Ryoji emerged from the battle with only minor injuries this time.
Under the guidance of First Senior Sister, the petite yet wise Toudou Touka, Ryoji began to grasp the concept of "deformation speed" and discovered a new application of 〈Absolute Divine Speed〉.
Deformation speed refers to the rate at which an object changes its shape, serving as a measure of its hardness.
The slower the deformation speed, the harder the object.
Conversely, if the deformation speed is extremely fast, the object is very soft.
With this understanding, Ryoji adjusted his body's deformation speed to be just slightly faster than that of his inherent Spiritual Item (Device).
His Absolute Divine Speed grants him a velocity that surpasses that of his opponents.
This raises an intriguing question.
What happens if his opponent's speed is inherently slower than his?
When Ryoji uses Absolute Divine Speed to set his speed just a notch above his opponent's, what would the outcome be?
Through experimentation, Ryoji discovered that in such a case—his speed would actually decrease.
It's astonishing.
Yet, it makes perfect sense.
The essence of the special ability Absolute Divine Speed is to elevate one's speed above that of the opponent, but it doesn't specify whether it makes one's speed faster or slower.
If he targets an object that is slower than himself, he can inadvertently slow down his own speed.
The principle behind setting deformation speed is based on this concept.
In other words, by designating his inherent Spiritual Item (Device) as the target and making his deformation speed just slightly faster, Ryoji can temporarily harden his body to match that of the inherent Spiritual Item (Device), rendering him incredibly tough and resistant to blades.
However, he doesn't need to enhance his entire body— just his skin, since Kanata's blade is exceptionally fine, and if it can't penetrate his skin, it can't harm his flesh.
The inherent Spiritual Item (Device) is a high-density Magic Power crystal, making it far harder than ordinary steel.
By matching his body's deformation speed to that of the inherent Spiritual Item (Device), Ryoji's skin became as hard as the fragments of Kanata's blade, allowing him to break through Totokubara Kanata's blade domain.
In those fleeting two or three seconds, the hardness of his skin equaled that of the blade fragments, so the shards cutting into his body couldn't inflict any damage.
But it's important to remember that the duration Ryoji can maintain Divine Speed is limited by his Magic Power.
Whether he slows himself down or speeds himself up, using his Blazer special ability requires Magic Power.
When it comes to setting deformation speed, the amount of Magic Power he expends affects both the hardness of his body and the duration of this invincible state.
Through his trials, Ryoji found that increasing his body's hardness to match that of the inherent Spiritual Item (Device) could only be sustained for three seconds with his F-Rank Magic Power.
If he merely raised it to the level of ordinary steel, he discovered it could last about 7-8 seconds.
During those precious moments, he became as impervious to blades as if he were clad in a layer of golden armor.
However, pain was unavoidable.
Kanata's blade would slice into his skin repeatedly, akin to the torturous death by a thousand cuts. The fact that he didn't faint on the spot was a testament to his strong willpower.
The pain he had endured thus far was a thousand times worse—how could he not withstand this?
But it truly hurt!
In the infirmary, Toudou Touka sat by Ryoji's bedside, peeling an apple.
She divided the apple into four pieces, removed the core, and carved the flesh into the shape of little rabbits before offering it to Ryoji.
"Ah—"
Ryoji obediently took a bite, chewing and swallowing.
Seeing this, the corners of Touka's mouth softened even more.
"...Ryoji Kun, I've been thinking."
A moment of hesitation flickered across her face, but then she looked at Ryoji with newfound determination.
"Up until now, I've really underestimated you, Ryoji Kun."
"?"
Ryoji raised his head with a question mark forming on his face.
His cheeks were stuffed with apple flesh, making him resemble a hamster, which made Toudou Touka chuckle softly.
"I've always seen you as someone who needed care, so when you got hurt, I wanted to scold you, to tell you to take better care of yourself and not act recklessly."
Toudou Touka sighed, slowly articulating her thoughts.
"It wasn't until I watched your match today that I realized you've truly become a knight."
Shinguuji Kurono's ability had been heavily countered by Ryoji.
The reason he had defeated Shinguuji Kurono back then, aside from the opponent holding back, was due to his ability to counter and catch the opponent off guard. At the time, Toudou Touka hadn't fully grasped this.
It wasn't until today, when Ryoji faced Totokubara Kanata, who possessed an overwhelming ability that theoretically made victory nearly impossible, yet he still exceeded everyone's expectations and ultimately triumphed.
Only then did Touka understand.
Her Ryoji Kun had matured; he had become an exceptional Magic Knight capable of turning the tide even in adversity.
A true knight can always swim against the current.
From this perspective, Ryoji had grown capable enough to stand on his own, and she didn't need to worry excessively about him anymore.
"So, from now on, I will fully support you, Ryoji Kun!"
Toudou Touka spoke to Ryoji with utmost seriousness.
Until now, she had viewed him as a fragile person in need of care.
Unbeknownst to her, Ryoji Kun had already become an expert; what she needed to do was not to constantly fret over his health or abilities, but to wholeheartedly provide her support.
What Ryoji Kun needed more was her understanding, not blame.
"Senior Sister…"
Ryoji was slightly taken aback, feeling a wave of emotion.
"Since you say so, then I will certainly accept it wholeheartedly!"
Ryoji nodded eagerly.
He couldn't quite grasp the full meaning of Senior Sister's words.
But that didn't stop him from nodding in agreement.
In fact, he found joy in Senior Sister's scolding; it was proof of her care for him, which brought him happiness, especially as someone who had lacked love in both of his lives.
The two locked eyes, and the atmosphere in the room gradually grew more intimate.
Ryoji felt that the current ambiance was quite pleasant, and that his relationship with Senior Sister was ready to take a step further.
"Cough cough!"
But just then, a light cough echoed from outside the door.
"!"
Toudou Touka instantly snapped back to reality, quickly retreating, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Touka, may I have a word with your Ryoji Kun?"
Kanata entered the room, her usual wide-brimmed hat and parasol absent, revealing her delicate, makeup-free face.
"Oh, um! Of course!"
Senior Sister stammered, hurriedly passing by Kanata and leaving the infirmary, almost in a rush.
Ryoji: ( )
(End of Chapter)
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