KANNA 74
《mental strength is now spirit, spiritual strength》
100% accuracy and grammatically correct not guaranteed. revisions, corrections and edits are periodically done. only on my site tho. corrections are welcome
obligatory text shiken!
C-rank proficiency examーhis biggest weapon is…
shiken ka..yada na..
We arrived at the test venue.
The place is similar to the guild registration exam hall and the place where me and Ruks had our duel, only considerably larger.
「This place was designed with large scale magic in mind. Accordingly, it is st.u.r.dy and cannot be easily destroyed by anything less than strategic-cla.s.s magic.」
I gave up trying to run away so Answerer released me and I followed him.
Under the condition they would not interfere with the exam, Chloe and ossan were allowed to accompany us. It’s a rare chance for them to observe the rare rank in battle after all. Or maybe they wanna see me miserably beaten up?
The venue already has a preceding occupant. It’s Cindy-san.
「Kannsama, Answerer-sama. I have been waiting for you. I will serve as the witness for this examination. I am also the healer in case of emergency, so please feel free to battle to your heart’s content.」
Heart’s content………is it.
My opponent is a powerhouse who reigns at the same rank as that Real. Such strength is encouraging to have at the same side of a fight but facing them head on is a suicidal act. I won’t say sure, no problem but can I even provide a satisfactory battle if I go [all out], such doubt comes up.
「The details of this proficiency exam is simple. We will have the both of you battle each other and it ends when Kannsama becomes unable to continue or when either myself or Answerer-sama says [halt]. Regardless of whether you win or lose, you will pa.s.s the exam if we adjudge that you [fulfill the criteria].」
After giving a brief explanation of the rule, Cindy-san steps back.
「Kannshiiiii! Do your best de gozaruuuu!!」
Chloe is cheering for me from the corner of the venue. Barlhardt next to her, has both his arm folded while facing here with a serious look. He’s keeping a watchful eye, determined not to miss even a single frame from the impending fight.
「Kannkun.」
Answerer addresses me while drawing the long sword from his back.
「There is no need to conceal your [card] as you did during the your registration exam and the duel uproar. It would be best if you come at me with your utmost. Otherwise, there is no point in conducting this exam.」
「…………………」
「It is okay to have a card up your sleeve. Rather, that much is expected. However, not using a hidden hand or the likes when it should be dealt is the same as not having them. You can think of this exam as a good place to try them out.」
《might be wrong 3rd sentenceだが、切るべき時に迷わずに切れない手札などあって無いも同然だ。 》
As he settles into middle stance, his whole body relaxes as well, belying the strong [fighting spirit] from his eyes. There is no explosive pressure like that of Real’s but on the contrary, there is a deeply oppressive atmosphere.
At first, I came as an unwilling test partic.i.p.ant but having come this far, I’m finally proactive about it. To what extent has my strength reach at this point? Let’s have the rank adventurer make a personal judgement about it.
As long as the way to return back to earth has yet to be found, I’ll be relying on Spirit Art. Besides, I haven’t been able to have a bout with Real lately and it’s not a bad idea to know how far I can go against a [higher rank] opponent.
While checking the condition of equipments on both arms and legs, I said…
「I have………a favor to ask.」
「What is it? I won’t accept a request to restrain myself, okay?」
「I ask for the details of this proficiency exam to be held a secret as much as possible.」
「………In other words, you don’t mind not taking this test unless we accept?」
My utmost means, to show Spirit Art more than just adequately. And once that happens, everyone in this room will notice that Spirit Art is [unorthodox], different than regular magic.
After all, there’s no mana involved in it. I’m not talking about what to do about it but I can’t deny the possibility that problems may arise from that direction.
「All right. At the very least, I need to report to Lydeal-sama but I swear I will not divulge to anyone else. Are you fine with this, Cindy-kun and you two over there?」
No one objected. Upon receiving their consent, I take out the blue gem I had previously used as a mock-magical tool from my chest pocket. With the gem as an origin, I manifest the familiar large axe.
