Reido Academy Cup Tournament Round 2 (3)

"Flat Force!"

The first thing he used was probably a buff-nullification skill of the same family as Sawako's Tranquil Water Surface.

A glowing membrane spread out with a whoosh, trying to fill the entire arena. Anything that touched it would lose all its buffs.

… But Princess Protect cancelled it out.

"Iron Wall Guard! Divine Art - Ultimate Shield!"

Gogogogogo…!

Karsa planted her shield down with a thud and braced herself.

It looked like attack-draw plus complete defense.

A Divine Knight could plausibly have a skill like that by now.

The usual count was around three, but for someone past LV60, four or five wouldn't be strange.

Griera had no guaranteed-hit or piercing, so against complete defense she normally couldn't deal damage.

… But I did have a way to deal damage all the same.

However… Lespora was faster!

"I'll kill you dead! Divine Art - Infinite Riot!"

Zan zan zan zan zan zan zan zan!

A super-high-speed 8-hit combo!

The Mechanical Knight broke after four hits, and the remaining four rained down on Irana, Griera, and Klara.

25 and 25 to Griera, 50 each to Irana and Klara. An 8-hit combo of huge damage. Pretty strong.

"Hyaaah!"

A re-action!

Speed, was it? Another 8-hit combo poured down.

The combo was just too sharp! With an ordinary action, it was impossible to slip a Skill Intercept into a barrage like that.

But…

"Klara, Perfect Order!"

"Yes, Griera!"

It granted Griera a free action. And at the same time, Irana could act out of turn too!

"Griera! Take this!"

I handed Demon Gun Megiddo to Griera.

"Ah! Dual Shot, Demon Eye of Lightning, Demon Gun Megiddo!"

Brilliantly, she wedged Griera's attack into the middle of the skill.

Ka!

"!? Divine Art - Death Stalker!"

But at the instant it would have landed, Lespora vanished like a shadow.

Dogooooo!

A ferocious shockwave of destruction blew Marena away without letting her do a thing.

But Karsa, complete-defended by Ultimate Shield, and Lespora, who had apparently triggered a complete-evasion skill at will, couldn't be finished off.

… Still, I'd cut his chain of attacks once. With this much of a gap, nobody trains so poorly that they can't land a Skill Intercept.

"Klara!"

"Yes, Princess Veil!"

Just before his attack could fire again, Klara moved.

"Irana, Skill Changer!"

"Mm, Griera!"

All Shot changed to Shadow Hide.

"OK. I'll hide for now. Shadow Hide!"

Griera concealed herself.

We got everything ready just barely in time. The next moment…

"… Hyaha! Hahahahahaha!"

Along with a sudden burst of laughter,

"Divine Art - Infinite Riot!"

another high-speed 8-hit combo poured down on Irana and Klara.

Irana and Klara had no way to survive. They were cruelly cut to pieces.

"Well, it looked as though this might become a one-sided affair, but Lespora, from Julian's second party, is moving wonderfully.

She's taken down Irana and Klara.

But the two didn't go down for nothing. They splendidly defeated Marena without letting her do anything.

A dizzying exchange of attack and defense is unfolding."

"Yes, both sides were splendid, but it's Naoto's skill that really catches the eye.

Lespora's Infinite Riot is that fast.

An ordinary Master would have been cut to pieces sixteen times over, unable to do anything.

But he used free actions to interrupt mid-attack and took down Marena. And then, with deft coordination, he splendidly let Griera escape.

Truly wonderful."

Turn two.

"… Shhhuuuu…"

Lespora exhaled, concentrating, and glared at her surroundings.

"… Tch. Karsa. We've got no choice but to use it."

"Iron Wall Guard! Divine Art - Ultimate Shield!"

"Divine Art - Death Stalker!"

"Fufu. Wary of the unseen Griera, they have no choice but to spend defensive skills for nothing.

If she doesn't use the shield, Griera has the means to take down Karsa in a single hit.

Or else aim with Lespora at that very moment… but unless you can read where Griera will attack from, taking down Griera right after she attacks is difficult.

