Chapter 53

Rose, having manifested her Soul Armament <Crimson Cold Cherry>, raised a beautiful crimson sword high into the sky.

"---Dance, <Cherry Blossom Storm>!"

At that moment, the cherry blossoms blooming behind her rushed towards me with incredible speed.

"What!?"

My vision was dyed crimson. The number of petals easily exceeded ten thousand, making it absurd to even try counting them.

(If I don't know the extent of Rose's abilities, I can't afford to touch the petals lightly...)

"One Slash---Flying Shadow!"

I released Flying Shadow, attempting to knock down the overwhelming number of petals rushing towards me.

However,

"Too easy!"

When she swung her left hand, the petals curved in response, easily evading my slash.

(Just like Rais's <Three Small Bone Dragons>, it seems she can control them remotely...)

Faced with the wave of cherry blossoms, I shouted,

"Eight Slashes---Eightfold Crow!"

I released eight slashes in all directions, forming a barrier to protect myself.

But,

"There!"

A handful of petals slipped through the gaps in my barrier, grazing my side.

"Ugh!?"

Sharp pain shot through me, and my face contorted in agony. When I looked down at my side, it was sliced as if by a sharp blade.

(As I thought, they're not just ordinary petals...)

Their cutting edge was terrifying, each one like a small slash.

Given the overwhelming number, this ability is far more troublesome than the same control-type Soul Armament, <Three Small Bone Dragons>.

"I see... The ability of <Crimson Cold Cherry> is to control those sharp petals, right...?"

"Half right. But the other half is---a miss!"

She said this without any tricks, and attacked me head-on.

"Sakura Hua Ittoryu---Night Cherry!"

The slash aimed at my chest was much faster than before.

"What!?"

I hastily held my sword horizontally and managed to block the attack. However, her strike was not just faster.

(Damn... What kind of power is this...?)

A shock I had never experienced before traveled from my sword to my hands, and then to my entire body.

"Haahaaa!"

From there, Rose added more force,

"Ugh!?"

I was blown back a great distance, losing the pure strength contest.

Then,

"Not done yet!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Rose launched a fierce assault.

"Sakura Hua Ittoryu---Continuous Cherry Flash!"

Blinding thrusts were released in rapid succession.

"Ugh...!?"

Sometimes dodging, sometimes deflecting, and sometimes allowing them to graze me---I managed to avoid all the thrusts and leaped back.

(Unlike before, Rose's physical abilities are clearly superior...)

The turning point was undoubtedly when she manifested her Soul Armament. The conclusion is clear.

"That overwhelming physical ability... <Crimson Cold Cherry> is an enhancement-type Soul Armament, isn't it?"

"Hehe, well observed. This cherry tree is just a massive block of power. The ability of <Crimson Cold Cherry> is to control that power freely."

She said this while holding a petal in her hand.

(I see. She absorbs the immense power contained within the cherry tree, significantly enhancing her physical abilities...)

The attacks using the petals are a byproduct of this...

(An enhancement-type Soul Armament that also has control abilities... Truly, a troublesome power...)

However, it's not impossible to deal with.

"Then... How about this?"

I shifted my target from Rose to the main body of <Crimson Cold Cherry>.

Then,

"Haahaaaaa!"

The moment I delivered a powerful downward slash with all my weight,

"Ugh!?"

A strong shock, as if striking steel, ran through my hands.

(How... hard...?)

I thought it was more than just a tree, but I didn't expect it to be completely unscratchable...

As I opened my eyes in shock, Rose's voice came from behind.

"---That's not a physical tree. It's a concept of a tree fixed in this world. It's not so easily cut."

I immediately turned around, and she had already drawn her sword.

"Sakura Hua Ittoryu---Thunder Cherry!"

A lightning-fast iaido strike tore through the air.

"Ugh...!"

I hastily took a defensive stance and managed to block the attack, but...

With my stance already compromised and my physical abilities lagging, I couldn't completely stop the momentum and exposed my abdomen.

"Here's payback for earlier!"

Her sharp kick struck me.

"Kah...!?"

Her inhuman leg strength sent me flying like a ball.

"Ugh, hah...!"

The blood in my body surged, and all the air was squeezed out of my lungs.

"..."

However, to prevent further attacks, I immediately stood up and took a ready stance.

"...To take a stance for a counterattack after receiving such a blow. You really have incredible physical abilities..."

She looked at me with eyes that seemed to see a monster.

"This time, I'm coming at you...!"

"Yes, I've been waiting for this."

From then on, I used all my techniques to relentlessly attack Rose. She defended with her precise swordsmanship and countered at the right moments.

As a result, the number of cuts on my body gradually increased.

However, there was still a chance to win.

In fact, the flow of the match was gradually tilting in my favor.

"Eight Slashes---Eightfold Crow!"

"O, Sakura Hua Ittoryu Secret Technique---Mirror Cherry Slash!"

The eight slashes collided and vanished together. Now, our physical abilities were evenly matched.

(No, I have a slight edge...!)

Judging it the right time to attack, I pressed forward.

"Roaaaaar!"

"Ugh... Haahaaaaa!"

Our swords clashed, and we entered a lock.

(Since manifesting <Crimson Cold Cherry>, Rose has become more aggressive.)

At first, I thought she wanted to decide the match before her ability's secret was revealed, but it seems that's not the case.

(Rose has a reason to attack urgently...)

The massive cherry tree, the source of her power, was gradually withering. The cherry blossoms, once in full bloom, were now half scattered.

And with each petal that fell, her physical abilities visibly declined.

(In other words, <Crimson Cold Cherry> has a duration...!)

In the lock---the pure strength contest I lost earlier,

"Haah!"

"Kyaa...!?"

This time, I won.

Blown back, Rose managed to take a defensive stance and immediately took a ready stance.

"It seems <Crimson Cold Cherry> has a duration. ...Or perhaps, you still haven't mastered it?"

"..."

When I asked, she remained silent. It seems I hit the mark.

(Miss Lea said that after manifesting a Soul Armament, it takes a considerable amount of time to control it...)

The more powerful the Soul Armament, the more difficult it is to control.

"...You're observant during the match. Allen is right; I haven't fully mastered <Crimson Cold Cherry>. The duration is... already past its peak."

She confessed.

And in the next moment,

"---So, I'll decide this with my next strike!"

All the remaining cherry petals gathered on her sword. Supplied with immense power from <Crimson Cold Cherry>, her sword glowed with a sinister crimson light.

"..."

Faced with this overwhelming pressure, I involuntarily held my breath.

"---I'm coming, Allen."

"Yeah... Let's end this."

We exchanged brief words and simultaneously charged.

"Haahaaaaa!"

"Roaaaaar!"

The moment our ranges overlapped,

"Sakura Hua Ittoryu Secret Technique---Crimson Cherry Slash!"

"Five Slashes---Boundary Break!"

Our full-bodied strikes clashed.

And then,

"---As expected, you're strong. Allen...!"

Rose's sword shattered.

At the same time, the main body of <Crimson Cold Cherry> dissipated like sand.

"---The match is over."

Pointing my sword at Rose,

"...Yeah, a complete defeat."

Exhausted, she smiled faintly.

"Match over! The one who won the intense battle without a moment to breathe is---Allen Roadel!"

Thus, I managed to defeat Rose, who had manifested a powerful Soul Armament, and advanced to the final stage of the first-year war.