“Raiden!!”
The technique I unleashed was a variation of Takemikazuchi.
I thought Amaterasu – Nichishoku wouldn’t work, so I instantly switched to this technique.
It’s truly a painful blow to have my trump cards revealed one after another, but if I hold back against an instructor, I’ll lose.
Amaterasu, in terms of its lineage, is the extreme of the flame attribute.
In terms of abilities, it acts as a damage resource classified as “burning.”
Its attack power is undeniably exceptional.
However, its sword speed relies solely on my physical body.
When my attack power is insufficient, and on top of that, my attack speed is also lacking, it’s clear I’ll be cornered.
Therefore.
“What is it this time? Are you going to burn my body with lightning, or electrocute me? Either way, it won’t affect me.”
What if I increase the sharpness of my attack power this time?
The swordplay, unleashed at many times the speed of Amaterasu,
caused the instructor’s joyful smile to falter for a fleeting moment.
“As expected, it finally cut through.”
“What did you do?”
And it brought me a tangible result.
A change in perspective.
If an attack that burns through doesn’t work, then sharpening the blade’s edge should suffice.
In extreme terms, magic power, like molecular structure, is an aggregation of invisible, fine substances.
“I simply cut quickly.”
“A slash that even my eyes couldn’t follow, even for an instant.”
If I can sever the connecting parts, theoretically, any magic power can be cut.
This is something I learned from Instructor Fushio’s teachings, and even though it’s theoretically possible, the reality is that it’s extremely difficult to achieve.
“It’s more than that. A mere fast attack shouldn’t be able to wound my body.”
“You noticed.”
Instructor Kio’s remark stems from that theoretically possible aspect.
We stopped moving for the first time in a while, facing each other, the instructor and I.
To reveal my trick, I slowly lifted my Ore Tree and showed him the blade.
There, I could see the Ore Tree faintly glowing blue.
It might appear as if it’s merely covered and reinforced with magic power.
“Is that lightning? It’s a rather subdued lightning.”
However, the instructor’s eyes could see the true nature concealed beneath that blade.
“You call it subdued, but this lightning is what severed your body.”
I figured the instructor would understand roughly what this magic entails by intuition anyway.
“A collection of extremely micro-lightning, that is the true form of Raiden. All of this lightning is a blade, and the size of these blades is on the nanometer scale.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Therefore.
“This is the magic that has now proven itself to be a blade capable of cutting you!!”
Further explanation would be too high a price for the breathing room it would afford me, so I lunged forward with all my might.
“Is that so! Then cut me with it then!!”
Takemikazuchi – Raiden.
To be precise, it involves circulating lightning magic throughout my entire body, centered on the Ore Tree, thereby increasing my physical reaction speed. Simultaneously, the Ore Tree is incorporated into the circulation path; when channeling through the Ore Tree, it forms blades of extremely micro-lightning, which rotate to create a pseudo-chainsaw.
I’ve been speaking of complex things, but in simple terms, it’s a magic reproduction of a single-molecule cutter seen in sci-fi and robot stories.
While it requires precise magic control, the magic consumption isn’t excessively high. It’s economical, and its attack power changes dramatically.
For me, who can accelerate my thoughts thanks to Valse-san’s help, that precise magic control doesn’t pose much of a burden.
If I test its sharpness on the instructor.
“Kaa! I tasted it before, but it’s quite sharp.”
It can cut through the instructor’s body, which boasts considerable defensive power.
Thinking I can win with this, I lunge, but.
“Only if it hits!!”
If I could defeat him so easily, this Oni wouldn’t be in such a high status.
The slash misses, cutting through empty air.
“If you can’t defend, just dodge, Jiro!!”
And he countered my absolute technique, exploiting how I had momentarily let my guard down in the heat of battle—a slight lapse in focus that shouldn’t happen during a fight. He delivered a body blow, aimed with the momentum to shatter my defense. Although it was blocked by the White Serpent Armor, I was merely blown away.
“■■■■■■■!?”
The White Serpent, imbued in the armor, let out a scream.
