Translator: Jiro Editor: Ryunakama
「Kagutsuchi, I leave this to you.」
「Understood.」
Kagutsuchi? Wasn’t that the name of one of the small demons who were accompanying Urohime the other day? I see now. She can change her familiar’s appearance. I guess something like that must be quite easy for the Soul Heavenly Mage.
「I’m coming, Zeph, or whatever your name was…!」 Kagutsuchi said, gripping his katana tightly and slowly lowering his posture.
In truth, his actions weren’t slow at all. The only reason it looked slow to me was that I was focusing everything I had on observing him.
Before he even slashed I twisted my body to try and dodge.
However, the slash came down with unbelievable speed.
「Tsch…!」
I promptly put out my prosthetic arm in order to stop Kagutsuchi’s blade.
Furthermore, I couldn’t just break the arm that Lydia had worked so hard to repair, so upon receiving the strike I turned to try and slide the blade down my arm.
The sound of metal scraping was heard as the blade slid down the surface arm. The blade finally slid off my arm, however, as soon as it did so, Kagutsuchi twisted it and aimed it at my legs.
Just before the moment, the blade reached my legs I managed to cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast Red Crash and Blue Crash.
Double Fusion: Burst Crash.
An explosion burst forth and its impact assaulted me. The Synthesis between the Red and Blue systems, between heat and cold, caused a repulsion between the elements, creating an explosion.
It was an enormous explosion that would even damage oneself at close range.
And because of that explosion both me and Kagutsuchi were blown back.
「… Phew, scary.」
I swooped back a few feet, and when I landed, I cleaned the dust off my clothes.
I looked up in order to confirm what had happened to Kagutsuchi, however, upon doing that I noticed that he was already charging straight at me.
I once again used my prosthetic arm to repel his sword and created some distance between us.
Even I found it difficult to deal with Kagatsuchi’s power boost as a familiar within the Soul Tower’s Isolated Space.
「Are you scared? You’ve been running all this time.」
「Don’t worry, I’m coming any moment now.」
Just before his next attack could land I managed to cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast White Mail and Summon Servant.
Fusion Summon: Colored Servant White.
As time began to flow once more, a blinding light enveloped the Isolated Space.
「Hmph. I don’t know what you’re planning but…」
「Kagutsuchi, wait!」 Urohime yelled, stopping Kagutsuchi’s charge.
With a frustrated face, Kagutsuchi turned around to look at his master.
「Princess, why?!!! He’s most vulnerable when summoning!」
「Fufufu. If you had continued you would have turned into a skewer. You should thank your master.」 Ain said, appearing from within the light.
Damn, and here I preserved the spell just for a moment like that…
「Fufu. I am Ain… No wait. Currently you should address me as the Noble White Ain.」 Ain said in a boastful tone.
She was clad in beautiful silver armor and wielded a long spear and a shield in each hand.
Her armor had wings growing from its back, making Ain seem like a battle maiden.
White Mail was a spell that created soul magic armor and weapons that could counter the opponent.
And I had used that spell in combination with Summon Servant. Turning Ain into an anti-familiar weapon of sorts.
「OOOHHH! Everyone, Zeph summoned a familiar of his own!!! A showdown between familiars! You won’t want to miss this!」
As the announcer’s voice echoed in the arena, the cheers grew louder and louder. In order to reply to all of the cheers, Ain raised her lance towards the ceiling.
Her eyes burned with excitement.
「This form… This power that feels like it’s about to burst out from my body…!」
「We’re in the Soul Tower’s centre after all. However, that goes for our opponent as well. Don’t let your guard down Ain.」
「Fufu, fufufufu…」
Without saying anything, Ain just turned her back on me and laughed creepily.
… Will she really be okay? Still, it seems like Kagutsuchi is quite cautious of her.
Kagutsuchi was taking small and careful steps towards us, when Ain suddenly pointed her lance forward, with a confident smile on her face.
