424 Chapter 424: Sparks Liner High (2/2)

Realizing the urgency of the situation, and knowing that I must do whatever it took to stop her from casting her spell, I accelerated my movements. I poured more energy into my limbs, hastily defending and looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

One opening…all I needed was just one opening!

Chip!

I cursed when I saw Castor and Pollux being chipped away slowly but surely. As I said, I already knew how fragile my Constellation weapons were, especially when compared to real weapons. At this rate, Kureha would smash through them…

Damn it…I only had enough mana left to summon Gemini one more time. Twice if I really, really pushed myself. I was running on near empty, with no mana left in my metaphorical tank. To be more accurate, I was running on fumes, and I was surprised that I could still somehow keep up and continue fighting against such a formidable opponent in my current state.

Whatever. That wasn't important. Focus on the moment. Focus on blocking and parrying her attacks. Concentrate on finding that opening, patiently wait for that opening, and then…!

\”Ugh!\”

\”...!\”

I instinctively jumped back before my mind registered the movement. To be honest, it was more of Kureha's attack pushing me back, and I made use of that opportunity to retreat and regroup.

\”Huff…\”

Bending over, I attempted to catch my breath. My body felt as if it was on fire, my muscles burning and shrieking from overexertion. I swear, I tore a ligament somewhere. Sweat dripped down my face and skin, mixing with the clotted blood that had dried up after my clumsy efforts to stem the bleeding by freezing my wounds.

Wiping the perspiration from my face, I studied Kureha while still holding my severely damaged Gemini twin swords. Somehow I had managed to withdraw about ten meters away from her, and even Kureha would need to take a couple of steps to close the distance.

But she didn't, and chose to remain standing where she was. For now, I could relax just a fraction, but I couldn't get complacent. I couldn't afford to lower my guard, but I knew I had to relieve some of the tension that was knotting my burning muscles.

Thanks to that, I was able to recover my breathing and straighten myself. Assessing the situation, I briefly closed my eyes. Kureha didn't seem as if she intended to blast me away with her Excalibur. Did she not have the mana to cast that spell again? Or did she think there was no need to?

She would pay for underestimating me if that was the case.

No…I was naïve. Kureha was thinking long term. She wasn't just considering this match. She also had her eye on the team match – knowing her, she was definitely going to participate in the team match and lead Saint Teresa Academy to victory. For that purpose, she needed to conserve some mana in order to unleash Excalibur upon my teammates.

Foolish. Conserving all that mana would be for naught if she lost here and was eliminated from the team match. Not that she ever considered that to be a distinct possibility. She was confident that she could best me in a match of swordsmanship alone. If anything happened beyond her calculations, then she could always unleash Excalibur then.

…her confidence was not unfounded. As much as I hated to admit it, I realized that I was horribly outmatched.

\”…five attacks, huh?\”

Judging from our exchange so far, and my current condition, I could only block five more attacks from Kureha. I couldn't tell what would happen after that. Most likely I would collapse…or Kureha's strikes will finally find a way past my gradually crumbling defenses and finish me off once and for all.

To prevent that from occurring, I had to find an opening within the next five attacks and hit her with everything I had.

\”Impossible,\” Kureha repeated as she stared at me. \”You cannot hurt me with such reckless tactics…cannot even put a scratch on me, never mind defeat me.\”

\”Did you just read my mind or something?\” I asked dryly. The Sword Saint shook her head.

\”No. it's just that your intention is clearly written all over your face.\”

\”Hah…\” I sighed heavily as I pushed my glasses up. \”I see.\”

\”Do you honestly think you have a chance, even though you know how bad your condition is?\” Kureha paused for a moment, and then closed her eyes thoughtfully. \”No. you are recklessly charging ahead precisely because of your current state. Your body has reached its limits. You've lost a lot of blood and you have practically no mana left. I shall obliterate you in this next exchange of attacks.\”

\”Right. You can try.\”

What was with all my opponents and their futile attemtps to persuade me to surrender? Were they trying to beat me with Talk no Jutsu or something? Come on, if you want to win, you had to earn your victory.

However, I also knew that Kureha had a point. She was mostly right. It was highly impractical and unlikely that I would win against her. Even if I was in the best of shape, in my peak form, I would still have found her a very difficult opponent to deal with, let alone when I was horribly weakened and drained of mana. It was only my stubbornness that led me to insisting on taking this fight.

With only enough mana left to summon one or two more times, I had to do my best to defeat Kureha with the Constellation swords I had right now, or distract her long enough to retrieve my real swords. The second option was proving challenging, for Kureha had decisively placed herself in the path between me and my real swords.

\”Hmph. I always like a challenge.\”

For a moment, it seemed as if I was lowering my Gemini twin swords in surrender, but I began laughing.

\”I'm sorry, Kureha, but if you want this victory, you'll have to earn it the hard way. I have no intention of just giving up…not when I still have even the slightest chance of victory.\”

\”…understood. I suppose I won't ask for anything less.\”

Then Kureha narrowed her eyes, almost glaring at me.

\”But if that's the case…why are you still holding back?\”

\”I'm not holding back,\” I replied, puzzled. \”It's not as if I intend to participate in the team match or something. I really am using all my strength right now.\”

\”Hmm…really? I must be mistaken then.\” Kureha appeared to muse to herself, and then she shrugged off her doubts. With her free hand, she beckoned me over. \”Let's settle this once and for all, Richard. Come.\”

\”All right then. Resolve yourself.\”

Taking a deep breath, I faced Kureha and reached inwardly for my final trump card. The only move that I could use now that my mana was almost depleted to nothing.

\”Stargazer, unleashed.\”