Volume 5 Chapter 115

Sage vs Sage

「Thank you for helping my daughter, Halt-dono. Feel free to use the other sword in our match, I insist」
After I handed Melida over to the medical team, Leo called out to me.
Despite his gratitude, I was surprised by his generous offer.
「Really?」
「I am determined to see to it that I use every ounce of my ability in our fight. Even if I have to lose a limb or two — 」
「…… And I’ll be responsible for your healing, I’m guessing 」
「Hahaha, I won’t put such a burden on you. If it comes to it, I’m prepared to accept losing a limb. If I die, then, I’ll accept that that is the extent of my skill. More than anything, I — no, I want to go all out in our battle 」
The beastkin are a kind of species one could say are born for combat.
But if that’s his wish, then I’ll give it my all.
I do not intend on killing him though, so I’ll be holding back on lethal power. I cannot risk killing Melida’s father. He might seem okay with dying, but in case he does, I suppose I’ll have Ryuuka revive him.
This will be my first time fighting another Sage ever coming to this world. There has not been an opportunity for me to face off against Sage Luano. It is bound to be a cutthroat match.
I should ask Ryuuka to revive me as well, in case I do die.
「Alright then, let’s give it our all 」
「Thank you, I’m truly grateful」
We still had a bit of time before the finals began.
Leo spun around and made his way towards the waiting room, but then he seemed to remember something and turned back to me.
「Master Halt, I owe you one since you saved my life from the warlock. That’s why, let me tell you one of my unique skills 」
「Skill? 」
「Yes, I have a skill called Knockback (Ultimate). It maximizes my attacks, meaning I can send my opponent flying with the slightest hit 」
Eh, that’s –
「It might not be that much in a normal battle, but in this martial arts tournament is could be a game-changer because of the rule to fight within a set boundary 」
A skill that maximizes force behind any hit, enough to blast an opponent away, in the tournament where you have a limited fighting space of 50 meters square.
This means I have to avoid Leo’s attacks by all cost.
Leo’s suit is something else. He integrates it with wind and lightning, and it can act as an armour. He effortlessly parried Melida’s attacks, even though speed is her specialty.
Eh, this is not good.
How can I avoid getting hit by him, when I am not as fast as to dodge every one of his attacks?
And my quickest attack is not a match for his lightning and wind magic suit.
I remember that during his fight with the warlock, Leo used his normal magic suit. Since magic use of magic is shunned upon, he could not use it in public at that time and he had not mastered control over his activation speed and range.
If he had used it during that fight, it could have put his beastkin comrades in danger as well.
This is a different story now. He has one opponent to consider, me. He can make full use of his speed against me.
After he had given me the heads up, he proceeded towards the waiting room.
Hm, now what should I do?
I need to rethink my battle strategy.
──***──

The moment of truth had arrived. The final round of the Military Martial Arts Tournament began and I was about to face off against Leo on the stage.

「Let’s get one thing clear. Should you win, you want Melida as yours? 」
「Yes, I do 」
The thought of claiming the right to do whatever I want with Melida’s paws became the source of my drive.
And if possible, I want to touch the paw pads of other beastkin and fluff their tails.
「Very well…… Then defeat me and prove to the beastkin your true strength! 」
「That’s my plan! 」
With my sword, Hakoku, in hand, I prepared for battle and so did Leo.
The final match began with both of us activating our magic suits at lightning speed. Although I completed the activation faster, Leo’s attacks were faster still.
「—–Uagh! 」
I plunged Hakoku on the stage floor to block one of his attacks.
I blocked his attack with difficulty and swung Hakoku in an attempt to sway him, but he suddenly charged towards me with unmatched speed.
The battle was intense right from the start.
I could not evade Leo’s lightning-fast movements.
He seemed to have increased his speed compared to when he fought Melida, and it was plain to see he had held back in that match.
Despite my own lead in activating the magic suit, I could not keep up with him due to the disparity in our original status.
「It seems you can handle this much…… Not a surprise. How about this!? 」
Leo rushed towards me, faster than ever before.
Ugh, you are kidding me.
He can still move faster!?
I barely managed to block him.
—- Barely.
「Eh!? 」
But just as he was about to land a punch on me, he vanished into thin air.
「Afterimage 」
I heard him say as I whipped around, reacting to the voice behind me.
Time slowed down as Leo’s fist came straight at my face.
I knew this was it, the moment before death.
Bam.
「Huh? 」
But to my surprise, Leo’s fist connected with my face and yet, I was not Knocked Back, and I felt no pain.
Leo stood dumbfounded, still holding his punch in my face.
Confused, I swung Hakoku to keep Leo at bay.
He narrowly escaped, but he was still in shock.
「What’s happening? How did you keep from being thrown off?! 」
Even I was unsure of what had happened.
It was the first time being hit since I came to this world, and up until now, I had been using magic to fend off my opponents, so no one has ever come close enough to punch me.
As I thought back, I realized my mana is infinite because it is fixed, or something along those lines, right?
Could it be that my physical strength is also limitless?
Does that mean I cannot take damage?
I tried to think of an answer.
「…Ah! 」
I finally figured it out.
My status–
Cursed [Stagnant Curse] (Fixed), must have also applied to knockback.
With this realization, I knew I wouldn’t be pushed back in battle. Excitement coursed through me as I put my theory to the test.
I grasped my sword, Hakoku, and charged towards Leo with fierce determination.
「Ha, don’t underestimate me 」
To Leo, it must have seemed like I was moving in slow motion. He easily dodged my attack. But I was just getting started.
「Take this!」he shouted, and suddenly there were eight Leos surrounding me. He had used his mana to create multiple afterimages of himself.
All eight of them charged at me at once.
Bam, bam, bam, bam.
Leo’s fists hit my face, stomach, shoulder, arms, and legs, but I felt no pain.
I swung my sword in a wide arc, cutting through all eight Leos.
The real one narrowly avoided death, but my sword had left a deep gash on his chest, blood seeping through his fur.
「Why?! I’m using all my power and I can’t even get you to stumble backwards!?「 he exclaimed in frustration.
「Maybe it’s because of the difference in our status」
I replied. Not that I was lying.
「Impossible….. That is ridiculous 」
Leo was at a loss for words.
But I was pleased with my successful verification.
It was time to end this battle. I didn’t want to waste any more time, but I didn’t have any attacks that could restrain Leo. Even if I summoned my flaming knights, I knew he would easily defeat them. It would be pointless.
I made my decision.
「Come, Fire Lance!」I shouted, summoning the ultimate fighting force of this world to take on Leo.

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