「What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming?」
「…Tsch.」
Ain was undeniably inferior to Kagutsuchi in various ways due to her lack of battle experience.
Her long lance and huge shield however, were exceedingly intimidating to Kagutsuchi, who only had one katana.
Still, if Ain was the one to attack first, she would definitely show some kind of opening.
Which was why I had strictly forbidden her from attacking.
This battle will take a while it seems.
「I see. You’re buying time, aren’t you?」 Urohime asked.
「Correct. She just needs to hold on until I defeat you.」 I said, kicking the ground and dashing towards her.
As I tried to get closer, Urohime cast a spell in order to keep me in check.
Tsch. As I expected, her accuracy is nothing to sneeze at. Getting close won’t be so easy. Furthermore… Ain won’t be able to hold on for that long either.
Ain had managed to use her reach and shield to overwhelm Kagutsuchi for a bit, however, he was beginning to get a grasp of her movements.
I guess he figured us out. If it goes on like this, she’ll be taken down in no time. I must take down Urohime before that!
I rushed straight towards Urohime once more.
In order to stop me, Urohime cast a spell and a white light burst forth from her hand. It was White Sphere.
The overflowing light enveloped me, and stopped my movements completely.
…!!!
A sensation of being scorched on the inside washed through me.
I never imagined that White Sphere could be this strong!
Usually, when used against people, White Sphere could at most be used to achieve a dazzling effect. It was difficult to believe it could be this powerful.
I guess I should be this shocked…
Ignoring the pain, I continued moving forward.
The reason I hadn’t offset the spell was because Urohime used it at point-black range.
And when using Intermediate Spell, one would have to wait a bit before he could use another spell, so it was impossible to chain them.
As I dashed out of the whirling of light I was faced with Urohime’s confused expression.
「EAT THIS!」
I reached out my right hand towards Urohime’s bosom and cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast both White Crash and Green Crash twice.
Quadra Fusion: Beat Crash Double.
A shattering sound echoed in the area, and the space around Urohime twisted.
The fusion of the Soul and Green systems was a spell that created a tight region that diffused and reflected magical power, creating a shock wave that could penetrate an opponent’s defenses.
It worked by shaking the inside of the body, causing damage that completely ignored all defenses.
However, the damage caused wasn’t that much considering the amount of magic power it consumed so I hadn’t used it that much up until now.
But thanks to my countless matches with Milly I was able to grasp its importance when fighting against human opponents.
With it I was able to cause damage despite the opponent having numerous layers of defenses.
Just as I thought that the shock wave would reach Urohime, it stopped at some kind of wall just before it could reach her.
「Huh?!」
「Hmph. No spells may touch the princess. I won’t let them.」 someone said.
A little demon pushed its head out from underneath Urohime’s diadem.
Wadatsumi, was it? I see now. Kagutsuchi is the spear while this one here is the shield. He’s probably the one who blocked my Scout Scope the other day as well. But damn, this really feels like cheating. He’s even able to stop Beat Crash Double, despite its magic resistance penetration trait. I wonder if his ability is simply nullifying the spells themselves? This is quite bothersome.
Just as I clicked my tongue in frustration, Urohime’s long sleeve fluttered.
I got a bad feeling so I immediately moved back, but the clothes around my chest were still split in half.
Urohime held a short katana in her hand.
So she was hiding it in her long sleeves.
「That was a splendid dodge.」
「Those sleeves are way too huge. It’s be strange if you weren’t hiding something in there.」
I would’ve been done for, if I hadn’t been careful.
Despite having a docile appearance, it seemed like she had definitely undergone some kind of training.
After all, one needed a bit of hand-to-hand battle experience as well in order to become one of the Heavenly Mages.
And her having immunity to spells made it even more annoying.
I constantly searched for an opening as I continued to dodge Urohime’s slashes.
She wasn’t nowhere as good as Kagutsuchi, however, I was unarmed. The difference in reach was quite the hurdle for me to overcome.