「It’s not against the rule to prepare weapons in advance, right?」
「I don’t mind. However, please refrain from producing more than one.」
I had prepared an ice axe in advance for the duel with Ruks and I know it wouldn’t be a problem. Honestly, I want to [prepare] as much as possible before fighting a superior opponent but I give up. At least I managed to place the minimum one card on my hand. All I can do now is to improvise during the fight.
「Then, both sides, please prepare.」
Cindy-san gently raises one hand.
I hold the axe with both hands while Answerer narrows his eyes to concentrate.
ーーーNow then, let’s do a quick review. Answerer’s alias is [One Who Answers the Future (Fragarach)]. From what Barlhardt has seen in the past, his fighting style is a counterattack type. His strategy incorporates the long sword and the [small shield] equipped on his left hand to precisely counter the enemy after observing their movement.
In short, purposely letting the enemy attack first and retaliate with a lethal blow. I understand his modus operandi. That being the case, the important thing is not to step into his playing field.
I exert more strength holding the axe and slightly tighten my arm holding the upper part of the handle. And then…
「ーーーCommence!」
At the same time as Cindy-san’s hand drops down…
「fu!!」
Secret techniqueー[A weapon is something to be thrown]!
I throw my weapon without hesitation right after the start.
If I pile the minimum amount of strength on top of the spirits’ power, it’s more than enough for a power throw despite with nearly zero initial motion.
No matter how insightful you are, if you can’t see the [beginning] of my action, I’m sure your reaction will be delayed. While Answerer is busy handling my thrown weapon, I’ll jump backwards to create my [long distance] playing field.
That was the gist of my strategy.
However, the rank adventurer’s action easily broke my expectation.
Answerer steps in right in front the incoming axe and nimbly ward it off, as if he knew I would throw the axe from the outset.
「fumu As expected.」
While affirming my guess, Answerer steps in further. The distance I was planning to increase is being reduced instead. He swings his sword at me as soon as I got into his slashing range while I’m still in the posture to jump backwards.
ーーーbaginnnn
The slash aiming at my left side upper arm where I’m not covered by the tekkou is blocked by the Reactive Ice Field deployed there. While Answerer becomes slightly wide-eyed, I’m blown away by the momentum of the slash. Despite being shaken by the impact, I roll on the ground and manage to distance myself from Answerer.
Things deviated quite far from the plan but strictly looking at the result, it’s a success. It’s a sore spot to lose one Reactive Ice Field early on but on the flip side, should I be relieved that only one was needed?
「………An automatically activated magical formation, is it? A high ranking magician tends to be negligent in their personal protection but that does not seem to be the case for you.」
Answerer mutters so without immediately pursuing me as if impressed but I spared no time to answer while consolidating my image. Raising both hands overhead, I manifest approximately 50 ice cones.
「KKannshi is very serious de gozaru na………」
I’m super serious, Chloe.
I was made to understand from the get go. The moment I think that he’s one step behind, I’d immediately be cut down. If I don’t push him into my pace even by force, this will end in an instant!
「All bulletsーーsimultaneous launch!」
I fire all the cones at once, with the ends [flat], instead of [pointed].
「Did you judge that shooting at one location could be avoided? Not bad but still naïve.」
Answerer didn’t show even an ounce of agitation in face of the approaching ice hail, advancing leisurely in the midst of it.
「ーーー! That much of an attack…」
Barlhardt is amazed at the scene happening in front of him. Answerer is [waltzing through] the ice hail with a leisurely gait, as if he’s taking a stroll.
「It looks like you increased the number too much. Your control is not pervasive, leaving a slight gap as a result. If I exploit that opening, it’s surprisingly not that difficult.」
That’s plain impossible dontcha think!
gh Gotta put the lid on the tsukkomiーー
「ーーI’m not done yet!」
The ice I created by using Spirit Art is under my control until the spirits’ protection is removed. One of the cones stuck into the ground behind Answerer still has spirits remaining inside it and I relay an order to aim at his back.