To make a High-ranking Spirit scream—what power could it possess? Taken aback, I looked forward, but the instructor just grinned playfully, beckoning me with his finger as if to say, “Come at me!”
“Don’t people tell you you’re good at hyping things up!”
I said that ironically to his infuriatingly dramatic display and re-entered the high-speed combat. Even with superior defense, I’m at a disadvantage in a stationary slugfest of repeated blows. That’s why, even if it consumes a lot of stamina, I can only win by launching an offensive that utilizes footwork.
“Hahaha! I’m often told that!!”
The instructor, understanding this, adopts a steadfast, grounded stance in stark contrast to my agile movements. Facing the formidable presence emanating from him, like a rocky mountain, I continue my attack, cold sweat still trickling down.
Just a bit more, just a bit more.
It seems so close, yet so far.
A frustrating, yet captivating, exchange. This battle with the instructor, which should be an enjoyable time.
“Ngh! Ahhhh!!”
There’s no surplus in my spirit or stamina.
Fighting with everything I have, I’ve finally reached the stage where I can contend with the instructor.
But it’s not because I’ve surpassed his skill, nor have I brought the situation to a complete stalemate.
With the cheat skills of Valse-san, who controls time and space as a High-ranking Spirit, I can anticipate the opponent’s actions, enhance my defense, and with the Dragon’s blood that allows me to transcend the bounds of being human, I’ve achieved instantaneous growth and evolved my weapon, the Ore Tree, to the point where my attacks can reach him.
Even so, the wall that is the instructor, a single Oni, remains formidable.
Every single strike is potentially fatal.
Even a jab delivered with him crouched low, waiting, would likely obliterate the part of my body that received it if I were to take it bare-handed.
It’s a nightmare where every attack is overkill, and on top of that, his physical prowess and defense are on a completely different level.
The only salvation is that he doesn’t use magic or skills.
But even that salvation has become meaningless.
An overwhelming physical attacker, a brute-force approach.
Simple, hence limited solutions. If those aren’t met, a pure superiority in strength is the only way to avoid defeat.
“Ngh! What’s wrong! Is that all your strength amounts to!!”
He matches my high-speed combat, transitioning from zero to maximum speed in an instant.
I nearly lost track of him due to the shift in tempo, but I pushed my body to its limits, not hesitating to follow him, even as my Future Sight and thought acceleration threatened to overheat.
When he moves, he vanishes without even leaving a shadow. How does he move so agilely with such a massive physique?
Fighting in a way that requires tracing his movements isn’t enough to keep up.
Intuition and prediction.
While using Future Sight, I need to be able to move almost reflexively to catch up to this Oni.
Moreover, in this rapid combat, and in a state where he seems to be releasing his limits, is he sloppy in his other movements? Not at all. He attacks with such precise movements that it’s as if he can casually pick up a fallen egg with just his thumb and index finger without crushing it.
In fact, just a moment ago, he not only blocked my attack with brute force but also perfectly caught the blade, placing his hand on the flat of the blade without touching the edge, redirecting the wave of magic power and landing a counter-attack.
If it weren’t for the White Serpent Armor, that would have decided the outcome of the battle.
Next is defense.
I wanted to say this is still better, but it’s actually more troublesome for me.
The Amaterasu I activated couldn’t inflict a fatal wound.
Even when I switched to Amaterasu – Nichishoku, by pouring more magic into it to chip away at his defense and allow damage to land, he forcefully overcame it with sheer power and his body’s regeneration speed.
What a ridiculous situation.
As a result, I switched back to Takemikazuchi – Raiden, which is simply specialized for sharpness, to inflict damage, but Raiden’s sharpness is too extreme.
Unless it deals damage significant enough to sever an arm, the wound would be healed instantly by the instructor’s regenerative abilities.
And the instructor wouldn’t allow an attack that could inflict such a fatal wound.
He’s strong, truly strong.
He has spent more time in combat than I have, reigns at the Pinnacle of Oni, and still shows me a distant back.
