Chapter 45

Claude was surrounded by swallows and crows that flew around her as if protecting her, while an owl perched slightly higher looked down at me.

(At first glance, it seems like the ability to manipulate inorganic matter.)

Simply increasing the number of attacks is troublesome, and its simplicity makes it a powerful ability.

(However, I can't be certain yet...)

Our opponent is the captain of the guard, Claude Stroganoff.

It's unlikely that her ability is just to manipulate objects.

(When faced with an unknown power... attack!)

I must keep attacking relentlessly to prevent the Soul Armament's ability from being used for offense!

"Haahaaaaa!"

I charged straight toward Claude, determined to take the initiative.

"You seem to know how to fight against Soul Armament users... Good judgment. But you've chosen the wrong opponent."

With a completely relaxed demeanor, she swung her long sword down on the spot.

Then,

"Flurrrrr...!"

The owl that had been circling above her head began a steep dive.

(Fast...!?)

This wasn't just free-falling.

It was clearly accelerated by the power of the Soul Armament.

But this level of speed isn't a problem...!

"Ha!"

The moment I cleaved the approaching owl in two, Claude smiled.

"--- Explode!"

"What!?"

In that instant, the stone owl emitted a brilliant light and exploded.

"Grgh!?"

I leaped back quickly to avoid the blast, but the flying debris from the explosion pierced my body.

Amid the smoke that obscured my vision,

"Overlord Style--- Strong Strike!"

Claude attacked without hesitation.

"Kuh."

Despite the disadvantage, I quickly raised my sword horizontally to block her downward slash.

"Good reflexes, but--- your abdomen is wide open!"

"Ugh!?"

Her sharp front kick struck my abdomen, sending a dull, heavy pain through me.

"---"

I jumped back to regain my composure and put some distance between us.

"Huff... huff..."

I steadied my breathing, focused my thoughts, and analyzed the ability of <Inorganic Army>.

"...I see. It's not just manipulating objects, but turning the objects you slash into bombs and then manipulating them, right...?"

"You're sharp. Your mind is quick, I see."

She said this as she slashed the stone pavement,

"--- Flurrrrrrrr!"

Another owl, identical to the previous one, came to life.

As long as there was material to work with, it seemed she could create an infinite number of bombs.

(...This is a troublesome ability.)

I bit my lower lip and checked my condition.

(The wounds... aren't that deep.)

This was largely due to my quick reaction to jump back and avoid the heat wave and blast.

The stone fragments only grazed my skin, and the damage from the kick to my abdomen had already healed.

(Alright... there's no hindrance to continuing the battle.)

All that's left is to find a way to defeat <Inorganic Army>.

I placed my sword in front of my navel and took a stance.

"Then, I'll take the next move!"

Claude waved her long sword like a conductor's baton.

In the next moment,

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!"

"Kwaahaaaah!"

Swallows and crows, the size of a fist, approached at an incredible speed.

(They're fast...!)

They were much faster than the owl from before.

"Sei!"

I quickly cleaved the two birds in two, and a small explosion occurred.

"..."

I took a short step back and avoided all the flying debris.

(Though the speed is terrifyingly fast... the scale and power of the explosion are much smaller than the owl's...)

I could barely avoid the heat wave, blast, and flying debris.

Claude, who had been observing my movements from a distance, spoke quietly.

"To keep up with that speed, you have impressive sword speed."

"...Thank you."

As I replied briefly,

"--- I have no choice but to increase the 'number.'"

She swiftly slashed the ground, and in the next moment,

"--- Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!"

"--- Kwaahaaaah!"

Five swallows and five crows--- a total of ten bombs--- came to life.

"...Are you kidding me?"

A cold, unpleasant sweat ran down my back.

(No matter how small the explosions, this number is dangerous...)

"Come on, dance!"

At her command,

"--- Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!"

"--- Kwaahaaaah!"

Ten high-speed flying bombs rushed toward me.

"Damn...! What a ridiculous ability...!?"

I focused all my nerves and slashed the approaching swallows and crows.

However, avoiding both the blast and the flying debris was difficult, and my body accumulated more and more minor injuries.

"Huff huff... huff..."

"Huff... No matter how hard you try, you can't match 'natural talent.' Look at your current state--- the battle has changed with just one Soul Armament. Unfortunately, this is reality, Allen Roadel."

Claude, surrounded by many birds, said this with a pitying tone. She must be confident of her victory.

(Damn... If I can just close the distance...!)

I clenched my teeth and glared at the owl waiting above her head.

As soon as I showed any sign of approaching, she would immediately use the owl for defense.

(...This is really a troublesome Soul Armament.)

