◇Robert Crown's POV◇
Boom!!
A bolt of lightning scorched the ground.
Eugene-kun easily dodged it.
Just a moment ago, he seemed quite unsteady, but has he already gotten used to it?
His adaptability is terrifying.
"Wind Form: [Swallow in Flight]!" (Eugene)
A flying slash closed in on the Divine Beast, Kirin.
—Kyuoooooooon!!
With a cry, a gust of wind erupted around the Divine Beast, forming a barrier that dissipated the slash.
Eugene-kun moved behind the Divine Beast in that brief moment.
*Tap!* The Divine Beast escaped into the air.
"[Sky Walk]!" (Eugene)
Eugene-kun followed suit, soaring after it.
(Can he really reach a Divine Beast at that height…?) (Robert)
There are members in the swordsmanship club who can use flight magic, but none of them can match Eugene-kun's speed.
That must be another technique of the Twin Heavenly Resonance Style.
"Whoa!"
The Divine Beast targeted Eugene-kun with a lightning strike mid-air, but he nimbly evaded it.
I was impressed he could dodge that so skillfully.
Eugene-kun landed smoothly from his aerial maneuver.
The Divine Beast circled around in the air above him.
(Good, its attention is on Eugene-kun…) (Robert)
I took a stance in the Hokushin Ittoryu style.
Hokushin Ittoryu is a traditional swordsmanship style said to have originated from the East Continent.
Long ago, the Holy Union took in refugees fleeing from war, and among them was apparently a descendant of the Sword Saint.
It is a school derived from the many sword styles of the East Continent's Sword Saint.
Hokushin Ittoryu techniques involve a few feints.
Most strikes are meant to end the fight in a single slash.
This makes it most effective when striking immediately after battle begins.
However, in a Trial of the Gods, where Divine Beasts are summoned at random, one cannot gather information on the opponent beforehand.
Because of this, I have been focusing on commanding from the rear…
(Our members and temporary allies have observed the Divine Beast's movements in battle. And Eugene-kun has taken on the role of decoy. I cannot afford to miss this strike…) (Robert)
I concentrated my spirit.
All sound faded from my surroundings.
My vision blurred, leaving only the Divine Beast clearly in focus.
It was not paying attention to me.
Waiting for the moment it descended to attack Eugene-kun…
I closed the distance from its blind spot in an instant.
—Secret Technique: [Starflow Sword].
The fastest strike in Hokushin Ittoryu.
A technique that cuts down the enemy with the speed of a falling star.
My blade turned into a flash and sliced through the air.
Kirin's scales were cut apart by the dazzling slash that resembled a star and…
—Slash!!
A spray of red blood burst forth.
The Divine Beast's body wavered.
I heard the cheers of my club members.
(Did my sword really reach it…?) (Robert)
I barely had time to feel relief.
*Whoosh!!*
Pillars of fire erupted.
Seven towering flames surrounded the Divine Beast as if protecting it.
*Crackle!* Kirin's horns crackled with white light.
This was clearly different from before.
(So now it's getting serious…) (Robert)
"President Robert!" (Eugene)
"Eugene-kun, I'm sorry! I failed to finish it off." (Robert)
Eugene-kun ran toward me, and I apologized.
I wasted a precious opportunity.
I felt guilty toward him for acting as bait.
That last strike was not enough to be acknowledged by the Divine Beast.
Unfortunately, the Trial of the Gods should end he—
"That sword technique was amazing! I couldn't see it at all. You should try it on me sometime!" (Eugene)
Eugene-kun's eyes sparkled.
His usual calm demeanor was gone.
"It's not meant to be used on people…" (Robert)
I was taught that the Sword Saint developed such techniques to fight demons and monsters.
"I see… So that's the Holy Union's sword style. By the way, are there more? Was that your ultimate technique?" (Eugene)
Eugene-kun seemed quite interested in Hokushin Ittoryu.
Meanwhile, the Divine Beast remained still, surrounded by flames, its horns shining like the sun as it watched us.
In other words…it was waiting.
(How considerate…) (Robert)
Or perhaps it simply had the luxury to do so.
"I do have another ultimate technique… but now that I've shown my skill, the Divine Beast is surely wary of me. It won't be easy." (Robert)
"Yeah, a sneak attack is out of the question. Then, how about a frontal assault for the finish?" (Eugene)
Eugene-kun grinned fearlessly.
He looked like he was having fun.
(Eugene-kun's personality shifts in battle, huh.) (Robert)
Kirin watched us quietly.
Giving up now would be an insult to it.
"Eugene-kun, our next strike will be the last. If either of us lands a hit and it still doesn't acknowledge us, we'll end the trial." (Robert)
"Understood. One final strike." (Eugene)
Eugene-kun vanished in an instant.
He must have used Sky Walk.
He charged straight towards the Divine Beast that's being protected by flames.
I followed right after him so I didn't fall behind.
◇ Eugene's POV◇
The area around the Divine Beast was like the heart of a wildfire.
I was protecting myself with barrier magic, but was President Robert alright?
Worried, I glanced back.
(…Wow…) (Eugene)
He was slicing through the approaching flames with an utterly calm expression.
This man really handles everything with his sword, doesn't he?
Well, at least he seemed fine.
(The real problem is…) (Eugene)
Unlike before, Kirin was no longer taking to the air.
Its white-glowing horns crackled ominously.
Even without using Angel Eye, I could tell an enormous amount of mana was gathering in them.
I couldn't afford to take a direct hit from that.
Then, droplets of water hit my face.
(Rain…?) (Eugene)
Rain began to fall on the 200th Floor.
Most likely, the Kirin was controlling the weather.
Yet, despite the rain, the surrounding flames did not weaken.
But visibility worsened.
Then *rumble*
The ground began to shake.
(It can even cause earthquakes…?) (Eugene)
If this drags on, the rain will turn the ground to mud, making movement difficult.
And with random quakes on top of that…
Better to finish this quickly.
Just then…
(…Eh?) (Eugene)
My Angel Eye showed me my own future self…
Being struck by lightning from all directions.
The me from a few seconds later.
"Barrier magic!!" (Eugene)
I chose to defend without fully understanding the situation.
—Kyuooooooon!!
Kirin let out a high-pitched cry.
Lightning spread like a spiderweb from its shining horns.
Electricity surged through the air and spread further via the rain.
(That was close…) (Eugene)
I would have been knocked out if I hadn't used barrier magic.
"President Robert!" (Eugene)
"Captain Robert!"
Turning to look at the President, who couldn't use barrier magic… I found him standing there with a calm expression for some reason.
"That was close." (Robert)
"Uh… how did you block that? I don't think you could have dodged it." (Eugene)
"Oh, I cut the lightning." (Robert)
"You cut it?" (Eugene)
What is this guy even saying?
"It would have been dangerous if you hadn't used barrier magic. Thanks to that, I had time to mentally prepare for the attack." (Robert)
"I-I see…" (Eugene)
That didn't seem like something you could block just by being mentally prepared, though.
Is this what happens when you master swordsmanship?
"Well then, shall we go?" (Robert)
"Y-Yes." (Eugene)
Surrounded by flames, with rain obscuring visibility and the ground shaking beneath us.
It was the worst possible conditions, but as always, I readied my sword.