Chapter 26

It was a desolate wilderness.

Wilted trees.

Wilted soil.

Wilted air.

In this desolate world, he was the only one there.

"...So, you were my spirit core after all, huh?"

"Huh? Ah... yeah, that's right. Well, for now, it's fine to think of it that way."

He, who was sitting on a huge rock with a surface cracked to pieces, said this reluctantly.

"So, what's up, Allen? Are you finally ready to hand over that body?"

"No way. If I give it to you, you'll just go wild and wreak havoc again, I can see that coming."

"Ha ha ha ha ha! That's right... It's strange not to use the power you have, isn't it? Go wild, destroy, and enjoy... Live in the moment, why don't you? What do you think?"

I don't really like that kind of hedonistic way of living.

"...We don't see eye to eye. I want to live a longer, more modest life."

"Not long. It's boring... That's the kind of life you're talking about..."

He shrugged his shoulders and said that.

"Anyway—there's no way I'll ever give you my body again. It's only natural, considering what you did last time, right?"

He had reduced Shido to a half-dead state.

No, it was even worse than that.

If Reia hadn't stopped him then, he would have surely killed him without hesitation.

"Last time...? Ah, both of you were saved by me, weren't you?"

"...'Both of you'? It sounds like it happened twice."

Indeed, Shido was saved by him...

At that time—when the <Ice Wolf's Slash> was at my throat, I had no means to avoid it.

If he hadn't come out, I would have surely died.

But, I should have only been saved by him once.

"Hey, when you were playing with ice and that kid... and then there was that other time. When you pressed the old man's button. I think it was around the time we passed the first five thousand years? Allen... didn't you try to die once?"

"...!?"

I remembered something very... very unpleasant.

(That's right, he is my spirit core... He holds the memory of those billions of years...)

...At that time, I was really out of my mind.

After five thousand years of not meeting anyone, not talking to anyone—repeating the same life every day, I had gone mad.

And then, I made a terrible mistake.

"Hey, you remember, right? I was the one who stopped your foolish actions. It was really tough... I had to control your body before you even reached the 'path.' I used so much power that I slept for the next few hundred million years... Well, anyway—there's no reason for you to hate me, right?"

"...Did you really stop me then?"

I thought it was the fear of death that overcame the pain at that time.

"Huh, who else could it be? First of all, humans aren't that strong. Once someone is set on dying, they die surprisingly easily."

"I see, I understand... Thank you."

There's nothing I can do but be grateful for this matter.

"Huh? You don't need to say 'thank you.' I don't need your feelings. Show your gratitude through your actions. ...So, hand over the body."

He said that and demanded my body again.

This exchange, which had been going on for a while, made me feel a bit strange.

"...Why are you asking for my consent? With your strength, you could just take it by force."

"Are you an idiot? The difference in the amount of energy consumed is huge when you take it with consent—when there's no resistance—compared to when you force it and twist the will. After all, I'm a spirit..."

He said that and looked at his right hand as if reminiscing.

"Huh, is that how it works..."

This is good to know.

As Reia-sensei said before, when he takes over my body, he consumes a tremendous amount of 'something.'

(In other words, he can't just take my body so easily every time...)

As I was thinking this,

"Damn... Hey, if you're not going to hand over the body, get lost, you're in the way."

He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. What a self-centered guy.

"That's not possible. I came here today to borrow your power. —Do you understand? I want to learn Soul Armor."

I decided to try a conversation first.

He's a wild guy, but he's not stupid.

He can communicate and has a rational thinking ability.

If I can have a conversation or negotiate, maybe I can borrow some of his power.

Then,

"Huh? A newbie like you... my power? ...Haha, ha ha ha ha ha! H-Hey! What a funny thing to say...!"

He laughed, slapping his knee.

"What, what! This isn't a joke—"

"—Even if it's a joke, it's not funny!"

The next moment, he was right in front of me.

His right arm was already swung back, and the impact that followed was inevitable.

"Hey...!"

No feint—just a straight punch to the face.

"!?!"

I instinctively slid my sword between his arm and my face.

I defended perfectly, lowering my center of gravity to brace for the impact.

But—my body was sent flying horizontally like a ball.

(What... What kind of strength is this...?)

The defense didn't function as a defense...

I rotated in mid-air to absorb the impact and managed to land on my feet.

At the same time, I placed my sword in front of my navel and took a ready stance.

"Hey, you're too light! Are you eating properly... Huh!?"

"...I'm eating properly."

His attacks can't be defended against.

Then—attack, attack, and attack!

Don't give him the chance to attack back...!

I closed the distance in three steps and unleashed my signature eight consecutive strikes.

"Eight Blades—Eightfold Crow!"

After the battle with Shido, my eight strikes had become sharper and more powerful. In front of him, he—yawned.

Immediately after, the eight strikes hit his entire body—both hands, both feet, neck, head, torso, chest—without missing a spot.

Unlike with Dorel, all of them hit perfectly. I felt the impact.

—But none of them caused any damage.

His skin didn't even tear, let alone bruise.

Rather, my sword felt like it might break.

(No way...!)

As I stared at my sword in shock,

"Hey, with toy-like strikes like that... how do you plan to cut my body? What do you think?"

He looked completely at ease, shaking his head provocatively.

(He's in a different league...)

Strength, endurance, everything is on a different level.

After that, I attacked him many times...

But he didn't seem to care and easily deflected them with his right hand.

(It's no use... Even if I hit his vital points—face, neck, solar plexus—ordinary strikes won't defeat him...)

But I'm not completely out of options.

I have a special strike that isn't an ordinary strike.

