Volume 7 Chapter 6 The Power Of The Mad Beast
The promised time has come and I see the air was crisp.
The place Tsukiko had prepared was a mountain outside the prefecture. It used to be a village with a bad reputation, but now it has been abandoned for a long time and all that remains is open land.
It's just the right size for a fight.
"Well, shall we begin?"
Unlike yesterday, Kou, wearing a black fur coat and a gold ring on his wrist, said.
We don't need any warm-up exercises, but we can't just start like that.
"Hold on a moment. Lisha, set up Sanctuary."
"Yes, understood."
Lisha nodded and started dancing on the spot. Golden particles scattered and light enveloped the surroundings like a dome.
With this, even if we go a little overboard, there won't be much damage to the surroundings. Outside of Sanctuary, Tsukiko, Kanami, and Sharla are looking at us.
Kou glanced at them and casually said.
"Sharla aside, they're all good-looking women. Hasn't your luck with women remained the same even across worlds?"
"I won't deny your first statement, but stop making those kinds of remarks."
Or rather, if Sharla heard it, she would kill you.
"Hahaha, I'm relieved that you seem to be having fun. Maybe it's better not to hear about Eris's story? It's not like anything will change if you hear it."
"..."
"What's wrong, did I offend you?"
"No, I think you're right."
Even if I heard the truth at that time, it wouldn't change the present. The outcome has already been determined. Even if he expose what Eris tried to hide, no one will surely be happy.
Still, I won't leave the past as it is.
No, it's not just that.
I just can't help but want to know. Even if there is a hell waiting for me after I hear it, I want to know her thoughts.
"Don't worry. I have no doubts."
"...You've returned with some good eyes."
"Don't get cocky."
We approach each other and casually enter each other's range. Then, without any signal, our magic power swells up, covering my whole body in silver armor, and black sparks scatter from Kou's body.
"Haaaah!"
"Raaaah!"
And without thinking, we swing our fists.
A straight punch, only meant to blow away the opponent's face, becomes a flash and is released, colliding.
With a roar, emerald and black lightning burst open, and the impact swells into a spherical shape and bursts. We don't use our weapon. Instead, we were bare-handed. That's what Kou and I do at the beginning of the match, as usual.
Our fists are evenly matched and neither will yield.
Retreating here means losing.
Kou must feel the same. He crushes the ground with every step, increasing his strength even further.
If it were half a year ago, I might have been pushed back. But not now.
We continue to pour all our strength into our fists, trying to crush each other's fists. The balance is easily broken.
I'm not sure who deviated, but our fists, unleashed, pass each other and strike the opponent's face.
Dong! A dull sound and impact turn into light and reverberate in my head.
Ouch... Hey, what is it?!
"Hahaha!"
I immediately swing my next fist, and at almost the same time, Kou twists his body and delivers a blow.
Ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump! The sound echoes out of sync, exchanging hair-raising blows.
Kou's blows are not as refined as Shikin's.
He simply uses violence, relentlessly destroying everything in his path, as if technicality means nothing.
The speed and power of his attacks are such that a slight lapse in concentration would lead to everything being swept away.
"'It's the same as always.'"
I calmly brush aside his fist and counterattack.
"Oh!"
However, Kou easily avoided it, as if he knew the attack was coming from the beginning, he turned his body around.
Damn it. This is why fighting this guy is troublesome.
"Sharpen up more. You're lukewarm, Yuusuke."
Gah! The consecutive attacks hit my armor, piercing through my bones.
Kou's weapon is not just exceptional physical strength. It's intuition that surpasses even wild monsters.
According to Eris, he seems to have a super sense that can sense the slight fluctuations in magic power, but for us who are facing him, it's an extremely unfair situation.
If I let this guy get carried away like this, I'll be a punching bag.
Anyway, his pressure is tremendous, but his movements are easy to read.
"'Test and see if I'm lukewarm.'"
Thud! A dull sensation is transmitted to my fist. It's a counter blow that I delivered to Kou's abdomen.
No matter how much he tries to anticipate my movements, if I'm the one attacking, he can't avoid it. How many times do you think I've fought you? It may have been a while, but my body remembers.
"Ha!"
However, in the next moment, while being punched in the stomach, Kou's kick caught my cheek.
Ugh...!
At least show some hesitation, you wild beast.
From there, it was a complete brawl. We kept moving without stopping, repeating the act of striking and receiving blows.
I wonder how long we did that, we kept our distance.
Our bodies warmed up to some extent, but it seems the other side felt the same.
"Surprisingly, not bad. I thought you would be more sluggish."
"'It seems you haven't been fooling around with women either.'"
"Don't act like you can say that to me."
While saying that, Kou raised his arm and a long object wrapped in cloth flew towards his hand.
