Chapter 67 - Bounty Head and Awakening [10] (1/2)

67. Bounty Head and Awakening [10]

Mine and Zack’s gaze met,

「HAAAAAAAAAA!」

「NUUUOOOHHH!」

We started running at the same time as though it was prearranged.

「HA!」

「Nuun!」

Our swords clashed, and a tremendous roar rang out.

「True to your appearance… what brute strength…!」

「Za-Zahaha…! Same goes to you… A ridiculous strength from such a small body!」

Both our physical strengths were evenly matched.

From here on out, swordsmanship will decide the outcome.

(It’s a waste of time contesting strength… Let’s take distance for the time being, and reorganise.)

When I was thinking that,

「Blaze Shield!」

He suddenly deployed a flame shield at zero distance.

「Wha, at this distance…!?」

My vision was filled red, and intense heat assailed my eyes.

「Kuh, Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu!」

When the eight slashes chopped up the shield, Zack was already far behind.

It seems that he hid his figure with the huge shield and jumped far back during that time.

He dropped his center of gravity and shot a『thrust』from far away.

「-〈Blaze Lance〉!」

A scorching lance was unleashed from the tip of the large sword.

「First Sword – Flying Shadow!」

In response to his long-range attack, I shot a flying slash.

However,

「Soft, too soft!」

The raging lance of conflagration penetrated Flying Shadow easily. And it rushed towards me without the slightest decrease in power.

「Wha!?」

I immediately jumped greatly to the right and avoided the lance-shaped flame.

(So Flying Shadow is not strong enough to push it back…?)

It seems that a Dark Roar class attack is necessary to counter the long-range〈Blaze Lance〉.

And while I was thinking about Zack’s attack and how to deal with it,

「-Right after you avoid an attack, you have to increase your guard a little bit more, you know?」

By the time I noticed, there was the figure of Zack brandishing his large sword, right before my nose tip.

「Shit…!」

「Inferno Style – Flame Slash」

Four slashes of flames approached at tremendous speed.

「Uh, Cloud Style – Cirrocumulus!」

I aimed for the gap right when the attack was about to land, and instantly unleashed four slashes which have a short launch time.

However, Zack’s sword was not weak enough to be outstripped by a makeshift attack unleashed from a disadvantageous position.

(What power…!?)

My four slashes were quickly broken.

I desperately twisted my body in an attempt to avoid it.

「Guh…」

Two slashes hit my right shoulder and left leg. Sharp pain of flesh being cut and dull burning pain ran at the same time.

While enduring it, I leapt back and attempted to reorganise.

(…Fortunately, the wound is not that deep.)

It will have no impact on the continuation of the battle.

(The problem is, how do I『break it』after all…)

Zack’s stance was the same as mine, Seigan no Kamae.

The large sword held in front of the navel did not tremble even the slightest – a frighteningly『natural』stance.

(…This stance is not something you can master overnight.)

His was more solid than anyone I’ve ever fought – his basis of swordsmanship.

I’m sure he has spent a huge amount of time training, together with his natural talent.

(…But it’s strange.)

There was one thing in his polished swordsmanship that bothered me.

「Did you learn that swordsmanship from a Holy Knight?」

From the basic posture to the defensive techniques and the way of stepping in up until now – Zack’s movement was exactly the same as the Holy Knight’s Swordsmanship Instruction Book.

And then,

「… Even if I may appear this way, I used to be a Holy Knight.」

He murmured so with a slightly bitter expression.

「What… !? Then why did you join the Black Organization!?」

An international organization that protects the peace of the world – The Holy Knights Association.

A large-scale criminal organization that disturbs the order of the world – The Black Organization.

These two entities are opposites.

「…There are things that you can’t do while serving in the Holy Knights Association.」

Zack whispered so with a grim face,

「-But now, I don’t care about such worthless matters! Come on, Allen! Your shine – show me more sparkly!」

He suddenly shouted, as if to erase the heavy air.

「Extol – Will-o-Wisp!」

Zack cried, and swung the large sword in a big arc.

Burning flames soared, and it gradually took the shape of a creature.

「「「-KON!」」」

It was blazing crimson foxes that were given birth by the conflagration.

The number was slightly over ten. Their sharp fangs bore towards me.

(No way, such power…… !)

Damnit, an ability with a wide range of applications…

「Zahahahaha Let’s begin with the climax!」

「…Come!」

After that, our sword exchanges were extremely fierce.

「Gyarururururu」

「Kuh…HA!」

When I cut the will-o-wisps that were being created endlessly,

「-Right there! Nuun!」

「Guh!?」