(If I can use that strike that can cut through space and the world, even he won't be able to handle it...)

I aimed for the moment he yawned, looking bored, and unleashed it.

"Fifth Blade—World Break!"

But,

"Hey, hey, hey... If you swing so slowly... I might fall asleep."

Before I knew it, he was holding the blade I had swung.

"...!?"

Monster.

That word flashed in my mind.

"The strength here is 'mental strength'! You're still a greenhorn... You don't have the resolve to face me! Ah!"

With no way to defend, the powerful front kick he launched—pierced my abdomen.

"Ha, ha...!?"

The air was squeezed out of my lungs, and my blood surged.

My vision flickered, and I had no sense of balance.

In front of me, he laughed gleefully.

"Ha ha...! Now that your will is weakened, I'll take it!"

"Stop...!"

The next moment, my consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

■

The moment Allen lost to his spirit core, a significant change occurred in his body.

His black hair turned into long white hair, and a black pattern appeared under his left eye.

Most importantly, the aura he emitted changed.

From a gentle and calm one, it turned into something sharp and raw.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Easy, easy, Allen...!"

Taking over Allen's body, he let out a roar. In front of him was Reia, clenching a black fist.

"Bladeless Style—Absolute!"

The powerful punch, which left sound far behind, deeply gouged Allen's abdomen.

"Ha, ha...!?"

"Remember, the spirit core can't move freely until it completely takes control, right?"

Stumbling back a few steps, he glared with hatred.

"Black Fist...! Is it your turn...?"

"Your body's endurance... You're really a monster."

"Damn...!"

As Allen lost consciousness, all the changes in his body disappeared.

"I don't like using such underhanded methods... but consider it a handicap. If I really let you loose, even I would be in trouble..."

The Soul Armor training ground fell silent.

Then, Reia, representing all the students, spoke up.

"Teacher... Was that...?"

"Yes, Allen's spirit core. As you can see, he's a genuine monster. ...He's an incredible talent. It's both terrifying and exciting as a teacher to see his potential for growth."

She showed her blood-soaked right hand.

"That blood is...?"

"Huh? Ah... of course it's mine. When I flattened three mountains, it didn't come to this... Hitting his weak point, the abdomen, left me in this state. He's really tough."

She laughed lightly and shook her head.

From her tone, Reia realized that the wound on her right hand was not deep and finally asked the most pressing question.

"Is Allen okay!?"

"Of course. He'll wake up soon, so don't worry. —Now, focus on learning Soul Armor!"

She blew her favorite whistle.

■

After losing to him, I found myself lying on my back.

"...Ugh. Where... is this?"

Slowly sitting up,

"Hey, you're awake, Allen."

Next to me was Reia-sensei.

"Teacher...? That's right...! What happened to him—what happened to that monster!?"

In my dazed state, I clearly heard his voice saying "I'll take it."

I looked around frantically, but there was no sign of any disturbance.

"Don't worry. I've suppressed him. ...I had to use a bit of an underhanded method, though."

She said this with a slightly bitter expression.

It seemed she didn't really want to use such a method.

But, no matter what method, I'm grateful that she stopped my rampage.

"Thank you, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry. It was expected."

She smiled.

With that, I thought about what happened.

(...'Mental strength')

He said it.

"The strength here is mental strength." And "You lack resolve."

So, to defeat him in that world—to learn Soul Armor, I need to strengthen my mind.

(But... how do you strengthen your mind?)

I've never thought about it before.

Strengthening my body or improving my sword skills is easy to imagine.

Swinging a sword, learning techniques from someone—these are the basics.

But strengthening the mind... it's quite difficult.

Meditation?

Waterfall training?

Or something else?

As I was pondering this,

"Come on, Allen, now's your chance!"

She suddenly clapped her hands and urged me on.

"Chance...?"

"Yes! The spirit core consumes a lot of energy when it comes out! Now might be the time to take back his power!"

"Are we doing this again?"

"Of course. Come on, take your spirit crystal sword! Don't miss this opportunity!"

She grabbed my hand and made me grip the spirit crystal sword tightly.

"But... if he goes wild again...?"

"Don't worry. That's not something a student like you should be concerned about. Besides, I doubt he'll come out today. As a spirit core, he has a weakness. I'll keep an eye on him."

Then she gave one warning.

"—But, under no circumstances, engage with him when I'm not around, got it?"

"..."

Her voice was rare—firm and serious.

"Allen—your spirit core is a literal 'monster.' He's in a different league from ordinary spirit cores. You know the danger he poses, right?"

"...Yes."

Indeed, he was in a different league.

"If I miss his initial stiffness—his weakness as a spirit core—I might not be able to handle it. ...So, practice Soul Armor within my sight. That way, no matter how many times he goes wild, I can stop him."

"Understood! Thank you!"

After that, I challenged him many times...

But the level difference was too great, and it never became a proper match.

However, my body was never taken over again, except for the first time.

He was indeed weaker.

I think he was exhausted from taking over my body.

(...But, no matter how many times I try, I can't defeat him)

To win, I need to strengthen my mind.

(...Right! If I can't figure it out on my own, I can ask Reia-sensei!)

Fortunately, she knows a lot about spirit cores.

She probably knows good ways to strengthen the mind.

"Teacher, how do you strengthen your mind—"

Just as I opened my mouth,

"—Hey, I'm here to challenge you!"

The door to the Soul Armor training ground was roughly opened.

A group of five people entered.

They were all wearing the uniform of the Thousand Blades Academy, and I recognized a few faces from around the school.

Probably first-year students.

"Well, well, well! Who is Allen Roadel, the 'mediocre swordsman'?"

...It seems they were here for me.