In an ideal scenario, it's wise to cautiously evaluate an unknown opponent, but my instincts didn't allow for that luxury. I needed to get closer to him as quickly as possible.
As if to confirm my decision, he raised his wild blade, and at the same time, the air trembled, resonating with a voice.
'Dakatsu (Chaotic Serpent Strike)!'
A black serpent bared its fangs and lunged at me.
Hold on, was that his voice just now? Since this entire space was enveloped in magic energy, the situation might be closer to a connection between me and the youkai sword than I initially thought.
However, the real problem was the black strikes. Their unpredictable, irregular movements made it almost impossible to anticipate where they would strike.
I tried to dodge them at the last moment, but it seemed like the serpent could predict my movements.
I barely managed to block the attack in time.
"?!"
'Nuguaa!!'
Unexpectedly, my body was jolted by a powerful impact.
I struggled to keep my balance before being thrown back.
But I eventually came to a stop, and the relentless attacks of the serpent closed in.
This was bad. It was even harder to evade than I had imagined, and its power was substantial.
I hadn't suddenly gained more swords, so I needed to find a different way to close the distance.
"Hah!"
I pushed the approaching serpent away with a powerful swing. Black and silver clashed, sending a heavy impact through both of my hands, but I managed to deflect it.
Dealing with these unpredictable slashing attacks wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible if I prepared to accept them from the start.
After pushing the serpent aside, I quickly closed the gap between us.
However, he reacted swiftly. He immediately pulled back his arm and attacked from a different direction.
This time, he aimed for my legs. I instinctively lifted my leg to dodge, but I soon realized I had fallen into a trap.
The slashing attack mocking my movements leaped upward, heading straight for my neck.
Such quick judgment.
Avoiding one attack wouldn't be enough; the next would follow immediately.
I met the blade aimed at my throat with the center of my hilt, feeling the impending threat closing in on my neck. With all my strength, I pushed it back.
"Rah!"
I shoved the serpent aside and continued running. I didn't want to get bitten again. As I ran, I sent a flurry of wind blades one after another.
They were all deflected by his wild blade, but that was fine.
I navigated through the black storm, finally closing the gap between us.
Now was the time to press forward. His wild blade had a longer blade than my youkai sword. While shaking my body from side to side, I kept slashing relentlessly.
But my fiery onslaught didn't last long.
He easily defended against all of them. He didn't move particularly fast, and there was no sign of him using any magic. He simply read my movements, dodged, and sometimes launched counterattacks with skillful feints.
This oni excelled not only in magical energy but also in swordsmanship. I had gone from being the attacker to feeling cornered.
I couldn't see any openings at all.
"Ugh!"
I miscalculated. His strength was beyond my expectations.
Usually, I'd use magic to forcefully create an opening, but I couldn't do that right now.
No, this was beyond a regular opponent. Shouldn't I be using magic instead of my petty selfishness? Even if it meant revealing my true identity to Tsukiko, even if she would see me differently?
Simultaneously, flashbacks of many faces flooded my mind. Fear, fear, and fear.
Why did they look at me with such eyes? It wasn't a look meant for a human; it was the gaze one would give a monster.
I felt a terrible weight, and when I looked down, I saw many hands clutching my black, tarnished silver armor. Torn apart, reduced to mere bones and skin, yet those fingers clung to the armor with the strength of a vice.
This was a sin.
All those who had given their lives for me, all those I had killed—everything clung to me without fading.
This monster, it was only natural that it was feared.
So, how would Tsukiko look at me? What would she think of me? I couldn't erase that fear no matter what.
Even so, I was supposed to be prepared. I couldn't change my priorities.
While I struggled with manipulating my magic power, I constructed the magic of 'My True Name.'
At the moment I was about to activate it, an unprecedented surge of magic power emanated from the youkai sword.
"Kid, what are you doing?"
'What else? We're at a dead end like this. I'll open up a path with my magic.'
He must understand this as well. In our current state, it's not even possible to hurt the oni, let alone kill him.
But the youkai sword shouted with determination.
'Do not break the covenant, kid! This battle is mine. Know that it is this sword's duty to slay him!'
"You..."
I immediately realized those words weren't sincere. Certainly, there might be a desire to take him down with his own hands, but if that couldn't lead to victory, it was pointless.
However, the youkai sword stirred itself and continued.
'Once a man has made up his mind and spoken, he must follow through!'
――I see, that's right.
Thank you, I thought in my heart as I entrusted myself to the overflowing magic power from the youkai sword.
Deeper and stronger.
Perhaps it was because the option of 'My True Name' had remained in my mind, but my connection with the youkai sword had been lacking.
I will entrust my life to him. In return, please respond to my image.
The azure magic power overflowing from the blade covered my arm. It felt as if the tip of the blade had become a part of my body. I could now even feel the subtle flow of the wind against the blade.
The dull silver had turned into a deep blue, radiating an imposing presence that truly befitted a youkai sword.
Even so, after clashing with the oni just now, I realized that defeating him with the power of the youkai sword alone was impossible.
The grudge within him had grown too strong.
So, there was only one choice for me to make.
"Tsukiko!"
Without averting my gaze from the demon, I shouted. I didn't expect a response; it was more to convey a faint strategy to pull off a narrow victory.
"I'll buy time. Take the opportunity to hit him with your magic!"
I had seen Tsukiko's magic before, and it possessed considerable power. If her magic could hit the oni, he wouldn't come off unscathed.
There was no response from Tsukiko.
Even so, she should be able to do it. She never gave up against Luiid, even until the end.
There were two problems: how to create an opportunity for Tsukiko to gather her power and how to ensure her attack landed.
We were the only ones who could create that opening.
While maintaining our distance, I stopped attacking the oni for a moment to assess the situation. I tried to regulate my breathing while keeping an eye on his movements, but the oni didn't allow for such a lenient thought process.
Whoosh! A dry sound echoed.
'Gunbu - Hiyousouku (Swarm Dance - Eagle Strike)!'
Like a beast that would tear me apart, several black strikes crawled along the ground, soared through the air, and rushed towards me.
I couldn't avoid them because they spread out to my left and right.
"Ugh!"
If I couldn't evade, I'd block. I anchored my legs to the ground, twisted my hips, and converted the gathered energy into centrifugal force.
With a slashing motion, I cleaved the space in front of me in the shape of a 'く,' slicing through both the upper and lower parts.
'Double Cress (Double Moon Blade)!'
The blue and black sword flashes collided and exploded.
I didn't think I could withstand the unrestrained black strikes after the Cress.
During the brief pause, I slipped through the opening, closing in on the oni.
My original swordsmanship involved powerful strikes. However, I had incorporated some deviations, keeping my movements continuous.
This fighting style relied on an endless supply of magic power and the ability to create various armaments in an instant.
But it was only possible with 'My True Name.' That's why, until now, I had attacked from multiple directions and aimed for counters.
This oni couldn't be defeated that way.
Remember. When I had just arrived in Asteris, I couldn't fight; the sword couldn't penetrate my opponent. I struggled against their unknown techniques, ran around aimlessly, and retreated from an opponent I couldn't beat.
What was the first technique I learned?
After being beaten thousands and thousands of times with a training sword and spitting up blood, the first thing I learned was how to receive an attack.
I was furious at the thought of Tsukiko being hurt. If we were buying time, there was no need to attack the enemy.
I just had to stand my ground, unbroken and unbowed.
For that to happen, I still needed to get closer to the oni. I had to be a threat to him.
If you think you can ignore me, then try it, oni. If you show even the slightest opening, this youkai sword will sever your head.
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