… Fufufu, lovely, just lovely. A fight like this gives me shivers."

Silvana, looking genuinely delighted, had her red eyes sparkling.

… I was honored by her praise.

Griera, still hidden, edged toward them inch by inch.

Lespora glared fixedly, concentrating, determined not to miss the moment Griera moved.

Karsa was kind of left out of it.

But whether she stopped using her shield, and whether her shield's use-count ran dry, was the trigger for Griera's action.

In other words, the dueling Griera and Lespora had Karsa playing the role of the coin or the falling leaf that signaled when to move.

"Iron Wall Guard! Divine Art - Ultimate Shield!"

"Divine Art - Death Stalker!"

… Karsa and Lespora burned through their skill counts for nothing.

Well, what was happening was that whenever I threw out a feint like here come my orders!, they'd react and waste a skill in tandem.

… But it was about time. Lespora seemed to have a few skill uses left, but Karsa's count was down to one or two.

Once they really ran out of uses, they'd be out of options.

I'd put their counts at probably four or five. The fact that they'd used three so far made five the likely figure.

Soon enough… the two would bluff that they wouldn't use a defensive skill, and the instant Griera rushed to attack, they'd raise their defense and turn the gap against her. That was the move they'd make.

My orders, Julian's orders, Griera and Lespora, and Karsa… as the spectators held their breath watching all five, the fourth turn arrived.

From Julian's irritation and the faint signs of tension, I read that his orders to Karsa and Lespora had become make our move this turn.

… In other words, wait for the moment Griera attacks, then defend.

And counterattack at once.

… That was a chance for us to attack, too.

I gave Griera my orders as well. By finger signals, mixed in with casual movements, so at a glance nobody could tell.

This turn, it was: attack whenever you like.

… Eh, that's leaving too much to her? Well, it's Griera, after all.

And then I struck a pose that made it look exactly like I was reading the timing and about to give an order.

… So the opponent would think they only needed to focus on me and respond the instant I moved.

And then… eight seconds into the turn. If I didn't move one second from now, I wouldn't make the ten-second turn limit.

If I was going to move at the last possible instant, just a little more, I'd give the order any second now… right when the tension was at its absolute peak.

"Dual Shot, All Shot, Demon Eye of Lightning, Demon Art - Desperate Magic Bullet!"

A moment early, Griera moved. Shadow Hide dispelled.

"I knew it was now! Lespora!"

Twitch!

Julian's wild instinct, perhaps. He read perfectly the timing of Griera, who'd seemed to throw off her timing, and gave Lespora an order at exactly the right moment.

Lespora entered her action prep.

At this rate, she might match the timing and evade the bullet Griera had fired.

But…

The spot where Griera appeared was… astonishingly, right behind Lespora's right shoulder, point-blank!

So close that just a flick of her arm and Lespora could attack her. Extreme close range!

Why there?

She had a ranged weapon, a gun. Surely she should snipe from the very edge of the battlefield.

… an ordinary person might think.

No, the exchange that began from here happened in an instant, so there was probably no time for such thoughts.

But I understood. That position was the kind where, once taken, you could only resign yourself to death, a blind spot, yet one perfectly placed so that with a knife strike you could attack the enemy first. The most exquisite positioning, right at the razor's edge.

It was positioning only Griera, a veteran warrior, could pull off.

In other words, the more accomplished a warrior Lespora was, relying on her own attacks, the more, when someone stood in such a spot…

"Divine Art - Infinite Riot!"

reflexively she'd choose attack over evasion. It was a tactic that turned a warrior's instinct against her.

I'd noticed once before that Griera herself had that very tendency, and I'd pointed it out to her.

She must have built this plan to make use of that.

This kind of thing made me happy. To think that strong Griera would apply and put to use a plan I'd come up with.

Zan!

Dan!

Lespora's knife and Griera's bullet crossed.

When you have absolute evasion and a means of attack that can finish the enemy, choosing to attack isn't necessarily a bad move.

