming this, I thrust my right hand into the sky and shouted in triumph.
“How about that!? I win, Palinkron—!!”
My throat was crushed, turning my cry into a voiceless roar.
Still, I sang of victory.
The “Dance Battle Tournament” was merely a stage.
The semifinals meant nothing.
Snow and the Guardians were out of my mind for now.
Only one joy filled my heart.
Finally, I had won my battle.
I had won the long and arduous battle from Christmas Eve until today.
The moment I retook my “Protagonist” status, which had been stolen on Christmas Eve.
The prologue of my story had ended, and I could feel, with certainty, the beginning of its first chapter.
