Chapter 45 - Vesteria Kingdom and Elite Guard [8] (1/2)

45. Vesteria Kingdom and Elite Guard [8]

The swallow and the crow flew around Claude-san as though protecting her, and the owl was looking down at me from a slightly higher position.

(…At first glance, it is a manipulation-type ability to control materials such as stones)

The simple increase in number will make it more troublesome, and because of its simplicity, it’s a powerful ability.

(But I still can’t say for sure…)

My opponent is the Elite Guard Captain, Claude-Stroganoff.

It is hard to think that her ability is just to manipulate objects.

(When you face an unknown ability… Attack!)

Attack, attack, and keep attacking – you must not allow the soul dress to be swung 『for offense』!

「HAAAAAAAA!」

I ran in a straight line towards Claude-san to control the forestall.

「You seem to know how to fight against a soul dress user… That’s a good decision. However, your opponent is a bad match.」

With enough time to spare, she swung down the long sword on the spot.

And then,

「Furorororo…!」

The owl flying over her head, began to nose dive towards me.

(Fast…!?)

It was different from a free fall.

It’s obviously a speed boosted by the power of soul dress.

However, this level of speed is no problem…!

「HA!」

The moment I cut the approaching owl right into two halves – Claude-san laughed.

「Burst!」

「Wha!?」

In that moment, the stone owl, emitted a dazzling light and burst into a huge explosion.

「Guh!?」

I jumped back greatly due to a split second judgment, but the stone fragments scattered by the blast, struck my body.

While my visibility was obstructed by the smoke,

「High King Style – Strong Strike!」

Claude-san started attacking in a flash.

「Kuh」

While in a disadvantageous posture, I raised my sword overhead horizontally to prevent the impending downward slash.

「A good response but – your abdomen is completely open!」

「Gaha!?」

Her sharp front kick struck my abdomen.

A dull pain ran through my body.

「〜〜!」

In order to regain a proper posture, I leapt back and took a distance.

「Fuu…」

Control your breathing, rethink the exchanges – analyze〈Avio Troop〉’s ability.

「…I see. Rather than just manipulating the object, it is the ability to manipulate after transforming the object that was cut into a『bomb』…?」

「Correct. So, your head isn’t half bad either.」

Saying that, she cut the cobblestones,

「Furororororororo!」

The owl, which was exactly the same shape as before, breathed again.

As long as there is the original material, it seems that bombs can be made infinitely.

(…This is a nasty ability.)

I bit my lower lip and checked my condition.

(The wounds… are not too deep.)

This was due to jumping back instantly and avoiding the heat wave and bomb blast.

The stone fragments only lightly cut my skin at most.

Damage from being kicked in the stomach has already been recovered.

(Yoshi… There’s no problem in continuing the battle.)

All that’s left is to find a way to defeat〈Avio Troop〉…

Then I put the sword in front of my navel and assumed the stance – Seigan no Kamae.

「Then, it’s my turn now!」

Claude-san swung her long sword just like a conductor’s stick.

And the next moment,

「CHI-CHiCHiCHiCHiCHi!」

「KUWAAAAAA-!」

The fist-sized swallow and crow drew closer at a tremendous speed.

(F-Fast!?)

It was much faster than the owl.

「SEI!」

At the moment of quickly cutting the two birds, a small explosion occurred.

「……」

I took a short step back and at the same time avoided all the scattered stone fragments.

(The speed of movement is dreadfully fast, but… The scale and power of the explosion is much smaller than that of the『owl』…)

Although it was barely, I can avoid all of the heat waves, blasts, and stone fragments.

Claude-san, who was observing my movements from a distance, spoke calmly.

「To be able to keep up with this speed, you sure do have a good sword speed.」

「…Well, thank you.」

When I replied briefly,

「-It can’t be helped, I’ll have to increase the『number』」

The next moment, she quickly slashed the ground.

「「「「「CHICHICHICHICHI！」」」」」

「「「「「GUWAAAA!」」」」」

There were five swallows and crows each – a total of ten breathing bombs.

「…Are you kidding me?」

Cold sweat flowed through my back.

(No matter how small the explosion is, this number is dangerous…)

「Now, dance!」

At the same time as her orders,

「「「「「CHICHICHICHICHI！」」」」」

「「「「「KUWAAAAAA!」」」」」

Ten bombs flying at high speed rushed towards me.

「Damn…! What an absurd ability…!?」

Then I concentrated all my nerves and slashed the approaching swallows and crows.

But it was difficult to avoid both blasts and stone fragments – and one by one, fresh wounds accumulated on my body.

「Haahaa…」

「Haa… No matter how much effort you’ve put in, you will never compare to『innate talent』in the end. Look at the present state – the state of battle has completely changed with one soul dress, right? Unfortunately, this is reality. Allen-Rodore.」

Claude-san, surrounded by many birds, described the futility.

I’m sure she’s already convinced of victory.

(Damnit… the distance, if only I can close the distance…)

As I clenched my teeth, I glared at the owl that was floating over her head.

As soon as I show signs of even a slight approach, she immediately takes a defensive posture with the owl.

(…It’s a really troublesome soul dress.)

If I draw closer, a large-scale blast of the big owl.

If I take distance, a continuous small-scale blasts of fast swallows and owls.