Ah, I admired that strength.
Ah, I held respect for that way of life.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been grateful for this encounter.
Since when did I find joy in being able to fight this Oni?
“………Kahahahahahahahaha!”
This nostalgic laughter, such a wasted breath in this battle, yet it escapes me. Have I gone mad?
My heart is burning, my mind is calm, adhering to the ironclad rules of combat, but this sheer pleasure is something I cannot conceal.
Clenching my jaw as if to suppress my laughter, I grip the Ore Tree anew and swing it.
It’s fun.
Since I understood the meaning of the instructors’ teachings to laugh in adversity, I no longer dislike challenging the strong.
It’s fun.
Since I learned to weigh the value of this life, I no longer feel aversion to placing myself in combat.
However, even within that enjoyment, I have never crossed the line.
There were times I considered fighting driven solely by pleasure.
But each time, the faces of Suella and the others would flash through my mind.
Would I be alright, consumed by the pleasure of this battle and solely pursuing it? My reason held me back.
That might be my last defense. Perhaps, beyond that, lies the existence I seek.
But I will not cross this line.
I am not an Oni, nor am I human anymore.
However, I have no desire to go mad for battle by abandoning the happiness I have attained.
My strength is likely cultivated within this boundary, maintaining a delicate balance, and fueled by experience like an engine, it ignites and gains propulsion, leading to this growth.
Even if the limits arrive someday, as long as I remain myself, that will surely be the right path.
But, but, even so.
For this one moment, please overlook it.
I will not cross the line.
I will not go mad for battle.
I will not treat life carelessly.
But this battle, please let me enjoy it.
“I’m not done yet!! Instructor!!”
“Ooh! Bring it on!!”
My body is driven by a scorching passion, burning away the feeling of exhaustion, the thought of “I hate this,” and the anxiety of potentially losing.
Using all those emotions as fuel, I chase the desire to win.
I run towards that future.
Victory. The desire to win against this Oni drives my body and soul. My limbs, which have begun to creak in pursuit of that future, still tell my brain they are alright.
The surrounding world disappeared from my sight long ago.
Thinking about how much time is left is a waste.
There’s no time to use items.
All I can do is give everything I can with this body that can still fight.
I need no other superfluous information.
“Win,” I command my body. With a vow in my heart to win, I will not compromise in this battle.
If I die in this battle, I will have no regrets.
If I lose to this Oni, I will have regrets so profound that I would die without peace.
Therefore, I will live, win, and declare to this Oni with pride.
That I won.
I can still, still, still, still fight!!
Thinking this, I stomp on the ground, crushing it, and turning it into propulsion to move faster. I control the movement of my joints down to the millimeter, swing my Ore Tree to increase my attack power even slightly, and charge straight at the instructor, piercing through the scattered sand.
With every step I take, an explosion echoes. And with every swing of the Ore Tree, space tears.
In return, with every step the instructor takes, an explosion echoes, and with every swing of his limbs, space ruptures.
In this fleeting moment, how many attacks can I unleash?
How much can I immerse myself in the storm of the opponent’s attacks?
How many more of the instructor’s attacks can I endure?
Focus solely on that.
Think about how to defeat this Oni.
An opportunity will come; bet everything on that fleeting moment.
Think about what needs to be done to create that moment. Let your blood circulate.
Circulate your magic, generate magic power.
Discard the word “limit” into the gutter.
Burn away any weak thoughts like “I can’t do this anymore.”
Solely, seek a way to win against this Oni head-on.
“Instructor!!”
“Jiro!!”
The Ore Tree I swung tears through the instructor’s body, but it’s still shallow.
So what if it hit?
Would the King of Oni be fazed by an attack of this magnitude!!
Unleash it all! Unleash all the power within me!!
If I can’t do that, what good is winning?
What is victory!!
Give it everything you’ve got and win!!
Today’s Word:
Progress is necessary to achieve good results.
Thank you for your usual comments and指摘 of typos.
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Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, but we’re fighting back with various activities in secret bases and more!!
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