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Over the Infinite Chapter 23 Part 3

 

―――― Action Skill ((Poison Edge)) ――

 

「What the…? 」

An attack from completely out of her awareness, striking her in the back. What was this? Was this Yuki-chan’s invisible hand again? Could it be that in this situation, they still hadn’t given up? …Or was this their plan all along?

However, once unleashed, ((Meteor Impact)) can’t be stopped, even if she takes damage. She confirmed that the giant hand was completely destroyed. Even if a shield was deployed afterward, there couldn’t be a defense more substantial than that. All the meteors had fallen, and she thought the battle was settled. If not, she would simply release a second ((Meteor Impact)).

The smoke from ((Meteor Impact)) cleared, revealing the two still standing, though the eccentric one seemed down.

…Ah, amazing. More than she had expected.

Seeing the second ((Meteor Impact)) being deployed, she watched Tsuna-kun and Yuki-chan rushing towards her. From their reaction, she realized they didn’t know ((Meteor Impact)) could be fired in rapid succession. In battles against floor bosses or in PvP, as shown in her publicized videos, it usually ended with one use.

No need for a full charge. The energy she had was more than enough.

「This is the end. 」

 

――――Action Skill ((Meteor Impact)) ――

 

At her signal, a second wave of meteors descended. This fatal blow was aimed to include Tsuna-kun and Yuki-chan in its range. Tsuna-kun probably had ((Indomitable)), but that alone wouldn’t be enough to defend against this consecutive attack.

But even after her ((Meteor Impact)) finished, the end buzzer didn’t sound. The match was still ongoing.

…Still had HP left? She saw him equip a shield in place of a sword at the last moment, but it should have been a direct hit.

「…It doesn’t seem to be over yet. 」

Tsuna-kun standing before her was in a state that normally wouldn’t allow him to stand. She understood his undying nature from the videos, but in this zero-break-rule rookie battle, there was no reason for him to still have HP left. He must be using some skill she wasn’t aware of. Perhaps ((Desire for Life)) or ((Undying Flame)) …If so, this less-than-full-charge attack could indeed be defendable.

Yuki-chan, though down on the stage, seemed to still be in the game. True, she had focused her attack on Tsuna-kun, but to remain after that…

「…Incredible. Truly incredible. You guys will surely make it to the Dungeon Master. 」

「We’d go there even without you saying. 」

Did he know? Considering his background, it wouldn’t be strange if they had talked about it.

「Aren’t you going to the 100th floor and beyond, Arshelia? 」

「I’m not enough. I realized that. I know it. The floors we desperately reached are just at our feet, and there’s an endless path ahead.

…Such a cruel number, a thousand floors, it’s unreachable. 」

「The Dungeon Master hasn’t given up. 」

Ah, so he did know.

「…I know. But he must be at his limit by now. He can’t go any further… That’s why you guys are needed. 」

Nobody else could continue the conquest without assistance…

「1203 floors. 」

「…What? 」

「He hasn’t given up even after surpassing a thousand floors. He’s still fighting. If he were to give up, he would have done so at a thousand floors. He didn’t and went 200 floors further. 」

He… was still fighting in that state.

「Then all the more reason for you guys to… 」

「No, why are you giving up?!

Don’t just smile watching juniors surpass you. As a senpai, go ahead and wait there!! 」

His words struck a deep, almost resigned part of her heart.

「We’ll catch up. We’ll catch up to you. 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Instant Equip: Broadsword)) ――

 

Still wanting to fight. HP at one, body battered. Yuki-chan couldn’t move anymore.

Yet they stood to face her again. Did they still think they could win?

…No, this must be their way of encouragement. A clumsy but sincere way of pushing their faltering senpai.

Really, what a terrible senpai she was.

「…Okay, I understand. I’ll wait ahead. 」

So, let’s fight to the end.

So that she wouldn’t show them any more embarrassing sights.

Tsuna-kun leapt up, heading towards her.

The technique he would likely unleash from that posture was ((Strike Smash)) …

 

―――― Action Skill ((Strike Smash)) ――

 

She blocked the sword swung overhead with her spear.

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Power Slash)) ――

 

Returning the favor with a spear technique, stopping his sword art chain…

 

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

―――― Action Skill ((Weapon Break)) ――

 

She matched his third strike with a weapon break. Tsuna-kun’s broadsword shattered to pieces.

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Instant Equip: Great Mace)) – ((Rock Crushing Strike)) ――

 

Incredible. A weapon technique chain from ((Instant Equip)) at this critical moment.

But no, it’s not enough. There’s still further to go.

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Crushing Strike)) ――

 

In just under a month since their debut, how many abilities had they acquired in such a short time? No matter how much she defended, Tsuna-kun’s relentless skill assault did not cease.

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Explosive Strike)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Weapon Break)) ――

 

A second weapon shatters to pieces.