Lespora's Divine Art - Infinite Riot was a splendid chain of attacks that allowed no Intercept.

Land all eight hits and she could take down Griera before Griera acted.

That way, she wouldn't need to spend her evasion.

But if you'd read all the way to an attack like this will come at exactly this timing and lay in wait for it…

For a warrior as good as Griera, landing an Intercept was easy.

The instant she took one hit, brilliantly, the next attack had already been fired by Griera.

In other words…

"Agu, guuu!"

The bullet bit splendidly into Lespora's belly.

Dan!

"Iron wall… agh!"

Karsa was on a different level, so there was no way her defense would make it in time.

Even while taking damage, Griera, in one flowing motion, had fired her next bullet straight at Karsa.

"Gu… hyaaaaa!"

Zan zan zan zan zan!

At last, Lespora's remaining 7-hit combo, or 15-hit combo, was unleashed.

… Griera, who'd revealed herself, got that far.

In an instant she was cut to pieces by Lespora and rendered unable to fight, but…

Giri giri giri…

Giri giri giri…

"Uguu…!"

"Higu…!"

The Desperate Magic Bullet had bitten firmly into both Lespora and Karsa.

"… The rest… is on you."

Griera collapsed.

"Leave it to us!"

"Let's do our best, everyone!"

"… We have to finish this properly."

Colette, Luna, and Maika appeared.

"And so, both sides have moved to their second parties."

"Hey, did you see that exchange just now between Griera and Lespora!? No, I was amazed.

Who'd ever think the one holding a gun would launch an attack from inside the opponent's range!

You'd assume it would become a normal long-range attack, with the whole exchange hinging on whether Lespora could instantly dodge it with a skill!

Because the bullet, accelerated by Demon Eye of Lightning, is incredibly fast.

Even for Lespora, I'd say it's a coin toss whether she can dodge that.

In that case, you might as well leave it to chance and, if it fails, hand off to your second party.

But Naoto, or Griera, didn't gamble on chance. They went for the kill!

… Well, in fact, if they'd left it to chance, Julian would have read the timing and dodged.

Once someone stands in that spot, Lespora has no choice but to attack.

Because she's at a level of divine skill that strikes eight times in one second. She has absolute confidence in it.

… And yet, Griera, controlling all of that in the palm of her hand, slipped through the eye of that divine skill and landed one bullet of death, boom!

Wonderful… I'm moved…!"

… Silvana was overjoyed.

But seeing through that whole exchange so perfectly… eh, you can't see well from the commentary booth because of the information masking, right?

Whether I should say "as expected," it was commentary that made Silvana's greatness shine all the brighter.

"Now, next to appear are Colette, Luna, and Maika, three very cute girls. Well, none of Naoto's Garumon are uncute.

But for me, Patty and Yuria are the cutest, after all."

"Yes, let's focus on the match, shall we."

… This part of her was unchanged as ever, too.

"At last, this battle reaches its climax. Now, upon whom will the goddess of victory smile?"

"… I mean, if it's just win or lose, it's already decided. Naoto wins. Because as long as Colette keeps defending, Karsa and Lespora just die on their own."

Even though Anneroese-san was trying so hard to build the excitement, Silvana cut her off.

"But Naoto will surely aim for a perfect victory, with neither Maika nor Luna defeated.

For the pride of mid-tier S-Class, I'd like Julian to at least take down Maika and Luna."

… That was the way she stirred the pot.

Fine, of course. It's a perfect victory from here!

"First Act, Divine Art Messiah!"

The three's stats doubled.

"… Don't think you can pierce my defense to attack these two.

Ultimate Art - Conqueror's Shield!"

Colette… you've grown so splendid.

With a performance of complete defense for five turns, it ought to be an even match…

but she looked several times more dependable than that Karsa over there.

"Divine Art Cláu Solas!"

"Demon Art - Cocytus!"

"Uguoooo! Divine Art - Death Stalker! Divine Art - Death Stalker! Divine Art - Death Stalker!"

Maika's Cocytus sealed her range of movement, and Luna's slash followed.