Both Ain and Kagutsuchi, as well as Urohime and I were caught up in a close-quarters combat in different places within the arena.
Is this what a Title Match is really supposed to be like?
「Both contestants are stuck in a hand-to-hand combat! The Title Match is supposed to be a battle between peak magicians, and yet it feels like we’re watching a martial arts tournament!!! Use some of those spells you’re so fond of!!!」
The crowd erupted in laughter when the announcer cried out.
Good grief. Are they blind? We’re already using them. Summon Servant consumes a lot of magic power you know?
Furthermore, the one we were using drained even more magic power than usual.
Just maintaining it was taking everything we had. We didn’t have the leisure to use other spells.
However, the announcer was somewhat right. Urohime had the advantage because of her katana. If I didn’t use a spell sometime soon the situation would only grow worse.
Well then, what should I do?
「Zeph-kun! Do your best!!!」 Claude’s voice somehow managed to break through the loud wall of cheers, reaching my ears.
Huh? Claude? Wait. I just got an awesome idea. Kukuku. If I use that I might just break through Wadatsumi’s defense…
「What are you smiling for!!!」 Urohime yelled out, swinging down her katana.
Using my prosthetic arm, I grabbed the katana’s blade. The sound of metal scraping against one another entered my ears.
However, despite the sound, the katana’s blade hadn’t budged at all.
These blades are really something else…
But how about this?
While still holding onto the blade I cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast Red Crash, Black Crash and Green Crash.
Triple Fusion: Volcanon Crash
I immediately launched the spell with my prosthetic arm.
The magma inducing spell Volcanon Crash found its way into my prosthetic arm.
As soon as the spell entered my arm, my arm instantly burned with heat and turned bright red.
Steam frequently leaked through its cracks, the heat twisting my field of vision.
「What?!」
「Kukuku.」
With the help of Lydia’s skill, my arm had been reborn with a whole new set of functions.
Translator: Jiro Editor: Ryunakama
「Kagutsuchi, I leave this to you.」
「Understood.」
Kagutsuchi? Wasn’t that the name of one of the small demons who were accompanying Urohime the other day? I see now. She can change her familiar’s appearance. I guess something like that must be quite easy for the Soul Heavenly Mage.
「I’m coming, Zeph, or whatever your name was…!」 Kagutsuchi said, gripping his katana tightly and slowly lowering his posture.
In truth, his actions weren’t slow at all. The only reason it looked slow to me was that I was focusing everything I had on observing him.
Before he even slashed I twisted my body to try and dodge.
However, the slash came down with unbelievable speed.
「Tsch…!」
I promptly put out my prosthetic arm in order to stop Kagutsuchi’s blade.
Furthermore, I couldn’t just break the arm that Lydia had worked so hard to repair, so upon receiving the strike I turned to try and slide the blade down my arm.
The sound of metal scraping was heard as the blade slid down the surface arm. The blade finally slid off my arm, however, as soon as it did so, Kagutsuchi twisted it and aimed it at my legs.
Just before the moment, the blade reached my legs I managed to cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast Red Crash and Blue Crash.
Double Fusion: Burst Crash.
An explosion burst forth and its impact assaulted me. The Synthesis between the Red and Blue systems, between heat and cold, caused a repulsion between the elements, creating an explosion.
It was an enormous explosion that would even damage oneself at close range.
And because of that explosion both me and Kagutsuchi were blown back.
「… Phew, scary.」
I swooped back a few feet, and when I landed, I cleaned the dust off my clothes.
I looked up in order to confirm what had happened to Kagutsuchi, however, upon doing that I noticed that he was already charging straight at me.
I once again used my prosthetic arm to repel his sword and created some distance between us.
Even I found it difficult to deal with Kagatsuchi’s power boost as a familiar within the Soul Tower’s Isolated Space.
