Chapter 79

Idra held a long sword in her right hand, taking a stance with her center of gravity slightly to the right—somewhat unique.

(Holding it in one hand... That's unusual...)

From both offensive and defensive perspectives, it is more logical to hold a sword with both hands.

She firmly lowered her center of gravity.

She aimed to keep her opponent in the center of her field of vision, focusing on the distant mountains.

And she gently held the sword with both hands, as if embracing it.

This is the established theory of modern swordsmanship taught at the swordsmanship academy.

Her stance, however, deviated significantly from this established theory.

(But I mustn't let my guard down...)

Her opponent is a top-tier swordsman known as the "Prodigy" and the "Strongest First Year."

There must be a reason for her unique stance.

Thus, while maintaining a standard stance, she observed Idra's movements.

"..."

Suddenly, she let out a surprised sound and sheathed her sword.

Then, for some reason, she approached without her sword.

"..."

She stood directly in front of me and extended her right hand.

"What is it?"

As I tilted my head in confusion,

"A handshake. ...Don't you know? It's a greeting where you shake hands."

"Of course I know that..."

I never expected to be asked for a handshake at this moment when the match had just started.

"Nice to meet you."

I gently held Idra's small hand and exchanged a handshake.

"Yep, nice to meet you."

After we released each other's hands—she turned her back to me and returned to her original position, completely unguarded.

(She's... a bit unusual...)

Unique, or perhaps living in her own world...

(I think such people are called 'natural'...?)

As I was thinking this,

"---Let's go."

Idra, holding her sword in her right hand and maintaining her unique stance, said this.

(That stance isn't just because she's 'natural'...)

It seems that holding the sword in one hand is her stance.

"Then, I'll start...!"

First move, victory.

Against a higher-ranked swordsman, a defensive stance is dangerous.

(Attack, attack, and keep attacking... Overwhelm with momentum!)

I firmly kicked the ground and closed the distance between us in one step.

"Fast!?"

Taking advantage of the momentary stiffness in her reaction,

"---Ha!"

I aimed a reverse diagonal slash at her left side, which was less guarded.

(Got it...!)

Just as I was confident in my effective strike,

"---Too easy!"

The sound of swords clashing echoed.

"What!?"

My strike was blocked by a second sword drawn from the reverse side.

"Two swords...!?"

"Ha!"

Idra swung her right sword in a counterattack.

"..."

I easily dodged the strike and jumped back a considerable distance.

Then,

"You're fast..."

She stared at me intently and muttered.

"Thank you."

"I never expected to be countered with a second sword so soon... That was unexpected..."

She then took a half step forward with her right foot and a half step back with her left.

Her right hand was held at a slightly higher position, and her left hand was pulled back tightly, maintaining a unique stance.

(Using the right hand for 'slashes' and the left hand for 'thrusts'... Indeed, a very aggressive stance...)

Still, using two swords... I've heard of it, but this is my first time facing one.

The difference in 'swords' is one against two—inevitably, I will be at a disadvantage in terms of the number of strikes.

(I should press with 'power' as per the established strategy...)

As I was considering how to proceed in the match,

"---What!?"

Before I knew it, Idra was right in front of me.

"Thunderclap Style—Ten Thousand Thunderbolts!"

Two swords were wielded at lightning speed, unleashing ten slashes.

"Ku, Eight Swords—Eightfold Crow!"

I tried to counter with eight slashes, but one of them grazed my left cheek.

"Ku..."

At the same time, one of my Eightfold Crow slashes cut her right cheek.

We cut each other's cheeks simultaneously—a perfect exchange of pain.

(While she has a significant advantage in the number of strikes... Her power is still inferior to 'both-handed' swordsmanship...)

This was evident in the recent exchange.

Although I was slightly behind in the number of strikes, my Eightfold Crow broke through her slashes.

The sheer power of each strike was on my side.

Then,

"Amazing power... Are you really human...?"

Idra touched the wound on her cheek and muttered.

"Of course I'm human... If anything, it's you who has inhuman sword speed..."

"Hehe, thanks."

She smiled happily and took her unique stance again.

In response, I firmly took a standard stance.

"Then, I'll go this time...!"

"---Come on!"

From then on, we repeatedly exchanged intense sword strikes.

"Haahaaaaa!"

I closed the distance with Idra and unleashed a relentless series of strikes.

"Ku..."

Slash, thrust, upward cut, downward cut, thrust—she desperately tried to parry the rain of slashes from close range.

However, even without considering the difference between two-handed and one-handed swordsmanship, there was a significant 'strength difference' between Idra and me.

Each time she blocked a strike, her stance gradually became disordered,

"---There!"

"..."

A well-aimed strike cut into Idra's side.

In pain, she stepped forward to match the return of my sword.

"Thunderclap Style—Swift Lightning!"

As if to return the favor, a series of lightning-fast strikes were unleashed.

(Up, down, up, down, left, right—center...!)

I opened my eyes wide and completely parried the seven rapid strikes.

"Wh, what...!?"

She must not have expected all of them to be blocked.

Idra showed a slight sign of confusion.

Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed another strike.

"Sakura Flower One-Sword Style Secret Technique—Mirror Sakura Slash!"

"Ku..."

She gave up on countering and jumped back a considerable distance.

"First Sword—Flying Shadow!"

Aiming for the moment of her landing, I unleashed a flying strike.

"Th, this...!"

Despite her unstable stance, Idra managed to parry the incoming strike.

Taking advantage of the shadow of Flying Shadow, I closed the distance in one swift move,

"Fifth Sword—Boundary Break!"

I unleashed a decisive strike at this critical moment.

"This...!"

Idra, who had momentarily taken a defensive stance, must have instinctively realized that Boundary Break was unblockable.

She jumped to the right, narrowly avoiding the powerful strike.

However, there was a follow-up.

"Second Sword—Moonlight Veil!"

"Wh, what...!?"

The two strikes I had set up during the exchange grazed her left shoulder and side.

Fresh blood trickled down Idra's white skin.

(...Good reaction...)

The moment Moonlight Veil made contact with her skin, she reflexively twisted her body—thus avoiding a direct hit.

"Haah...!"

"..."

Idra, with multiple cuts, and I, still almost unscathed.

So far, the battle was heavily in my favor.

Then, as the match temporarily paused,

"What, what, what is this!? The completely unknown Allen Roadel is completely overwhelming the 'Prodigy' Idra Luxmaria! Incredible, Allen! Who could have predicted such a level of skill!?"

The commentator raised his voice to hype up the audience.

However, the audience fell silent, watching our battle with bated breath.

Then,

"You... No, Allen, you're strong... I never thought I would lose in swordsmanship..."

Idra, looking regretful, sheathed her two swords.

At that moment, I realized.

(Finally... It's coming...!)

The tension in the air intensified, and her presence grew even more formidable.

"Without Soul Armament... You might be the best of your age..."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

'Without Soul Armament'—an impossible condition in a match between top-tier swordsmen.

"I want to give you everything...!"

The moment she said this with determination,

"Manifest—<Azure Sky Lightning>!"

Two spears resembling blue lightning bolts suddenly appeared from the empty space.

(Soul Armament...!)

The absolute wall of talent that always stands before me—Soul Armament.

(This is where the real battle begins...)

This is the full power of the 'Prodigy' Idra Luxmaria.

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

"Ah, come on...!"

And thus, the 'deadly battle' between Idra and me finally began.