Chapter 21: vs. Guardian of the Sealed Labyrinth Fourth Layer α (3)
───Eris!!
Whether it was the life-or-death moment or my brain adjusting to the Autobahn, the Copy Gram raised by No-Skill appeared to move in slow motion.
There was no time left to activate the Autobahn or Out Strider del Sole. Caught off guard by the fact that No-Skill was using Eris’s ultimate technique, I had lost precious frames in the initial moments───
“It was fun.”
No-Skill wore a crescent moon-like smile.
Someone save Eris! Anyone!!
In that extreme frame-by-frame state─── I screamed silently. I could see him gripping his sword tightly, ready to deliver the final blow. I could even see the muscles moving as he prepared to swing down.
Anyone will do!! Please save Eris!!
But for some reason, what suddenly floated to my mind was───
───Guardian Sword Rifire.
It was the name of my former partner. The moment I recalled that name─── a fierce yet somehow warm light erupted from the Holy Sword at Eris’s waist.
No-Skill, blinded by the intense light at close range, groaned as he shielded his eyes. Not a single moment could be wasted. This moment was the time my former partner had given me. I immediately slipped between Eris and No-Skill.
“Wait until his eyes recover.”
Eris was frozen in fear and excitement. I hid her behind my back and cautiously increased the distance between us and No-Skill.
No-Skill, still covering his eyes, let out a ferocious beast-like growl, suppressing his anger. Ignoring him, I spoke up.
“I know you won’t like this, but I have a proposal.”
Finally regaining his sight, he glared at us with bloodshot eyes, ready to unleash his fury without waiting for my proposal.
“Oh, oh! I never expected a swordsman like you to interfere in this noble battle. I thought you were a proud swordsman like me, not just some run-of-the-mill wannabe swordsman!”
Hieee!! His blonde hair stood on end with rage. What kind of honor and loyalty is this?! Once he picks up a sword, he becomes a different person!! What is he? A psychopath? A berserker?
But you know───
“There’s no such thing as nobility in a fight to the death, you idiot.”
Once a person dies, that’s the end of it. I hate dying and I hate causing death. No matter how you dress it up, a fight is just a fight. But he wouldn’t accept that───
“There is!! The fleeting exchanges are what define a swordsman!! Pouring your life, your senses, your very essence into your sword!! The sword techniques born from that are the purest of crystals!! That is!! The way of the swordsman!! Live by the sword!! Die by the sword!! That is the true aspiration!! Only by protecting that can one be a swordsman!! You who have sullied the way of the swordsman and its aspirations are no longer swordsmen!!”
He shouted with bloodshot eyes, his voice hoarse from the effort.
This is bad! This is really bad! He’s seriously angry!! His eyes are looking terrifying! This can’t be aired on regular television!!
“I have no intention of accepting your opposition.”
That’s right. I have my own reasons.
“You said it first. This battle is a serious duel. Then, during the time you were covering your eyes and couldn’t act─── it wasn’t long, but I could have sliced you in half at least ten times.”
That was a blatant lie.
“Ugh… kuh,” he groaned, covering his face with his left hand. It was a completely psychopathic gesture.
In truth, I had zero mental space to attack him in that situation. But in moments like this, exaggerating my bluff is often the most effective strategy.
“I understand. Very well.”
Yes! He accepted it! But just as I thought that,
“Very well, very well. Very well. Very well, very well, very well.”
Hieeeeee!! That expression is not one of “very well”!! But I managed to get him to agree… so I wouldn’t let him say any more than that.
“Time for a change of players.”
Eris had unconsciously grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“Eris, if you had used the Ultimate Double-Edged back there…”
Unable to hold back, I spoke to her.
“I can’t… I can’t anymore…”
She let out a pained voice. I couldn’t find the words I should say. But because of that, there was something only I could do.
“Eris… just watch.”
I didn’t know what would change. But───
“Stay back. From here on, it’s a one-on-one between me and him.”
I drew my sword─── the Reprint Gram,
“I’m coming.”
I declared to him.