「Are you scared? You’ve been running all this time.」
「Don’t worry, I’m coming any moment now.」
Just before his next attack could land I managed to cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast White Mail and Summon Servant.
Fusion Summon: Colored Servant White.
As time began to flow once more, a blinding light enveloped the Isolated Space.
「Hmph. I don’t know what you’re planning but…」
「Kagutsuchi, wait!」 Urohime yelled, stopping Kagutsuchi’s charge.
With a frustrated face, Kagutsuchi turned around to look at his master.
「Princess, why?!!! He’s most vulnerable when summoning!」
「Fufufu. If you had continued you would have turned into a skewer. You should thank your master.」 Ain said, appearing from within the light.
Damn, and here I preserved the spell just for a moment like that…
「Fufu. I am Ain… No wait. Currently you should address me as the Noble White Ain.」 Ain said in a boastful tone.
She was clad in beautiful silver armor and wielded a long spear and a shield in each hand.
Her armor had wings growing from its back, making Ain seem like a battle maiden.
White Mail was a spell that created soul magic armor and weapons that could counter the opponent.
And I had used that spell in combination with Summon Servant. Turning Ain into an anti-familiar weapon of sorts.
「OOOHHH! Everyone, Zeph summoned a familiar of his own!!! A showdown between familiars! You won’t want to miss this!」
As the announcer’s voice echoed in the arena, the cheers grew louder and louder. In order to reply to all of the cheers, Ain raised her lance towards the ceiling.
Her eyes burned with excitement.
「This form… This power that feels like it’s about to burst out from my body…!」
「We’re in the Soul Tower’s centre after all. However, that goes for our opponent as well. Don’t let your guard down Ain.」
「Fufu, fufufufu…」
Without saying anything, Ain just turned her back on me and laughed creepily.
… Will she really be okay? Still, it seems like Kagutsuchi is quite cautious of her.
Kagutsuchi was taking small and careful steps towards us, when Ain suddenly pointed her lance forward, with a confident smile on her face.
「What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming?」
「…Tsch.」
Ain was undeniably inferior to Kagutsuchi in various ways due to her lack of battle experience.
Her long lance and huge shield however, were exceedingly intimidating to Kagutsuchi, who only had one katana.
Still, if Ain was the one to attack first, she would definitely show some kind of opening.
Which was why I had strictly forbidden her from attacking.
This battle will take a while it seems.
「I see. You’re buying time, aren’t you?」 Urohime asked.
「Correct. She just needs to hold on until I defeat you.」 I said, kicking the ground and dashing towards her.
As I tried to get closer, Urohime cast a spell in order to keep me in check.
Tsch. As I expected, her accuracy is nothing to sneeze at. Getting close won’t be so easy. Furthermore… Ain won’t be able to hold on for that long either.
Ain had managed to use her reach and shield to overwhelm Kagutsuchi for a bit, however, he was beginning to get a grasp of her movements.
I guess he figured us out. If it goes on like this, she’ll be taken down in no time. I must take down Urohime before that!
I rushed straight towards Urohime once more.
In order to stop me, Urohime cast a spell and a white light burst forth from her hand. It was White Sphere.
The overflowing light enveloped me, and stopped my movements completely.
…!!!
A sensation of being scorched on the inside washed through me.
I never imagined that White Sphere could be this strong!
Usually, when used against people, White Sphere could at most be used to achieve a dazzling effect. It was difficult to believe it could be this powerful.
I guess I should be this shocked…
Ignoring the pain, I continued moving forward.
The reason I hadn’t offset the spell was because Urohime used it at point-black range.
And when using Intermediate Spell, one would have to wait a bit before he could use another spell, so it was impossible to chain them.
As I dashed out of the whirling of light I was faced with Urohime’s confused expression.
「EAT THIS!」
I reached out my right hand towards Urohime’s bosom and cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast both White Crash and Green Crash twice.
Quadra Fusion: Beat Crash Double.
