Ash Flower ④ – Death’s Strongman.
Throughout all ages and places.
It is said that the truly strong can instantly grasp their opponent’s strength.
I’m not exactly one of the truly strong, but even so, I can generally tell how strong an opponent is.
This armored knight is strong.
Also, this armored knight is a monster.
It’s some kind of undead in human form.
Speaking of armored knight monsters, there’s the Dullahan.
But this armored knight isn’t riding a demonic horse.
Is it even a knight in the first place?
Because it’s wearing splendid black armor, I just sort of assumed it was a knight based on its appearance.
Its armored figure isn’t exactly gorgeous or extravagant.
And yet, I sense a certain nobility and dignity about it.
Therefore, it’s a knight.
Yes, in my mind, I’ll consider it a knight.
A Black Knight. A lukewarm breeze blows.
The smell of blood hangs in the air.
It drifts from that Black Knight.
I readied myself. Holding the Knife in one hand, I prepared [Vanish] in my dominant hand.
I was the one who moved first.
Left and right, left and right—a swift quadruple step.
As if toying with it, I attacked head-on all at once.
The Black Knight didn’t block my slashing Knife with its sword, but dodged it.
[Vanish] didn’t hit either.
Without pause, I aimed the Knife from the Black Knight’s blind spot.
But it easily evaded me.
What’s more, it barely moved. It dodged with just a few steps of footwork.
“……”
I backed away.
It could have easily blocked with its sword. That would have been easier.
The reason it dodged instead is because it understands it mustn’t be touched.
In other words, if even a single blow lands, I win.
In that case, I just need to attack aggressively.
If I do, I should be able to land at least a scratch.
“…Here I come, Black Knight!”
I took my stance and charged forward.
Dash. A feinting seven-fold step—left, right, left, left, right, right, left. Slashing from an angle!
How much time has passed since then?
Five minutes? Ten minutes? Maybe even an hour?
“Hah… hah… hah… hah… hah… hah…”
I distanced myself, panting for breath.
I looked up, glaring at the Black Knight.
“…Wh-What is this…”
My attacks won’t hit.
No matter how much I try, no matter what I do, I can’t even graze it.
This is strange.
No matter how you look at it, this is strange.
At maximum, I performed a twenty-one-fold step and swung the Knife down from seven different directions.
Even then, even so, I couldn’t even graze it.
Moreover, the Black Knight is only making minimal movements.
I suspected it might be a Relic, but it doesn’t feel like it.
Even if it were using one, a Relic that allows for this much evasion would be far too versatile.
Every Relic has its merits and demerits.
It might be a Relic that prevents any attacks while evading.
But I have a feeling it’s not a Relic.
What if. Just what if.
What if this evasion is purely skill… The thought sends shivers down my spine.
As I am now, I definitely can’t wi— Suddenly, a sword slid smoothly into my field of vision.
It took me a moment to realize it was the Black Knight’s sword.
And then, an unbelievably quiet and slow slash cut my arm.
“…?”
There’s no pain.
Moreover, I only realized I’d been cut because I saw the arm holding the Knife get knocked away.
A boy’s arm. My arm.
Ah, it’s no use.
I had a feeling. That I probably couldn’t win.
Even so, I tried my absolute best.
If I could defeat it with just a scratch, even I could manage it now.
I had chuckled inwardly at the thought.
But I couldn’t reach it at all.
Even holding a cheat weapon, my own ability doesn’t measure up.
It’s a pathetic, frustrating, foolish story.
The result of a fool like me getting conceited.
Only now do I realize. Only now am I forced to understand.
I was conceited, thinking I was strong.
I thought I was hiding it by being modest.
Ah, ah… How frustrating. How frustrating.
I want to become strong. The Black Knight’s sword moves to sever my head.
Just before it connected, the Black Knight moved away from me.
Glancing at the Black Knight, I picked up my fallen arm.
It’s a clean cut. Even now, there’s no pain, and no blood is flowing.
It’s strange that there’s no blood, but perhaps it’s because its skill has reached such a level?
Oh well.
I poured Elixir on the arm and pressed it against the stump.
As if by magic, the arm reattached.
The Black Knight readied its sword.
I feel an intense pressure from its stance.
Normally, I would have fainted long ago.
I can’t perceive even the slightest opening in its stance.
“You are strong.”
I stated honestly.
I sighed.
“I am weak.”
It’s the truth.
I was cornered to the brink of death, truly about to die.
The reason I ended up in a situation where dying wouldn’t be strange is because I am weak.
And I don’t want to be killed.
Because I don’t want to die, I’m exposing this pathetic figure.
This is the height of miserable disgrace.
I used the Fourth Relic, [Generous].
“…Forgive me.”
My purple hair flowed in the wind as I gazed at the Black Knight with purple eyes and murmured.
And then, I activated the Fifth Relic.
“[Phantasmagoria].”
Countless [Vanish] appeared.