「No hesitation to attack an enemy from behind huh. Apparently your frame of mind is not so naïve. Splendid.」
Without even turning around, Answerer avoids the incoming ice cone by turning his body sideways while conveying his satisfaction.
Upon witnessing that sight, it can’t be helped that I’m stunned. Honestly, that one shot aimed at Answerer’s back was my real attack. To be precise, I was planning to agitate him using the simultaneous launch and earn more time with the single shot from behind.
But in reality, the simultaneous launch was surprisingly avoided. Even that sneak shot showed no effect whatsoever.
『I don’t have the leeway to think.』
I didn’t think of anything past this development. All the precautions I made to earn time for thinking were crushed without any efficacy. Normally, this is where I single-mindedly push onwards or solidify my defenses to earn more time.
「ーーRegrettably, I cannot grant you that time.」
Answerer steps in again while uttering words that foresaw what was in my mind.
I strengthen my defense by manifesting ice on both arms’ tekkou and extend its surface area. With the enlarged defense on my tekkou, I catch his swift slash. I didn’t get blown off like the first time thanks to the fact that I was able to brace myself but I couldn’t withstand the impact enough for a counteroffensive.
ーーーbaginnn!
Repeated slashes tore through the ice I deployed on the tekkou, causing the Reactive Ice Field on my right arm to activate and subsequently shatter.
「Upon closer observation, that is disposable huh. Then, if I continue to attack the same areaーー」
………!
He already saw through the weak point of my barrier. Following that, the ice barrier on my right foot and left flank are broken. If anymore are broken, I won’t be able to defend myself.
「How’s this!」
After receiving several more slashes, I split the ice from my tekkou, forming it into pebble size and showers Answerer with it.
As if he knew the timing beforehand, Answerer leapt backwards and avoided most of the pebbles. And immediately after he lands, he rushes back in.
I need to obtain more time and distance one way or another, so I throw an ice shuriken while backstepping. Answerer’s rush on the other hand, didn’t abate at all.
Using his small shield and long sword, he flings away all the shurikens I threw and once again, draws close to me. His sword is coming from above. History will repeat itself if I get caught in a melee clash again. I don’t have that much Reactive Ice Field crystal left.
『I really don’t wanna resort to this!』
I pour all the strength I have into the spirits residing inside the ice on both my hands. In response to my will -[pulled backwards]- I’m transported to the rear at once with my hands still on the ice, moving at a speed faster than simply jumping backwards.
Answerer couldn’t respond to this and his longsword slashed empty air.
「ーーtssp G.o.d, that’s harsh…………!!」
When I release the [aerial control] from both arms, a dull pain runs through my head.
In a way, it’s the same as manifesting and launching an ice cone in the air. It would be easier to imagine if I say that my body is attached to the cone. It has already been proven that I can move my body by utilizing Spirit Art, specifically with the recently developed [ice board]. However, compared to the ice board’s operation which is to kick the ground for acceleration, the current transition goes from zero to top speed in an instant.
Since there is no initial speed, consumption of mental strength is likewise intense. It’s like driving a car with first and second gear that goes straight to the top. It takes a heavy toll on my spirit (engine).
It’s an evasion method that I came up with during my eating tour but it remains a defective technique that’s only useful during emergency and can’t be used frequently. Even so, I succeeded in getting the most distance up until now.
『I sure don’t have the time to think about the aftermath.』
Manifesting a giant sword in the air, I thrust it into the ground with force. The next moment, the glacial spike activates and swallows the exam venue’s floor.
「No longer keeping up pretense, is it?」
Despite the incoming spikes, Answerer is as calm as ever.
He leaps vigorously after bending both legs. After jumping over the waves of glacial spike, which protruded from the ground like a wave and had already finished blooming, he nimbly lands with one foot on a spike.