A shattering sound echoed in the area, and the space around Urohime twisted.
The fusion of the Soul and Green systems was a spell that created a tight region that diffused and reflected magical power, creating a shock wave that could penetrate an opponent’s defenses.
It worked by shaking the inside of the body, causing damage that completely ignored all defenses.
However, the damage caused wasn’t that much considering the amount of magic power it consumed so I hadn’t used it that much up until now.
But thanks to my countless matches with Milly I was able to grasp its importance when fighting against human opponents.
With it I was able to cause damage despite the opponent having numerous layers of defenses.
Just as I thought that the shock wave would reach Urohime, it stopped at some kind of wall just before it could reach her.
「Huh?!」
「Hmph. No spells may touch the princess. I won’t let them.」 someone said.
A little demon pushed its head out from underneath Urohime’s diadem.
Wadatsumi, was it? I see now. Kagutsuchi is the spear while this one here is the shield. He’s probably the one who blocked my Scout Scope the other day as well. But damn, this really feels like cheating. He’s even able to stop Beat Crash Double, despite its magic resistance penetration trait. I wonder if his ability is simply nullifying the spells themselves? This is quite bothersome.
Just as I clicked my tongue in frustration, Urohime’s long sleeve fluttered.
I got a bad feeling so I immediately moved back, but the clothes around my chest were still split in half.
Urohime held a short katana in her hand.
So she was hiding it in her long sleeves.
「That was a splendid dodge.」
「Those sleeves are way too huge. It’s be strange if you weren’t hiding something in there.」
I would’ve been done for, if I hadn’t been careful.
Despite having a docile appearance, it seemed like she had definitely undergone some kind of training.
After all, one needed a bit of hand-to-hand battle experience as well in order to become one of the Heavenly Mages.
And her having immunity to spells made it even more annoying.
I constantly searched for an opening as I continued to dodge Urohime’s slashes.
She wasn’t nowhere as good as Kagutsuchi, however, I was unarmed. The difference in reach was quite the hurdle for me to overcome.
Both Ain and Kagutsuchi, as well as Urohime and I were caught up in a close-quarters combat in different places within the arena.
Is this what a Title Match is really supposed to be like?
「Both contestants are stuck in a hand-to-hand combat! The Title Match is supposed to be a battle between peak magicians, and yet it feels like we’re watching a martial arts tournament!!! Use some of those spells you’re so fond of!!!」
The crowd erupted in laughter when the announcer cried out.
Good grief. Are they blind? We’re already using them. Summon Servant consumes a lot of magic power you know?
Furthermore, the one we were using drained even more magic power than usual.
Just maintaining it was taking everything we had. We didn’t have the leisure to use other spells.
However, the announcer was somewhat right. Urohime had the advantage because of her katana. If I didn’t use a spell sometime soon the situation would only grow worse.
Well then, what should I do?
「Zeph-kun! Do your best!!!」 Claude’s voice somehow managed to break through the loud wall of cheers, reaching my ears.
Huh? Claude? Wait. I just got an awesome idea. Kukuku. If I use that I might just break through Wadatsumi’s defense…
「What are you smiling for!!!」 Urohime yelled out, swinging down her katana.
Using my prosthetic arm, I grabbed the katana’s blade. The sound of metal scraping against one another entered my ears.
However, despite the sound, the katana’s blade hadn’t budged at all.
These blades are really something else…
But how about this?
While still holding onto the blade I cast Time Square.
While time was stopped I cast Red Crash, Black Crash and Green Crash.
Triple Fusion: Volcanon Crash
I immediately launched the spell with my prosthetic arm.
The magma inducing spell Volcanon Crash found its way into my prosthetic arm.
As soon as the spell entered my arm, my arm instantly burned with heat and turned bright red.
Steam frequently leaked through its cracks, the heat twisting my field of vision.
「What?!」
「Kukuku.」
With the help of Lydia’s skill, my arm had been reborn with a whole new set of functions.
