Chapter 56

With the immense power in my hands, I raised my sword high into the sky and swung it down with all my might.

"First Strike—Flying Shadow!"

At the same time, Rea swung her sword widely.

"Black Dragon's Breath!"

The moment the two attacks collided—my Flying Shadow easily sliced through the black flames.

"Wh-What!?"

Rea, taken aback by the unexpected result, widened her eyes and immediately leaped to the side to avoid the incoming slash.

(Alright, this should work!)

As I had thought, I wouldn't be overpowered by strength anymore!

Judging this to be my chance to win,

"Haahaaaaa!"

I quickly dashed forward to engage in close combat.

"Roar of the Dragon's Wrath!"

A tremendous number of flames, black and white, blocked my path.

(As expected, she went for that...)

But with my current strength—I can push through!

"Haah!"

I released a horizontal slash, dispelling the flames that blocked my way.

"Wh-What? You dispelled my flames with sword pressure!?"

Rea, shocked, stiffened slightly.

I took advantage of this opening and unleashed a full-force diagonal slash.

"Sei!"

"Ugh... Kyaa!?"

She hastily defended with her sword, but the overwhelming strength difference sent her flying sideways.

"What... What kind of strength is this...!?"

She managed to land and put some distance between us.

"To be this strong without Soul Equipment... You really are something, Allen..."

"Rea, you too. To control your Soul Equipment so freely in just four months... You really are amazing."

"Hehe, thank you. But my true power... is just beginning!"

With that, she plunged her sword into the stage and closed her eyes quietly.

The next moment,

"Dragon King's Tyrant Soul!"

She was enveloped in a radiant white flame and a dark black flame.

"Wh-What is this!?"

An overwhelming pressure pierced my entire body.

The weight of the space around her was different—her presence was off the charts.

(Rea, as expected...)

I couldn't have imagined she had this much left in reserve.

"From now on, I'll be different..."

"Yeah, it seems that way...!"

After blinking once, Rea's figure, with her sword raised high, appeared before me.

"Too fast!?"

It wasn't like Rose's teleportation.

Just sheer physical speed.

Simple and straightforward, with no tricks—making it troublesome.

"Take this!"

I reflexively rolled to the right to avoid the incoming slash.

"I won't let you escape! Tyrant Style—Spear Strike!"

"Ugh, Sakura Hana Ittou Style Secret Technique—Mirror Sakura Slash!"

Our slashes clashed, sparking.

After that, our swordplay was a back-and-forth struggle—equal in every way.

"Tyrant Style—Power Strike!"

"Haah!"

Our swords collided and stopped dead.

A perfect deadlock.

It felt as if time had stopped, neither of us moving an inch.

(No way... I can't even push through with the <Dragon King's Tyrant Soul>...?)

(I see... She's using the white flames to activate the cells in her body... It's a highly adaptable and excellent ability...)

Our gazes met, and we simultaneously jumped back.

(Our physical abilities are completely equal right now...)

With her long-range black flames and indiscriminate area attacks, I can now handle both.

In other words, what I need to do here is—continuously engage in close combat!

"Roaaaaaah!"

I charged straight at Rea,

"Ugh, White Dragon's Scale!"

She deployed a massive white flame shield in front of her.

The impenetrable white flame shield.

I cut it down easily with

"Eight Strikes—Eightfold Crow!"

"Wh-What...?"

Her face turned pale as she leaped back.

"..."

"Haah, haah..."

As the battle dragged on, Rea's breathing became visibly labored.

(From the looks of it, that state can't last long...)

Either her body can't handle the strain of the Soul Equipment, or it has a limited duration like Rose's <Scarlet Sakura>.

I don't know which, but...

(The flow of the battle is definitely in my favor now...)

As I was thinking this, Rea spoke.

"Hey, Allen... Doesn't using such inhuman power... affect your body?"

"It's not inhuman power... and my body is fine."

Unlike Rose and Rea, my power doesn't strain my body.

In fact, my body feels better.

The burns I sustained during the match have already healed.

"That's right... If this match drags on, I'll lose..."

"Seems that way..."

Judging from Rea's exhaustion, if nothing changes, the match will end as she said.

"I see... It's bound to end that way..."

"Yeah."

But I couldn't imagine Rea, a die-hard competitor, just accepting defeat.

As I raised my guard and maintained a ready stance,

"Then, Allen. Let's end this before I run out of gas!"

All the flames covering Rea's body concentrated into her sword.

"Wh-What!?"

The white and black flames mixed, forming a beautiful yet vicious flame.

"This is the real deal—the final strike."

"Yeah, I'll take it!"

Rea slowly raised her sword high into the sky and swung it down with all her might.

"This is the end—Dragon King's Tyrant Strike!"

A massive dragon formed from black and white flames was unleashed with tremendous force.

"Roaaaaaah!"

I countered with my strongest strike, using all my power.

"Six Strikes—Nether Boom!"

A far larger slash than Flying Shadow charged forward to cut through the massive dragon.

"Haahaaaaa!"

"Roaaaaaah!"

The two attacks collided fiercely in the center of the stage.

Then,

"Ugh, Roaaaaah..."

The Dragon King was extinguished by Nether Boom.

"Got it...!"

As I clenched my fist in victory, the next moment,

"..."

Rea's body wobbled and she fell forward.

"Rea!?"

Her sword fell from her hand and disintegrated into fine particles.

(Damn... She fainted at this crucial moment...?)

It seems her final strike was a full-out effort.

With Rea defenseless, the devastating Nether Boom approached.

If she took that while unconscious... she wouldn't survive.

"Ugh... Roaaaaah!"

I immediately threw my sword and ran.

(Damn... I have to make it...!)

I mobilized the mysterious power in my body and dashed with all my might.

Finally, I caught up to Nether Boom and,

"Haah!"

I punched its side with all my strength.

A hard sound echoed, and a powerful shock hit my right hand.

But—Nether Boom didn't stop.

It continued its relentless charge toward Rea.

(It's no good... It won't stop...!)

I quickly looked around for help, but...

Rea-sensei wasn't nearby.

This means—I have to stop it.

(Squeeze out all the power... the power to protect Rea...!)

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist tightly.

Then—vast power, unlike anything I had felt before, surged through my body.

"Th-This... Disappear... Roaaaaah!"

Pouring all my power into my right hand, I unleashed a full-force strike. At that moment, something black appeared in my hand.

The next moment, a deafening shattering sound echoed throughout the academy, and Nether Boom disappeared just millimeters from Rea.

"Haah, haah... I made it..."

The mysterious power that filled my body was now gone.

With a deep breath, I exhaled,

"Pain...!"

A sharp pain shot through my right hand.

A deep sword wound was visible.

(This arm... I'll have to take a break from training for a while...)

It was only natural after punching a full-force slash with my bare hand.

No, I should be grateful it only ended this way.

"But... I'm really glad..."

Seeing Rea's steady breathing, I sighed in relief.

"Rea Vestia, unable to continue! Therefore, the winner of this year's First Year War is—Allen Rodor of Class 1-A! But, what a surprise! Allen, protecting Rea and suffering an honorable injury! The evil emperor shows kindness!"

The female commentator loudly declared my victory.

"Nice one, Allen!"

"That was unbelievable!"

"Amazing... You're just amazing, man!"

Thus, the long First Year War concluded with my victory.