The fight begins with Sid being sent flying.
He crashes into the stone-paved floor with incredible force, then vomits out blood.
Olivie shows no mercy to the faltering Sid. Her Holy Sword flashes horizontally, aiming for his neck.
His head flies…… or at least, that"s what it leads everyone to think, so fast is the swing.
In actuality, Sid had squatted down, barely managing to evade Olivie"s sword. A deep「一」mark is carved into the stone wall behind him.
However, he knows that a follow up attack is coming immediately. And so, he takes a step forward to eliminate their maai.
But his efforts prove to be in vain.
Even faster than he can take one step forward, Olivie takes half a step back.
Olivie"s attack slams into the Sid caught defenseless halfway through a step.
With a high-pitched "kiin" sound, his sword snaps.
It seems that he had raised his guard in time, but the cost is half of his sword. And he still ends up slamming into the ground anyway, coming to a stop only after bounding several times.
This can no longer be called a fight, as one-sided as it is.
But this is only natural.
This is no time to talk about technique and whatnot. Their comparative strength, speed, stamina, and general physical stats are like heaven and earth.
Just like how a proper fight cannot be established between an adult and a baby, this tragedy is what results when a boy who cannot use magic crosses swords with a hero who can.
It is already a miracle that the fight did not end in the first exchange.
"Olivie, don"t let a mere brat give you trouble."
So says Nelson in a vexed tone, accompanied by a tsk.
While Olivie stops moving, Sid gets up. His attempt to wipe his nosebleed causes a streak to remain on his face. The sputum that he spits out with a "che" is unmistakably stained with blood.
He gazes at the half of a sword that he has left, then swings it as if in confirmation. It is almost as if he believes he would still have a chance to use that sword.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Nn?"
Sid tilts his head in puzzlement at Nelson"s question.
"Are you actually thinking that you can do something with that broken sword?"
"I wonder. But it"s true that the things I can do have decreased quite significantly."
"What"s with that face."
"Nn?"
"Why the f.u.c.k are you smiling."
Having been asked so, Sid touches his own face. He discovers that he really is smiling.
"There"s none that I find more offensive that those who do not understand their own place. The only reason why you are alive, is due in full to sheer luck."
Nelson waves his arm, at which Olivie once again springs into motion.
She takes his back once again effortlessly, then swings down her Holy Sword.
There"s no time for parrying, for blocking, nor even evading.
The only thing he can do is throw himself forward.
Then blood fountains from Sid"s back.
Skin is ripped, and muscles torn, but at the very least it was not a fatal strike. That is the only way that he has been able to hold onto life for so long.
Olivie continues her a.s.sault on the defenseless Sid.
It is a merciless onslaught that grants no respite.
Blood fountains again and again, as the number of not so superficial wounds on Sid"s body continues to grow.
However, he just doesn"t die.
"Wh-, how……?"
So questions Nelson. His voice is colored with disbelief.
"How are you still alive?"
Confirming that Nelson has indicated for Olivie to back off, Sid drags his bloodstained body up.
"Fights without conversation, are monotonous. That"s, why I"m still alive."
"What are you saying?"
"She has no heart. My questions, they fall on dead ears."
He laughs somewhat sorrowfully. That mouth of his is glistening with the bright color of blood.
"That"s enough. Kill him."
The gaze in Nelson"s eyes is as if he"s looking at something disgusting.
But the moment Olivie moves, a figure jumps into the fight.
"Please stop."
The beautiful woman with jet black hair and violet eyes grabs Sid"s shoulders and supports him.
"What"s wrong?"
"Please, no more……"
So says Aurora in what sounds like a beg.
She had known it would end like this from the very start. The instant Aurora had laid eyes on Olivie, she knew that this woman is strong.
Aurora"s memory is incomplete. Her memories only tell her part of what happened in her life. And Olivie is nowhere in those memories. But for some reason, she knows that Olivie is dangerous. There"s no memory, but her heart is afraid, as if it knows.
That"s why she tried to stop this fight.
But in opposition to her expectations, Sid chose to take up his sword.
Maybe if it"s him…… Such a faint antic.i.p.ation had caused her to be late.
But this is already more than enough.
In her entire life of being despised and scorned, there has never been anyone who stood up for her, even at the cost of their own life. Now she has a memory that she would never forget. It"s already plenty.
"There"s no need for you to die. I"ll handle the rest somehow."
"What can a witch robbed of her magic do?"
So scoffs Nelson.
"I can at least help him to escape."
Aurora steps forward, as if to protect Sid.
"To think that I"d see the day where the witch protects someone. Is there anything more laughable than this? But…… if you swear to cooperate with us, then I won"t mind letting the brat go."
"Cooperate?"
"Indeed, cooperation. It"s all because you continue to reject us that we have been delayed so."
"What are you talking about?"
"Hmph, so do you don"t remember. Anyways, all you have to do is swear to cooperate. If you take too long, the brat may end up dying, you know?"
Aurora turns around and looks into Sid"s face for a moment.
"I understand……"
"Umm, can you guys not proceed the conversation all by yourselves?"
Sid"s laid-back voice thrusts in between the two"s conversation. Aurora turns around again, this time to glare at Sid.
"Look here, it"s for your sake that I……"
"No need."
Sid walks forward and stands in front of Aurora.
"I"ve been listening for a while, but why are you guys talking as if I"m going to lose? How disagreeable."
"I find you more pitiful by the minute, brat. To think that you don"t understand the situation you are in. If you had kept quiet and stayed obediently, I might even have actually let you go."
"As I said, no need."
Sid turns around, and looks at Aurora.
"And you, just stay there and keep watching."
"I"m tired of this. Just kill him already."
"WAITTT!!"
But Aurora"s hands are not long enough.
Sid steps in and collides into Olivie.
Olivie meets his tactless and frank charge with her Holy Sword.
Her choice is a thrust.
That attack of unbelievable speed tears through the air, and plunges into his abdomen.
With complete ruthlessness, her sword even reappears on the other side.
"…… Caughtcha."
While impaled, he smiles, exposing all his bloodstained teeth.