Chapter 59

Leoardo, who refuses to give up, musters his last strength.

His weapon has been knocked away, leaving him with only his own body. However, he does not succumb to despair. Though his body is ugly and fat, it is the body that has practiced grappling with Gilbert every day.

He stamps his foot on the ground and charges headfirst into the approaching Binaard. Binaard’s judgment is momentarily delayed by Leoardo’s unexpected action, and he is blown away by the massive body.

Leoardo, who has recklessly charged into Binaard, is also hit by Binaard’s wooden sword due to his reckless action.

(Grunt!

If this were a real fight, I would have died, but this is just a simulation!

I have to endure the pain!)

Leoardo grits his teeth and endures the pain, then turns his gaze toward Binaard, who has been blown away. Although Binaard has not suffered significant damage, he is frozen in place by the fact that he was knocked away by Leoardo.

"…What do you think, referee?"

"…It’s a difficult call. The charge just now could be considered a hit, but…"

According to the rules they initially agreed upon, Leoardo’s victory would be determined if he lands a hit on Binaard. However, whether a charge can be considered a hit is debatable.

Binaard is confused by this and remains frozen. He asks the referee, Gilbert, but Gilbert also looks troubled.

"It’s invalid. At the very least, you need to land a proper strike or a magic attack to count."

"Hmm…?"

Leoardo’s words pique Binaard’s interest, and one of his eyebrows raises.

"Is it okay? You could win if a charge is considered a hit."

"Indeed, that’s true, but… I can’t accept it."

The charge just now was nothing more than a lucky punch, and it was done with the expectation of taking a hit in return. It’s a move that could only be done in a simulation; in a real fight, it could have been fatal.

That’s why Leoardo can’t accept it.

"Ha! Hahaha!

That’s right, that’s right!

You can’t accept it!

Hahaha!

Good attitude, Leoardo. Show me everything you’ve got!"

After a burst of laughter, Binaard’s demeanor changes dramatically. Leoardo swallows hard at the sudden change.

"Come on, Leoardo Harvest."

Leoardo, whose skin is covered in goosebumps, can feel a serious atmosphere emanating from Binaard, who no longer seems to be playing around. Leoardo can’t stop trembling.

Is this what it feels like to be a warrior? Leoardo clenches his trembling hands into fists. His opponent has a sword, while he is unarmed.

Binaard is likely superior in hand-to-hand combat as well. But that doesn’t matter.

Right now, all he needs to do is give it his all.

Leoardo kicks off the ground and closes the distance with Binaard. Invading Binaard’s guard, he tries to punch Binaard’s abdomen with the momentum.

However, Binaard, of course, does not allow this. He deflects Leoardo’s arm with one hand and thrusts his sword with the other.

Leoardo tries to twist his body to avoid it, but the excess fat hinders his movement.

"Zuuu!"

Binaard’s thrust has the power to tear through the fat. But it seems he held back, as Leoardo’s fat is not actually torn away.

He can move more than he thought, but the fat is more of a hindrance than he imagined. This detestable body, but there’s nothing he can do about it now.

"Huff, having a large body is troublesome."

"Truly, it is!!!"

Spinning on the spot, he delivers a roundhouse kick, but Binaard blocks it. Leoardo is then kicked in the supporting leg and falls. Binaard immediately follows up with a sword strike.

Leoardo rolls to avoid the sword and stands up, but Binaard quickly thrusts at Leoardo’s throat.

"Kuh…!"

Binaard mercilessly kicks Leoardo, who is holding his throat and stepping back. Leoardo, who is writhing in pain, rolls backward to escape.

Binaard, looking down at the mud-covered Leoardo, raises his sword to incapacitate him.

But Leoardo hasn’t given up yet. Despite the pain, he uses earth magic to destabilize Binaard’s footing.

However, the same trick doesn’t work twice. Binaard quickly moves to avoid the destabilized footing.

"That won’t do. Think more."

Leoardo understands. He knows without being told. As the sword is swung down, Leoardo uses earth magic without incantation, covering himself in earth to defend and simultaneously burrowing underground to escape.

Moving through the earth like an earth dragon, Leoardo surfaces at a distance from Binaard, only to find Binaard already waiting.

"Once, a mage ran away just like you. I anticipated his move and smashed his head."

Leoardo, hearing this, turns pale and begins moving through the earth again. This time, however, it’s not to escape but to launch an attack.

Binaard anticipates Leoardo’s exit point based on the vibrations in the earth and waits. Leoardo, however, uses earth magic to propel himself out of the ground with great force, turning himself into a human projectile.

"Roaaaaa!"

"Whoa!?

H, hahaha!

I didn’t expect you to use such a move!"

Binaard is surprised by Leoardo’s sudden high-speed emergence from the ground and jumps back to avoid it.

Leoardo, propelled by the momentum, soars into the air and begins to fall due to gravity. In mid-air, he turns his body and fires an Aqua Spear at Binaard.

However, no matter how many times he fires, Leoardo’s magic doesn’t hit. But that’s fine. Leoardo smiles, knowing his preparation is complete.

Binaard, noticing Leoardo’s smile, looks puzzled. He quickly understands why Leoardo is smiling.

"Huh? Puddles…!?

You can’t be serious!"

Leoardo fires. Just as he planned.

"Shockwave!"

Even if Binaard tries to fly or move quickly to avoid it, the puddles on the ground prevent him from doing so.

Leoardo’s Shockwave, traveling through the water, hits Binaard directly.

"Gwaaaah!"

Leoardo, seeing Binaard temporarily paralyzed, attempts to deliver the final blow—but—

"Brilliant…

But you made a mistake."

Leoardo’s Shockwave should have paralyzed Binaard, but Binaard is moving. He circles around to Leoardo’s back as he lands and strikes his neck with the sword.

"Ga…a…why…?"

There, Leoardo’s consciousness fades into darkness.