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Over the Infinite Chapter 22 Part 1

 

Volume 2 Episode 9 “The Crimson Meteor”

 

-1-

 

In a state of heightened concentration, even the cheers from the spectators’ seats felt distant.

It would have been nice if the (Crimson Knight) just did some showy sumo moves, but she aggressively pressed the attack instead. The image of her commanding the frontline troops in the video was nowhere to be seen.

Arsha’s spear thrusts kept coming at me, again and again. They were supposed to be just regular thrusts, not skills, but they appeared as multiple spears. I dodged, parried with my weapon, and sometimes even scraped by, enduring them. Come on HP, do your job! Why am I still just scraping by!?

There was no chance to counterattack. Even though Yuki and Sarges were attacking her, their assaults didn’t hit her either. She parried every strike from the side, above, and behind effortlessly.

Damn, what’s with this evasion ability? I thought my moves in the Minotaur fight in the video were freakishly abnormal, but she’s in a league of her own.

Even attacks I was sure would hit, at the moment of impact, she was already standing somewhere else. Is she a ninja? Are those just afterimages!?

I wondered if I was facing an illusion, but the spear strikes coming at me were definitely real. Could some of them be illusions? I can’t keep up with this!

「Uraaaah! 」

My desperate counter-slash, dodging the thrust spear, cuts through the air.

No good, this is a trap. I realized that the moment I launched the attack. I can’t stop the already released sword.

I was lured into attacking by the slightest opening, which should have been impossible. There was no sign of the crimson armored figure anymore. Immediately after, I felt an overwhelming crisis from behind, where no one should have been. This was the sensation of an imminent attack communicated by ((Emergency Evasion)).

This is bad. Dodge―

 

―――― Action Skill ((Fast Blade)) ――

 

The moment I turned around, I saw Arsha lunging with her crimson spear and Yuki launching her fastest attack at the “spear.”

Attacking in the middle of the move, directly countering an attack from a superior opponent.

Yuki really has an exceptional sense of timing and combat intuition. Truly a reliable partner.

The slightly diverted red spear was still on a direct course to hit me.

But that’s enough. If the trajectory is even slightly off, I can dodge it. This is where I, the dodging machine, come into play.

…No, this is actually a chance to counterattack.

Deliberately following a razor-thin path beside the spear, slipping past it, I twist my body for a skill activation―

 

―――― Action Skill ((Whirlwind Slash)) ――

 

「Ah! 」

That attack, too, narrowly missed as she dodged, leaning her upper body back. Still, her posture was disturbed. There’s no way I’m missing this chance!!

「Uooooooh!!! 」

―――― Skill Chain ((Strike Smash)) ――

 

A skill chain, ignoring the post-skill rigidity.

The sword, which had once cut through the air, forcefully changes its trajectory, bearing down on Arsha.

No good! My instincts are screaming that she will dodge this as well. This isn’t enough! Then―

「Match this attack! 」

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Power Slash)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Rapid Rush)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Tornado Kick)) ――

 

My voice cues the simultaneous launch of skills from three directions at the perfect timing. The synergy we developed during our dungeon confinement is paying off at this crucial moment.

Surely, even she can’t dodge this―

 

―――― Action Skill ((Mirage Step)) ――

 

At that instant, Arsha’s figure blurred where our attacks were aimed.

Surely, this was a skill activation for evasion. If this goes on, our attacks will miss.

So, what to do next? Think of the next move. …Where will Arsha “escape” to?

―No, she surely won’t escape.

After attacking Sarges at the start, Arsha persistently targeted me.

She must be convinced that I’m the core of our team, and even now, she’s likely moved to attack “me.”

Then, there’s only one place she could be.

「Behind me!!! 」

 

―――― Skill Chain ((High Power Slash)) ――

 

My body screams as I force it into an impossible twist.

Muscles tear under the forced movement, operating while tearing apart. My joints cry out, exceeding their limits.

((High Power Slash)), like ((Whirlwind Slash)), has a broad trajectory and the flexibility to match many types of slashes.

It has the disadvantage of long post-skill rigidity, but right now, its flexibility is much more valuable.

