Chapter 55

The moment Ria took hold of the <Primordial Dragon King> and her battle preparations were complete.

"Roaaaaaaar!"

I dashed forward to close the distance between us.

(Ria has a wide range of long-range attacks using black and white flames. Challenging her at a distance would be suicide...)

However, she must have anticipated this.

"Too naive, Allen! Dragon's Fury!"

Ria immediately swung her sword, scattering a mix of black and white flames.

The irregular area-of-effect attacks ravaged the stage.

"Damn!?"

I jumped back and slashed at the falling embers.

Then,

"Black Dragon's Breath!"

Without a moment's hesitation, a jet of pitch-black flames attacked me.

"First Slash—Flying Shadow!"

I countered the approaching black flames with my signature Flying Shadow.

However,

"What!?"

The Flying Shadow I released was instantly extinguished by the black flames.

(Damn, the output is way higher than the last time we fought...)

I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the Black Dragon's Breath.

(If I try to get close, she'll use indiscriminate area-of-effect attacks. If I keep my distance, she'll use long-range black flames... Truly, a troublesome ability...)

Her fighting style is very similar to Claude's.

(Maybe they underwent the same training in the Vesteria Kingdom...)

Even as I thought this, Ria was watching my every move, showing no openings.

The carelessness and overconfidence that were evident in our last battle had completely disappeared.

"...I didn't expect you to break through my Flying Shadow. I'm impressed, Ria."

"Hehe, surprised? But—my power is far from its limit...!"

With that, she swung her sword again, and scorching black flames attacked me once more.

"..."

After that, I was forced to defend myself continuously.

"Take this—Black Dragon's Burst Bomb!"

Ria raised her sword high and swung it down with all her might,

"Big...!?"

A mass of black flames, much larger than the Black Dragon's Breath, was released.

"Damn..."

I quickly jumped to the right to try and avoid it.

"—Explode!"

The mass of black flames exploded, sending fist-sized flames in all directions.

"...! Eight Slashes—Yatagarasu!"

I hastily created a barrier of slashes, but...

Just eight slashes were impossible to fend off over a hundred flames.

One of the scattered black flames attacked my right leg, causing a burning pain to shoot through me.

"Damn... First Slash—Flying Shadow!"

I released a flying slash as a counterattack.

However,

"—White Dragon's Scale!"

Ria's white flames formed a large shield, easily blocking my Flying Shadow.

Then,

"Black Dragon's Breath!"

A wave of black flames attacked me in retaliation.

(Not good... The damage is gradually accumulating...)

Evidence of this was the gradual slowing of my movements.

(If this match drags on, it will only be to my disadvantage...)

I needed to make a move to turn the tide of the battle, or I would end up losing.

In this overwhelmingly unfavorable situation, I sighed deeply.

(Really... Not being able to use Soul Equipment is fatal for a swordsman...)

I had come to realize this through my increasing battles against Soul Equipment users.

(...No, I'll save the complaints for after this match...)

I switched my thoughts and made a decision.

(...It'll be fine)

This body, which had survived the massive explosion from Claude's <Army of the Inorganic>...

It would surely withstand Ria's powerful flames.

(...Let's go)

I braced myself for the inevitable pain that would come in a few seconds and dashed forward.

"Roaaaaaaar!"

"Here you come...! Dragon's Fury!"

A mix of black and white flames divided the space between Ria and me.

(Don't hesitate...! The pain will only last a moment... If I can break through this wall of flames... there's a chance to win...)

I plunged into the blazing inferno.

"Ugh..."

The intense flames scorched my body, and sharp pain shot through me.

It was hot, painful, and suffocating—but not unbearable!

"Haahhhhhh!"

Overcoming the searing pain, I managed to break through the wall of flames.

"—I knew it. I expected you to be brave and come through like this."

On the other side of the wall, Ria was already raising her sword high.

It seemed... my actions had been anticipated.

"Overlord Style—Powerful Strike!"

"Ugh...!?"

Facing the powerful downward slash, I defended with a horizontal stance.

A tremendous shock ran through my body, and I thought I had successfully blocked it, but then...

"—Haahhhhhh!"

A fierce jet of flames erupted from the tip of Ria's sword.

It gave her downward slash explosive force,

(Gah, it's heavy...!)

I couldn't withstand the immense power and was blown back.

(Damn...)

During these four months, I had trained desperately.

I had overcome numerous trials and strived to the best of my ability.

However, the growth of the <Primordial Dragon King> far exceeded that.

Seizing the opportunity as my stance was disrupted,

"Haahhhhhh!"

Ria launched a fierce offensive.

"Overlord Style—Rapid Thrusts!"

Explosive thrusts, illuminated by black flames, were unleashed repeatedly.

"..."

Sometimes dodging, sometimes parrying, sometimes slashing—somehow, I managed to withstand the barrage.

While deflecting the storm-like onslaught, I genuinely admired her.

(Ria... You really are amazing)

She possessed overwhelming swordsmanship talent and the <Primordial Dragon King> as Soul Equipment, yet she trained tirelessly every day.

I, who had swung swords with her in the practice club, knew this better than anyone.

"Overlord Style—Powerful Strike!"

She unleashed another powerful downward slash.

"Haah!"

I countered with a diagonal slash, putting my full weight behind it.

Our swords clashed violently, leading to another intense lock.

(...She's the type of 'hardworking genius')

To me, an ordinary person who struggles to bridge the gap in talent through hard work, she is an arch-nemesis.

"Allen, it's a shame, but this match is—mine!"

A scorching jet of flames erupted from the tip of Ria's sword, trying to blast me away with explosive force.

(Damn... I want to win...)

I, more than anyone, knew that I lacked talent.

Still... I wanted to win against Ria.

I wanted to defeat this swordsmanship genius...

I wanted to defeat the hardworking genius...

(I want to win against the 'talent' that has always stood in my way...)

At that moment, an unprecedentedly powerful force surged from the depths of my body.

"Roaaaaaaar...!"

"Wh-What...!?"

I pushed back her sword, bolstered by the <Primordial Dragon King>, with sheer physical strength.

For the first time in this match, I overpowered her with brute force.

(...This is...)

It felt as if a force that had been sealed deep within me was surging up—a strange yet strangely familiar sensation.

I had experienced this a few times before, but this time it was on a different scale.

(...I can do this!)

As I stared at my palm,

"...Are you 'Allen'?"

Ria raised her sword in front of her chest.

Using her blade as a mirror, I saw my reflection—my hair was streaked with white, and a black pattern had appeared under my left eye.

"Yeah... I might look different, but it's definitely me."

I hadn't been taken over by that entity.

I was still in control of my body.

"Did you control the Spirit Core's power?"

"...No, I don't think so."

While an incredible force filled my body...

(...There's still a vast gap in power between me and that entity)

The stronger I became, the more clearly I understood this.

It seems the path to mastering Soul Equipment is still far away.

(This time... It's probably just a whim of that entity...)

When I see him next, I'll thank him at least once.

(...But now, I need to focus on this battle)

I refocused my thoughts.

(At least, the strength gap is now closed...)

I wouldn't lose to her in terms of physical strength anymore.

(From here on, it's a match between my swordsmanship and Ria's <Primordial Dragon King>...)

I lowered my center of gravity and took a standard stance.

"Let's go... Ria!"

"Yes, I'm ready... Allen!"

The final round of our match was about to enter its decisive phase.