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

Furthermore, the bombs are nearly infinite.

(…I’m beaten. At this rate, I can’t win…)

Her abilities were a bad match for me, who doesn’t have a soul dress.

I look around to see if there’s any breakthrough solution – we’re on a stage.

There are no shields to block the explosion, no trees to hide behind.

Then, when glancing around left and right, Ria’s image was reflected at the edge of my sight.

「Allen…」

She linked her hands tightly in front of her chest as though praying for my victory.

Even in such a desperate situation – she believed in my victory.

(…I’ve got to strengthen my resolve.)

The explosion of that owl is much larger than that of the swallow and the crow.

But it’s much smaller than the oversized explosion I saw at Daido Firm.

(…It’s okay. The explosion is not at the level that would blow my body into pieces.)

Strengthen my resolve.

The resolve to jump into the explosion.

The resolve to bear the pain until the end.

Above all – the resolve to survive.

After solidifying my determination and resolution,

「UOOOOOOOHHHHH!」

Just straight – I took the shortest distance towards Claude-san.

「You fool, so you’ve given into despair!」

As she swung down the long sword,

「FURORORORORO…!」

The owl began to fulfil its role by nose diving.

「HA!」

At the moment of slashing the huge imminent bomb, a dazzling light overflowed.

（……）

In the next fraction of a second, my body will be frozen by the pain that will follow with the explosion.

(…Don’t fret! Move Forward!)

The next moment I stepped into the light, inspiring myself – a big explosion occurred.

Heat wave, blast, and stone fragments – hit my whole body like a storm.

My field of vision was completely blocked by the smoke from the explosion.

「D-Direct hit…!?」

「O-OiOi… Did he die?」

「It was a huge explosion… he actually might have.」

There was a stir in the audience.

「A-Allen…? Please tell me it’s a lie…?」

This was Ria’s quavering voice.

「That’s why I told you to surrender… You fool.」

And this was – Claude-san’s voice!

While the smoke was keeping her out of sight – I relied only on her voice and grasped her position.

And then,

「-It still isn’t over, you know?」

「Wha!?」

I pierced out of the cloud of smoke and raised the signal of counterattack.

「Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu!」

「Guh!?」

Claude-san was in anguish, as two slashes struck her shoulder and leg.

「Ki-Kisama… are you invulnerable!?」

「No, of course your attack was effective…!」

I swung my sword determinedly even while exchanging words.

「Kuh!」

On the other hand – she was forced to be on the defensive.

(Yoshi…! I have the overwhelming advantage now that the distance has been closed…!)

(Dammit… I can’t use the bombs when he’s this close…)

〈Avio Troop〉, its ability is manipulation and explosion.

Both are good for medium and long distance fights.

In addition, the shape of the long sword.

A long sword is a medium-ranged weapon, and at this distance, she can’t counterattack easily.

(I will finish things here!)

「Fifth Sword – World Judgment!」

As I tried to unleash a large swing, Claude-san expressed a smile.

「I’ve already prepared a countermeasure to deal with the weakness of close-combat.」

When she suddenly opened her right hand,

「Pii!」

There was a small parakeet made of a pebble.

(Was she concealing it…!? But if it’s an explosion of this size – no problem! )

「HAAAAAAAA!」

The moment I swung down the certain kill blow.

「Piiiiiiiiiii!」

A dazzling light burst from the parakeet’s body – my field of view was enveloped in white.

It wasn’t a bomb, it was a flash bomb.

「Kuh!?」

When I was deprived of sight by the violent light, I exposed a huge opening.

「-Right there!」

Claude-san slashed my defenseless abdomen.

「Gaha…!?」

I felt a sharp pain, and jumped back at once.

My flickering vision gradually became clear, and when I immediately check the condition of the cut wound,

(…Eh?)

Strangely enough, the wound was shallow.

(Did she not cut through properly…? Or did she not step in properly?)

In any case, I was saved by her mistake.

And when I felt relieved,

「Ki-Kisama, do you usually eat iron or something…!? (The sword doesn’t cut through…!? That’s impossible, what hard skin… In the first place, he’s unhurt after that huge explosion!? Body strengthening-type soul dress… No, there is no sign of that. Damn… What kind of magic did he use!?)」

While turning pale, Claude-san shouted something that doesn’t make sense for some reason.

「…What are you saying? Of course not…」

I’ve never heard of anyone who eats iron.

「Then – here I come.」

And when I stepped forward,

「……」

Claude-san took a step back.

Her complexion had turned pale, and her previous confidence had completely disappeared.

(I’ve already gotten used to the explosions.)

Either〈Avio Troop〉has weakened, or my body has adapted to the explosion.

Even though it was a big explosion, it didn’t do as much damage as I had expected.

Now, even if I was subjected to a series explosion of the swallows and the crows, I will probably not bear a single wound.

(There’s nothing to fear anymore.)

All I have to do is solely attack!