The precise, sharp slashes allowed no dodging by body technique.

It made her burn through complete-evasion skills one after another.

"Damn it, Divine Art - Infinite Riot!"

"I won't let you!"

Kan kan kan kan…!

"Damn, damn! Why can't I, of all people, get through this brat's defense!"

Lespora tried to back-step and attack Maika and Luna. But…

"I told you I wouldn't let you!"

Kan! Kan! Kan!

Colette wouldn't let her through.

Well, even so, a few did get through.

But it was one or two out of an 8-hit combo, so it was truly splendid.

"You little—!"

"Luna!"

Zan!

The attacks that did get through, Maika took for them. Well, even if Maika's knocked out, the Poison Apple takes care of it.

And then…

"Guaaa…"

"Guooo…!"

The Desperate Magic Bullet whittled away Karsa's and Lespora's HP.

One more hit and both of them would be unable to fight. Even if they gritted it out, that would be the end. It would be over in two turns.

"Damn it…! Why, how can I, of all people, lose to some brat like this…!"

… Ah, this guy's even given up on showing one last bit of pride.

It seemed it wasn't as if he'd never lost since becoming S-Class, and he'd accepted that you lose when you lose.

But for the Master to give up before his own Garumon, who were still fighting, was no good at all, I thought.

"… No, however you look at it, you're just under-trained. If all six were users on Lespora's level, I'd have had a harder time.

… Though I'd still have won."

Once he gave up, the outcome wouldn't move. Well, the outcome had already been decided by Griera, but taking down Maika and Luna was impossible for him now too.

I decided to humor his idle chatter.

"Th-that can't be… Up to now, I've won plenty without bothering with worthless stuff like training.

I'm a genius. With this instinct, this nose of mine… I've always sized up the truly dangerous opponents.

You're a guy who's nothing special at all… There's no way I should lose…"

"… It doesn't really matter whether I'm anything special, does it? The ones fighting are the Garumon, after all.

Well, the moment you failed to see through Irana's strength, it became obvious your instinct and your nose are nothing special."

… Well, Irana's true power is partly in her item, and you really wouldn't expect that plump, adorable Irana to move around so nimbly. So I get that, I suppose.

Well, no need to teach this guy anything more…

"It was Lespora doing her best to cover for how lousy you are, wasn't it?

She's a good Garumon. Take good care of her."

I gave him just that one piece of advice.

"Why… you…!"

Julian's face twisted with mortification.

"Demon Art - Cocytus!"

Pariiin!

"Aah…!"

"Divine Art Cláu Solas!"

Zan!

"Gaha…!"

And then, at last, we caught them. The second turn. Well, Endure triggered, so it came down to one more hit, the razor's edge where whether it connected or not, it would be over by turn's end.

Maika and Luna splendidly finished off Karsa and Lespora.

… Well, it was probably just that their complete defense and complete evasion had run out.

But cornering them right up until those ran out was the two girls' achievement. And of course, so was Colette's, for protecting them firmly the whole way.

Julian's last bit of pride… whether he had any or not. But Lespora clearly had pride of her own.

She was perhaps a Garumon who had watched over Julian since his parent's generation, since he too was, in fact, a noble.

To snap that kind of pride right back and deal the finishing blow was truly splendid.

I gave the three a round of applause.

"Decided! Splendidly, the victory goes to Naoto!"

"Mm-hmm, splendid, splendid.

Even Julian isn't all that weak compared to the mid-tier walls of past generations.

His intuition really is excellent.

But it comes down to the difference between Julian, who relied on chance like that, and Naoto, who didn't rely on such things and tried to win cleanly on ability.

The reason Julian didn't look strong is that Naoto barely let him show his strengths and splendidly sealed them all away.

This is truly splendid. A perfect victory.

Congratulations, Naoto! S-Class 16th without a doubt!"

Clap clap clap…!

Silvana applauded me. Anneroese-san too, and the great crowd as well…

It began with applause for me and ended with applause for me… Looking back on it, I suppose it was a satisfying match.