This is where the real thing starts.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
Kou spun the object, which easily exceeded his height, with one hand. The cloth was swept away, revealing its contents.
What Kou held in his hand was a staff adorned with black and gold decorations.
It's nostalgic.
Japanese staff techniques (Bōjutsu) are said to be like a spear when thrust, a naginata when swung, and a sword when held. And just as those words suggest, Kou's staff also launches attacks with ever-changing movements.
However, its essence is completely different. The numerous techniques that do not consider the concept of non-lethality in staff techniques have pierced through, mowed down, and crushed many demons.
I also materialize my bastard sword and face him.
"We could continue fighting like this, but well, I can't really afford to seriously injure you. I'll end it in the next round."
"'That's my line.'"
After saying that, Kou's smile disappeared and he spoke calmly.
"I've come to understand this world well. Your life originally belonged to this side, and you've lived peacefully since returning. I don't know who asked you, but there's no obligation for you to lend a hand in this fight now. No, you shouldn't get involved at all."
"'What are you trying to say?'"
"If you're going to fight, show your resolve. Both me, Sharla, Mevia, and even Eris. I won't allow you to participate in the battle with half-hearted intentions."
After saying that, Kou began spinning his staff with his right hand. It started spinning slowly in circles, becoming difficult to catch even with my eyes, and then accelerated.
I see, there's no lie in his words. He truly intends to test me seriously.
So, don't participate in the battle anymore, huh?
The last battle was invalidated because the goddess summoned me, but this time I'm participating by my own will. Above all, Kou doesn't seem concerned about such things.
In that case, there must be some other reason.
I readied my sword and began compressing my infinite magic power.
Regardless, my duty remains unchanged. No matter what he says, I won't retreat from this battle. I'll crush him mercilessly and make him tell me everything.
Now, Kou's staff had turned into a black disk, so distorted that it was impossible to tell if it was still rotating. The muffled sound coming from it and the distorted scenery surrounding it were the only indications of its abnormality.
As for me, jade light ran through my sword, trembling to the point where it seemed like it would collapse from within.
"Lisha, reinforce Sanctuary right away."
"Uh, yes, understood!"
I heard Sharla giving instructions to Lisha.
Was it because of that? Or was it just a gut feeling?
"'──!'"
"──!"
Both Kou and I moved forward simultaneously.
Kou jumped high, while I crouched down.
The black disk was raised, covering the sun.
Kou's magic, "Accel," relentlessly accelerated the target of reinforcement.
An outrageously powerful and simple magic.
The staff, swung at a speed almost equivalent to light, was no longer just a strike. It split the ground and caused tremors.
And the black disk fell in a vertical flash.
'Asward (Dark Wedge).'
It was impossible to avoid or intercept after seeing it.
That's why I relied on my senses. Due to the explosive acceleration of Kou's attack, there were no feints. But the killing intent pierced me before the attack did.
Now, I held my sword firmly and swung it straight up.
"'Froga (Flame Blade).'"
The jade flames clashed with the black lightning.
At that moment, the impact traveled through the sword and shattered my whole body. Destruction ran through every muscle and nerve.
This is Kougaru's strike.
The strongest hero (eiyuu) who has always crushed any difficulties that stood in our way head-on.
A comrade to rely on.
"'Haa, haa...'"
It's nostalgic. I really am fighting Kou again now. The one I thought I would never see again, not even his face.
It's ridiculous to feel it in this moment of crossing swords, rather than meeting face to face or exchanging words.
Because of that, magic power rejoices, circulating through my whole body, pushing back the impact.
Sparks scatter brilliantly from the armor, and the flames released from the sword gain momentum.
Who said I would participate in the battle?
Don't get carried away.
"'Kougarou!'"
The sword swept through the air, cutting through the darkness.
Swish! A slash ran through Sanctuary, splitting the clouds ahead.
But Kou was already gone from that spot. His accelerated body, powered by Accel, kicks and moves through the air or anything else.
Kou, who stood on the ground, clicked his tongue as the staff touched the ground.
"Tch, I thought I was really serious about hitting you."
"'It's just a lousy excuse for losing.'"
"Shut up."
He said with a deep sense of dissatisfaction.
"This time, it's your win, Yuusuke. It seems like the 'curse' has been lifted already."
"What?"
I heard strange words mixed in now. Maybe my head is still messed up from taking that direct hit from Asward.
Before asking about that, Kou said while facing the opposite direction.
"Well, I have no choice. I'll tell you as promised. The truth from back then."
"'...'"
As the armor unraveled and disappeared, I realized that fact a bit too late. Winning this battle means that.
And there's no guarantee that the truth I want to know is something convenient for me.
Cold sweat breaks out, and my knees tremble.
Still, I've escaped enough. If I continue like this, the beast inside my stomach will laugh at me.
Eris. I'll go see you again, the you from back then.
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