If I got close, there would be a large owl explosion.

If I kept my distance, there would be continuous small explosions from the swift swallows and crows.

Moreover, the bombs seemed to be almost infinite.

(...I'm in trouble. I can't win like this...)

Her ability was too incompatible with me, who didn't have a Soul Armament.

I looked around for any way to turn the tide, but this was a stage.

There were no obstacles to block the explosions, and no trees to hide behind.

As I moved my gaze from side to side, I caught a glimpse of Reia in the corner of my eye.

"Allen...!"

She had her hands clasped in front of her chest, praying for my victory.

Even in this desperate situation, she believed in my victory.

(...I need to make a decision.)

The owl's explosion was much larger than the swallows and crows.

But it was much smaller than the massive explosion I saw at the Daito Trading Company.

(...It's okay, it won't blow my body apart.)

--- Make a decision.

Decide to dive into the explosion.

Decide to endure the pain.

Most importantly--- decide to live!

With this unwavering resolve,

"--- Uuuuuuuu!"

I ran straight toward Claude, taking the shortest path.

"Are you giving up, fool!"

As she swung her long sword,

"Flurrrrrrrr...!"

The owl began its steep dive to fulfill its role.

"Haah!"

The moment I slashed the approaching massive bomb, a brilliant light flooded the area.

(...)

A few milliseconds later, my legs almost gave out from the impending intense pain.

(...Don't be afraid! Move forward, keep going...!)

I encouraged myself and stepped into the light. The next moment, a massive explosion occurred.

Heat waves, blast, and flying debris battered my body like a storm.

Smoke rose, completely obscuring my vision.

"Direct hit...!?"

"Hey, is he dead?"

"That big explosion... no way he survived."

This was the audience's murmur.

"Allen...? No, it can't be...?"

This was Reia's trembling voice.

"That's why I told you to surrender... Fool."

And this was Claude's voice!

In the smoke that obscured my vision, I relied on her voice to determine her position.

"--- It's not over yet."

"What!?"

I burst through the smoke and raised the banner of counterattack.

"Eightfold Blade--- Eightfold Crow!"

"Ugh!?"

Two slashes caught her shoulder and leg, and Claude's face contorted in pain.

"Y-You... Are you invincible!?"

"No, it did hurt a bit...!"

Even as we exchanged words, I swung my sword boldly.

"Kuh!?"

She was forced into a defensive position.

(Alright...! If I can close the distance, I have the advantage...!)

(Damn...! If I get this close, I can't use the bombs...!)

The <Inorganic Army> ability excels in manipulation and explosions, both of which are effective at medium to long range.

Moreover, the shape of her long sword.

A long sword is a weapon for controlling medium range, and at this close distance, it's not easy to counterattack.

(I'll finish this in one go...!)

"Fivefold Blade--- Boundary Cut!"

Just as I was about to deliver a powerful strike, Claude smiled.

"The weakness of close combat--- I've already prepared for it."

She opened her right hand, and there was a small parrot made of pebbles.

(You were hiding it...! But with this size of explosion--- it's no problem!)

"Haahaaaaa!"

The moment I delivered the decisive blow,

"Piyyyyyyyyy!"

A blinding light burst from the parrot's body, turning my vision completely white.

It was a flashbang, not a bomb.

"Kuh!?"

Blinded by the intense light, I exposed a large opening.

"--- There!"

Claude struck my exposed abdomen with a slash.

"Ugh...!?"

A sharp pain shot through me, and I quickly leaped back.

As my vision gradually cleared, I checked the wound,

(...What?)

Strangely, the wound was shallow.

(Did she miss? Or was her follow-through weak?)

Regardless, I was saved by her mistake.

As I breathed a sigh of relief,

"Y-You, do you eat iron every day...!? (The sword didn't penetrate...!? Impossible, what hard skin...! After that massive explosion, to be unharmed...! A body-enhancing Soul Armament... no, I don't sense one. Damn... what kind of magic did you use!?)"

Claude's face turned pale as she shouted something incomprehensible.

"...What are you talking about? That's impossible."

I've never heard of someone eating iron.

"Then--- I'll go."

As I took a step forward,

"..."

Claude took a step back.

Her complexion was poor, and the relaxed demeanor she had earlier was gone.

(I've gotten used to the explosions.)

Was the power of <Inorganic Army> weakening, or had my body adapted to the explosions?

The owl's massive explosion didn't do as much damage as I expected.

Now, even if I were to face a series of swallow and crow explosions, I probably wouldn't receive a single injury.

(There's nothing to fear anymore.)

All that's left is to attack relentlessly!