Chapter 38: Holy Knight vs Hero (Ultimate Form) ③
I clenched my fist a few times, confirming that the Arm of Light was completely under my control.
“───All green.”
Before Ryuguin could rise, I sent a glance toward Sensei and Anon. I could feel it; having taken his Clock Strike once, I understood. That was my Out Strider del Sole.
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!”
While Ryuguin groaned, clutching his cheek, Sensei and Anon quickly understood my intent and guided everyone outside the Divine Qi Barrier. From here on───
“Ryuguin, everyone has evacuated beyond the barrier. It’s just you and me here. A genuine space for just the two of us.”
He stood up, brushing the sand off his knees.
“Yamada!! How dare you hit me!! You just got me half-downed a moment ago, and now you’re acting all tough!! If you tremble in fear and apologize for my power and my Clock Strike, I might just spare your life!!”
His grandiose speech was as over-the-top as ever. I let him talk while I picked up Gram and prepared myself. Perhaps my attitude had irked him, as he took the initiative and charged at me.
“Listen to me!!”
Ryuguin’s attacks were fast and heavy. However, they were predictable and, to put it bluntly, “amateurish.” Dodging was no trouble at all. I effortlessly deflected his relentless barrage of strikes, each one coming at me with absurd speed.
“Damn it!! This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!! Why?! Why?!!”
Ryuguin stepped back, stomping his feet in frustration. Enough already. It was my turn now.
With a leap, I executed a downward slash─── followed by a feint─── and then a horizontal strike─── Ryuguin, relying solely on his heightened abilities, barely managed to keep up─── clang!─── I sent his sword flying.
“Well done, keeping up.”
Ryuguin glared at me with bloodshot eyes, as if he wanted to curse me to death.
“I should have transcended humanity’s limits with my Limit Break!!”
“You transcended humanity’s limits with your Limit Break, huh? That’s so typical of you. An easy one-touch Limit Break─── just the perfect Skill for someone as shameless as you.”
“Shut up.”
“I won’t shut up. I’ve surpassed my limits countless times.”
“What could a mere mob character know about that───”
“The enemy has always been stronger. I’ve faced death more times than I can count. Yet, each time, I’ve struggled through the mud and surpassed my limits.”
Magic reflection. Physical immunity. Hyper Acceleration. Immortality. Elemental Body. Frozen Concept. Fairy Princess. Immortality. The fearsome Sword Demon. The strongest dragon. Humanity’s enemy.
I have survived against various foes. I wouldn’t have lived if I hadn’t surpassed my limits─── myself.
“You’re not a vessel, Ryuguin.”
Ryuguin fell silent.
“I won’t lose to a cheater like you, Prince Ryuguin.”
That was a declaration filled with 100% conviction. Then Ryuguin muttered something under his breath.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m fine. I’m fine. I have the ultimate technique, my Ultimate Technique, Clock Strike. It worked well just now.”
He was definitely not in his right mind.
“Clock Strike.”
In an instant, his form reached─── the speed of light─── and blurred. However, due to the partial acceleration of my brain, I could still perceive his movements. His lightning-fast strikes came at me without pause, but with the acceleration of my arms, I deflected, deflected, deflected, deflected, and deflected again. Yet───
“Ha ha ha!!”
As Ryuguin’s Hyper Acceleration subsided, his laughter echoed. In that moment, countless sword flashes ran across my body, and blood gushed out.
“I did it, Yamada!!”
No problem. My vital points were intact, and all I had were cuts. Just one thing. My senses caught something───
Ryuguin’s Clock Strike was a more user-friendly version of my Out Strider del Sole. Moreover, it consumed less Mana than mine, allowing for consecutive use.
But it was almost time. Just one more time───
“I am the strongest!!”
Ryuguin, seeing my injuries, was pumped up and roaring with excitement, but I ignored him and, while apologizing in my heart to Sensei and Mika, covered my earlier wounds with Light Magic.
“Enough with the chatter, just come at me already.”
Ryuguin, interrupted in his joyous proclamation, shouted,
“Even if you apologize!! I won’t forgive you anymore!!”
He let out a bizarre scream and then declared,
“Clock Strike!”
He accelerated once more.
His technique could be seen as a sort of superior version of my own imitation. However, in the end───
“Why… doesn’t it work!! It worked before!!”
As he returned to normal speed, a line cut across my cheek. He looked unsatisfied, a frustrated expression on his face.
“I’ve seen through you.”
His Clock Strike had incredible power. Yet, that attack was endlessly predictable and utterly ineffective.
“And───”
I drew in Qi from the outside world, immediately converting it into Divine Qi and circulating it throughout my body. Then, I created over twenty arms on my back, far surpassing my previous limits.
“What the… is that… a monster?”
I, too, would show him once more that I could surpass my limits.