No matter the skill, movements deemed impossible by the brain’s limiters are usually not executable but surpass these physical limits!

That’s what it takes to even land a hit on her.

With nearly the same trajectory as ((Whirlwind Slash)), my sword, ignoring my body’s limits, sweeps sideways. Sure enough, there was the crimson armor in its path.

Surprised, her eyes widened momentarily, then sharpened instantly, preparing to counter my attack.

I won’t let her! With all the strength left in me, even if my muscles tear apart, I’ll complete this swing!!

「Raaaaaaah! 」

 

―――― Action Skill “Weapon Break” ――

 

But the moment my all-out attack was about to reach Arsha, I saw my great sword shatter into pieces.

What happened? What did you do?

Was my weapon destroyed?

This is bad. Right now, I’m completely defenseless. If she strikes at me in this state…

I can’t even think about a skill chain, as the weapon is gone. There’s no way for me to cancel the post-skill rigidity.

Without a moment’s delay, Arsha’s spear is launched, leaving me defenseless.

Right, ((Instant Equip)). I can use ((Instant Equip)), but… no, there’s not enough time!!

The trajectory of the spear is perfectly aimed at me. A direct hit is inevitable. I can’t counterattack, nor can I even dodge due to the rigidity.

But at the moment Arsha’s spear was about to pierce my abdomen, a familiar small sword collides with its shaft.

Hah, amazing, even in this situation, to land a hit like that. What kind of combat sense is that?

The slightly deviated spear trajectory still pierces through my side, ripping through flesh.

「Ughhhh!! 」

It’s not a direct hit. Not a direct hit, but the damage is severe. Arsha’s crimson spear breaks through the HP barrier, piercing directly into my side.

But even with the critical damage, my HP is still there. I should still be able to continue.

Dodge the next attack!! I have to move my body somehow.

「Leader!! 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Tornado Kick)) ――

 

Catching Arsha off guard, Sarges launches a ((Tornado Kick)), which she naturally dodges.

However, the intent wasn’t to hit. Sarges uses the momentum to scoop me up and retreat in the opposite direction.

Somehow, we successfully manage to put some distance between us and Arsha.

While being carried away, I catch a glimpse of Yuki counterattacking Arsha.

The moment her spear and Yuki’s small swords intersect, one of Yuki’s swords shatters.

That was the weapon-breaking technique she used on me earlier.

Anticipating that, Yuki throws the shattered weapon towards her, then leaps backwards towards us.

Released from Sarges’ grip, I stand up, and Yuki lands right in front of me.

 

―――― Action Skill “Instant Equip: Long Sword” ――

―――― ((Materialize)) ――

 

As I equip a long sword, Yuki also pulls out a card from her bosom and materializes a spare small sword.

Arsha still hasn’t pursued us. She’s just calmly watching us.

Her majestic demeanor is unshaken even though the opportunity for a decisive blow has passed.

Damn, what kind of monster is she?

Despite desperately creating a chance, our attacks didn’t land, and we were one-sidedly trampled, with weapon destruction as an added bonus.

Checking with ((Insight)), my HP is already down to about 30-40%.

How do we deal damage… no, how do we even land an attack on such a monster?

Confronting her directly like this, the difference in strength is something we could never fathom just from watching videos.

The maximum assessment I could imagine still falls woefully short.

It’s like the depths of her strength are utterly unfathomable.

 

-2-

 

「One minute. 」

What?

「One minute has passed, so the first condition is met. Congratulations. 」

…What are you talking about?

「The most common bet for this match was for it to conclude within a minute. That didn’t happen. 」

Ah, I see. A reasonable assessment, I guess.

「I thought it would end in about that time too, but it seems I underestimated you. Or maybe, did you grow stronger during this match?

Even with adjustments, it feels like you’re always a step out of reach. I saw the video of the secret stage, and I bet that cat person felt the same way. 」

I don’t know what the cat-eared girl was thinking or feeling at that time. But surely, she never underestimated us from the start.

Her gaze analyzing the battle is calm, as if seeing right through to the depths of our hearts, making cold sweat break out.