That’s beyond unexpected.
The Glacial Spike is an Art in which ice spikes protrudes from the starting point to the target sequentially. In other words, the technique’s power are concentrated at the wave’s front row, in contrast to the practically stationary rear where the wave has ended. If one lands at the rear part, in theory there’s almost no offensive power left.
However who would’ve thought that he would land on the pointed tip of the spike, even if it’s no longer protruding further.
Did he apply a special material on his soles? There’s no sign that he’s being stabbed by the spike nor does he show signs of slipping and losing his balance.
He jumps once again, reaching the s.p.a.ce above my head.
Due to the effect of exhausting my spirit, my body couldn’t start any evasive action. Emergency evasive maneuver also couldn’t be initiated for the same reason.
Still, I lift my left arm overhead and by consuming what little spirit I have left, I manifest an ice cone and launch it towards Answerer.
And yet, Answerer goes beyond my imagination even to this moment. He grabs the small shield on his left arm and throw it the way a discus thrower does.
At the halfway point between me and Answerer, the ice cone that I launched and the shield that he threw collided and blown off in two different directions. There’s no more obstruction between me and him.
And then.
ーーーkin!
「gaAAAAAAAAAAAAA! !」
A downward single slash from his upper stance slices my left arm.
Searing hot sensation is transmitted from the cut surface, triggering a scream out of my mouth. I spontaneously lost strength in my legs and get down on my knees.
Bathed in my fresh blood, Answerer slowly rises up from his end of slash position and sweeps away blood residue from his sword before sheathing it. And then he turns around to pick up the shield he threw away previously.
「Cindy-kun, please administer his treatmeーー」
Answerer’s gaze shifts to Cindy-san. He’s completely taken me off his sight. I never would’ve expected him to be this overwhelming. Or rather, [up until now] went too smoothly for me.
I got a powerful weapon called Spirit Art and through it, I was able to repel enemies who appeared in my way, no matter who or what they are. In one corner of my mind, there’s no doubt that I had the feeling of [I’m surprsingly strong]. For all that, look at how miserable I am against a higher ranking opponent.
Growing rapidly in the midst of a battle to defeat strong enemiesーthat sort of development is surely the cliché. Sadly, I don’t have the foundation to progress according to that [cliché]. The only one who can do that is [that prodigy].
Thus, with blood flowing and my strength spent, my fight against a [seasoned veteran] reach its end.
ーーーStill
………If I employ Spirit Art normally, Answerer will be able to avoid it, judging by his reaction speed.
………If so, I just have to manifest ice in an unusual way. ………Fortunately, the [material] is right around the corner.
………If I freeze that, I’ll be able to launch the fastest, most powerful attack.
………This is just an exam. It’s not where I put my life on the line.
Still…to end it like this is………
………unpleasant.
I’ve forgotten about it for quite a while now. My biggest weapon is neither the Spirit Art nor taking down enemies by surprise.
ーーIt’s struggling to the very end………my last ditch disposition!
『Answerer, I haven’t heard the end signal from you yet!』
Overcoming the severe pain with even more fighting spirit.
「ーーーgaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!」
This time I’m pouring all the spiritual strength I have left to appeal to the spirits.
Answerer’s disconnected focus returns back to me because of my unintentional shout but you’re too late!
My cut off left arm. Fresh blood that flows from it are [frozen] and floating in the air. Become a blade and unleash it on Answerer!
「guuooooo…………………!」
The red blade gouges Answerer’s cheek. The same color as the blade flows out of the wound.
『For my cut off arm, I only got a cheek wound huh.』
I feel a great deal of frustration and a small sense of satisfaction in my heart. This time at last, I lost consciousness due to the severe pain in my arm.
hai owari desu
《middle stance=seigan no kamae, upper stance=jodan no kamae》
《wonder if author-san has experience driving manual. doing that will damage/wear out the gearbox, true but its better to rev at 2nd or 3rd to get traction》