I knew it, without using magic, my power is diminished. My fighting style has become too reliant on brute force, and it's become sloppy.
Back when I first arrived here, this was the norm, but relying too much on magic has its drawbacks.
The warrior adjusted his spear as if nothing had happened. Falling back had put me at a disadvantage.
'Who's this guy? He's much stronger than those guys earlier.'
"I know. Pour all your magic power into yourself and strengthen the blade."
'What?'
Before I could respond to his question, the half-moon warrior's leg shifted, and in an instant, the spear exploded.
A storm of rapid thrusts aimed at my entire body. Leaves danced through the air as they were reduced to tatters, and the air was torn apart as they fled.
I dodged what I could with minimal movements, blocking the rest with the sword.
'Uoooooo!?'
The Youkai sword's cry reflected the intensity of the situation. It was raining blows from the side, and sparks flew everywhere, and pieces of the blade chipped off.
But I couldn't afford to retreat. There was still a boy behind me, and stepping back might drag him into danger.
While it was fast, I could still keep up. The real issue was whether the Youkai sword could hold up. It had magic power, but it was still an old, dull blade. It would probably break soon if we continued to clash like this.
Either way, as things stood, it was impossible to win against this monster.
'Gggrrrhhh!'
"Listen, Youkai sword."
'In this situation?'
"As I mentioned earlier... the limit of your magic is determined by you. Right now, you are the sword itself. Think about what you can do."
Without evolving his magic here, there's no chance of victory in this battle, let alone facing the demon.
'Uh...'
The Youkai sword fell silent. No, he was diving deep within himself, even in this dire situation.
Yes, during times of crisis, your true self is revealed. Even if it's vague, just touching the edges of that outline can broaden your world.
While I was doing this, the onslaught of thrusts grew even fiercer. The sensation of my skin being cut by fragments of the sword and the tiredness accumulating in my receiving arm became increasingly noticeable.
My arm is heavy with fatigue. A sickening sound echoes from the blade of the sword. It felt like the thread holding my life together was being cut.
Still, I kept on receiving. How much time had passed like this?
Finally, the moment arrived. The half-moon warrior must have grown impatient with my unyielding defense because its thrusts suddenly changed into sweeping strikes as if to snatch my sword away.
I managed to react in the nick of time, but my stance was broken. I couldn't avoid the next blow, and I took it head-on with the sword.
"――!"
With a high-pitched sound, light scattered, and the blade of the Youkai sword snapped in half from the middle.
The eye of the warrior beyond the spear's tip fixed its gaze on me, and a smile formed on its lips.
――But, it had finally happened.
'Aghhh!'
The loud, boisterous cheers echoed in my head. At the same time, the broken blade and the entire Youkai sword were enveloped in magic power.
It wasn't my magic power; it was overflowing from the Youkai sword itself.
Nevertheless, the half-moon warrior's thrust did not stop. A powerful final blow was coming.
With a cracked sword, there was no way I could have withstood that thrust, and as the half-moon warrior had planned, the tip of its spear should have pierced my heart.
However, in this single exchange, the Youkai sword exhibited greater strength than ever before and deflected the spear.
It was not the same defensive response as before. The warrior, carried by its own momentum, staggered and lost its stance, overwhelmed by the sheer power of the strike.
The warrior, albeit surprised, quickly spun its spear and took a step back to reset its stance. Its gaze was fixed on my hand.
The Youkai sword was no longer the dying old blade it had been. It now exuded an eerie aura, its dull color carrying a hint of wetness. Underneath the smooth ripples, its blade cut through the air with a radiant gleam.
The blade, which should have been broken, was now whole, with no signs of deformation, and its graceful curvature exuded a beauty that could easily be compared to that of a famous sword.
The handle was becoming more familiar in my hand. The overall weight and strength had increased, and I finally felt like I had a proper weapon in my hand.
"It's become quite sturdy. It's much easier to swing now."
'Heh... You're quite reckless, kid.'
"I have to be reckless to beat an opponent like this. This is just the starting line."
This Youkai sword had transformed by inhabiting a vessel and changing himself. I believe I had seen glimpses of this potential from the start. Originally, a tool shouldn't be able to move once inhabited, and it was strange that an old sword like this could be used in such a condition.
So, it wasn't so much an evolution as he was realizing his true power. Even so, it took tremendous courage to pull it off in this dire situation.