 

―――― Action Skill ((Poison Edge)) ――

 

She narrowly avoids a knife, suddenly flung through a gap in her consciousness. Could this be Yuki-chan’s doing? Moving only his hand while unable to move himself?

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Fast Blade)) ――

―――― Skill Chain ((Instant Equip: Fuhigekiri)) – ((Whirlwind Slash)) ――

 

Tsuna-kun’s assault continues, now even incorporating Yuki-chan’s invisible hand into the skill chain. Unbelievable. How much more can these kids grow? She must be smiling now. How enjoyable this is.

She deflects Yuki-chan’s invisible hand along with the knife and counters Tsuna-kun’s ((Whirlwind Slash)) with ((Weapon Break)). Is that a wooden sword in place of a blade? Even without a skill, a wooden weapon should break—

 

―――― Action Skill ((Weapon Break)) ――

―――― Alert ((Indestructible)) ――

 

But the moment ((Weapon Break)) connects, a system message flashes ((Indestructible)) in red text. You’re joking. Could it be from the Dungeon Master?

She stopped the ((Whirlwind Slash)), but Tsuna-kun’s movements haven’t ceased. There’s more to come—

「Ah! 」

Caught off guard at the worst possible time, her feet are swept out from under her. Ridiculous. Yuki-chan’s hand was just there… No, that’s not it. This is something new—

「Fourth one… 」

「Raaaahhhh!!! 」

 

―――― Skill Chain ((Whirlwind Slash: Double Sequence)) ――

 

Another strike from Tsuna-kun’s wooden sword comes from the side, leaving her vulnerable. Surely, he didn’t just learn that now.

This was inescapable. A direct hit. The blow from the side throws her off balance.

Tsuna-kun may not know, but the more a skill chain is extended, the more exponentially difficult it becomes to activate subsequent skills. Yet he clears this challenging condition in such a state. Eight continuous strikes, not just with simple physical skills but switching weapons too. At their lower rank, each weapon skill should hardly provide significant bonuses, yet what astronomical odds are they overcoming?

The added power from the skill chain surely chips away at her HP.

Looking at Tsuna-kun, it’s absurd he’s even standing, given his skill after effects and injuries. But his eyes are still alive.

She’s received so much encouragement. …Truly a disgraceful senpai.

「…Thank you. 」

Now, she feels capable of firing a third shot that she shouldn’t be able to.

 

―――― Skill Create ((Comet Impact)) approved. ――

 

「Ha ha. 」

What is this? Even the system seems to be pushing her not to give up.

「Then, I’ll go ahead. Catch up quickly. 」

 

―――― Action Skill ((Comet Impact)) ――

 

Multiple crimson meteors merge into one, forming a large comet and released towards Tsuna-kun, engulfing him.

「…Understood, “Senpai.” 」

She distinctly hears Tsuna-kun’s words before he’s swallowed by the light of ((Comet Impact)).

 

-2-

 

Heavy words. How difficult it is to continue being a senpai to juniors who accomplish so much. …But now, she feels motivated by this burden.

Looking around, Yuki-chan is gone. That fourth strike must have been her limit. Either from blood loss or some skill that uses HP.

The buzzer signaling the end of the match rings. She won the rookie battle.

The audience is silent. She hadn’t noticed until partway through, but the cheers had stopped quite some time ago.

How many in the audience are adventurers? Surely they too are influenced by those kids. They don’t just affect her; they create a massive wave that encompasses everyone around them.

Probably the Dungeon Master’s intent wasn’t just to let them win but to have this effect on her. He had always been that kind of person, something she had forgotten seeing him now.

She’s okay now. She can move forward without giving up.

She’ll prepare the way for those juniors and wait for them.

Heading back to the waiting room, she encounters a familiar figure waiting for her. Is the clan master, Laurent.

「…Laurent. 」

「That was intense. Even just watching it felt like a scathing rebuke, asking me what I’m doing.

Seeing that, how can anyone not be inspired if they’re the real deal? 」

Though he couldn’t have heard what they said, somehow Tsuna-kun’s demeanor left an impression on him. There’s a vigor in him, more than ever before. That’s the reliable leader of their clan.

「Let’s move ahead a bit and wait, Arshe.”

「Yes. We should act a bit more like a senpai. 」

They fist bump as usual, reaffirming their resolve.

This relationship with him is just right. It’s probably the best it could be.

Like Tsuna-kun and Yuki-chan, she has a reliable partner. The feeling that they can go anywhere together hasn’t changed.

Together… no, not just them. (Meteor Knights), and probably (Arc Saber) too, can go together.

A few days later, the top clan of the Labyrinth City, (Arc Saber), conquered the 88th floor of the Infinite Corridor.

Soon after, just three days later, (Meteor Knights) announced their conquest of the 89th floor.

Though only two floors, it was the first time in years multiple floors were conquered within a month.