Otherwise, how could he have kept his consciousness alive for hundreds of years just for his brother's sake?
'But what now? Even though my body is healed, I can't get close to that range.'
"What can we do? We charge in and strike."
'But you couldn't get close earlier.'
It wasn't that I couldn't get close; I chose not to. Don't underestimate the difference of one letter. Misjudge that and the president will kill you at the reading.
But there was no use in repeating that now.
To get to Tsukiko as quickly as possible, I needed to push through here.
I took a step forward with the sword hanging in my right hand, casually entering the warrior's range.
I was already inside the warrior's range. Still, it didn't strike yet, waiting for the fastest possible moment. Even though I was here, it was still far from the fastest range.
Knowing that, I continued to advance.
'Hey, kid, stop! What do you plan to do?'
The Youkai sword's voice was annoying. Didn't I say we'd charge in and strike?
The tension between me and the warrior was palpable. Each step I took increased the tension.
And finally, the critical moment arrived, and the thread snapped.
"Ka!"
From what appeared to be minimal movement on my part, a flash of light became a spear thrust.
Well played. It aimed for the instant my leg was raised.
But I'd aim there, too.
But I didn't stop or retreat. I used my remaining leg to kick the ground, propelling myself toward the spear.
His aim was abdomen, the hardest part to dodge. With this intention to pierce through everything, it would be difficult to defend half-heartedly.
So, I twisted my body while maintaining top speed, avoiding it on the outside. I could feel my clothes and skin getting cut, but I didn't stop and kept moving forward.
I used my remaining leg to pin down its falling body and converted centrifugal force into propulsion. The warrior tried to pull back its spear for defense, but it missed the crucial strike, and this range was now mine.
I gathered power in my hips, shoulders, and arms while my entire body drew a spiral, channeling it into the sword. It was a pure sword technique ingrained in my body since I couldn't use magic.
"Roa Cress (Wolf Moon Blade)!"
The silver full moon on the blade severed the warrior's neck.
Its helmet spun in the air as it danced, and its spear fell to the ground, turning into light.
The outcome was decided.
I removed my residual energy and, while checking for any surprise attacks, prepared to sheath my sword. Then I remembered I had left the sheath near the boy.
'What... I can't believe you actually charged in like that.'
"I get used to it after receiving so much. But more importantly, it better fit in the sheath."
It was already quite different from the dullness from earlier.
As I spoke, I turned to look back, and the boy had risen to his feet, watching me.
"..."
He was on one knee but ready to run at any moment. It seemed like he had been injured, but that had already been staunched.
The expression he wore as he looked at me was one of utmost seriousness. It was the face of someone who would die if they misjudged whether I was an enemy or an ally.
It couldn't be helped, but it was still unnerving to be feared.
I took a deep breath and pushed back thoughts of Hinata that briefly crossed my mind. This wasn't the time to think about that.
I looked at the boy again from the front. He probably had some combat experience, and his high level of vigilance made sense.
But this boy had a unique way of moving his gaze. Usually, when people were cautious, they would focus on their opponent's eyes. But the boy looked at the ground more than my eyes. Perhaps he was using some form of magic or trying not to miss any of my movements.
Either way, I didn't intend to engage with that side more than necessary.
"Your wounds seem to be okay. If you can move, you should pick up the girl over there and get out of here."
"...Thank you for helping."
The boy politely nodded and continued to remain cautious.
"I just want to ask one thing, who are you?"
"What do you gain from extracting that information?"
"..."
As I asked, the boy fell silent.
Hmm, maybe that was a bit of a snarky response. I just didn't want him to probe too deeply.
"You don't have to be so guarded. I'm just an unlucky college student who happened to pick up this Youkai sword. I have some business with the Youkai or monser-like creatures up ahead."
"Youkai sword, you say?"
"That's right."
I raised the sword to make it easier to see. It's enveloped in magic power, so it should be noticeable.
The boy stared at the sword with cold eyes, apparently deciding that it would be pointless to ask further questions.
"Understood, thank you."
He said this and lowered his head again.
It seemed like he wouldn't move until we left. He didn't seem like he'd attack me from behind, though.
Well, I also wanted to head to the mountaintop as soon as possible, and our interests aligned.
But before that,
"Sorry, but could you throw me that sheath lying over there?"
After all, I need to properly sheathe what I've drawn!
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)