Chapter 96

I took a proper stance and stared straight at Doderel.

He was still pointing the tip of his sword at me, wearing a complex smile that mixed love and hate.

(That sword is definitely... the Soul Armament "Shadow's Master," right...)

Despite its unremarkable appearance, its ability is incredibly powerful.

It has the terrifying power to nullify all attacks from the opponent as long as you are stepping on their "shadow."

(...But, it's probably not just that)

If it were only that powerful, Ria and Rose wouldn't be falling behind.

There must be some other—unknown power hidden within.

(...For now, I'll avoid close combat and observe his movements)

As I was formulating this strategy,

"Ahaha...? It's nice to just stare at each other like this... But really, let's clash more, more, more! More intensely!"

Doderel said something incomprehensible and closed the distance in an instant.

"Shizukanae Style—Mayuame!"

A flurry of thrusts came at me like a rain that didn't allow a moment to breathe.

But,

(I can see them!)

Each thrust was as clear as if time had stopped.

I avoided the approaching deadly blade with minimal movement,

"Eight Swords—Yatagarasu!"

and countered with eight slashes.

"Ahaha... That won't work!"

Doderel deflected three of the slashes and, taking advantage of the opening, firmly stepped on my shadow.

At that moment—the remaining five slashes passed through Doderel's body.

"Damn, the 'Shadow Realm'..."

His true body was now in a different dimension due to the ability of "Shadow's Master."

To break through this, a "Boundary Break" class attack would be necessary, but...

(...He must be fully aware of that)

Then,

"---Ahaha! Of course, I'll avoid 'Boundary Break'?"

Doderel, who seemed to have read my thoughts, smiled innocently.

"...I see."

He was always a sharp one, even back in the Grand Sword Academy.

The same technique won't work twice.

"Then, let's keep going...! Shizukanae Style—Shizukanae!"

A series of sharp, deadly attacks—downward slashes, thrusts, upward slashes, and more—were unleashed one after another.

"..."

I dodged, deflected, and blocked these attacks with my sword as a shield.

"Ugh, you're so nimble...!"

Doderel, whose attacks were all blocked, let out a loud roar and attacked even more fiercely.

I defended against his attacks while feeling a slight sense of unease.

(...Why has he been using so many rapid attacks since the beginning?)

Something felt off.

I had attended the same sword academy as Doderel for three years.

I knew him to some extent.

(He was the type who sought 'beauty' in combat...)

Continuously using the same series of attacks was unlike him.

Then,

"Arghhh...!"

Hearing Doderel's heated cry, he unleashed a powerful downward slash from a high stance.

"---Too slow!"

I avoided the intense blow by shifting to my right side, and there was his head, full of openings.

This is it...!

"Five Swords—Kiri...!?"

Just as I took a large step forward,

"Ahaha..."

Doderel laughed.

It wasn't a mad laugh but a very rational one.

(...Trouble...!)

I didn't know what was wrong, but my sixth sense screamed that jumping at the obvious opening in front of me was dangerous.

Trusting my instincts, I jumped back just as a massive slash was released from the shadow at my feet.

"Wha!?"

To avoid the rising slash, I leaped back.

As a result, a few strands of my bangs were cut, but I narrowly avoided it.

(...That was close)

If I had used a "Boundary Break" just now, I would have been cut in half by now.

"Too bad, too bad... Just a little more...! Ahaha, ahahaha, ahahaha!"

He grinned widely and burst into laughter.

It seemed that the continuous attacks and the final large swing were all setups for that one strike.

"Ah, what a failure... When I imagined Allen's body being cut in half... I just couldn't help but smile!"

Doderel clutched his body and writhed in laughter.

Ignoring his provocations and odd behavior, I asked,

"...Did you just launch a slash from a distance?"

The place where Doderel swung his sword and the place where the slash was released were completely different.

In other words, he had launched a slash from a "different location."

"Correct, correct, very correct...! It's the remote slash of my 'Shadow's Master'...!"

"Remote slash...?"

"Yep! I can launch a slash from my 'shadow' to another 'shadow' that is connected to it... Like this—!"

As he said this and swung his sword,

"!?"

A sharp slash shot out from the shadow at my feet.

"Ugh!"

I immediately countered with a horizontal slash, neutralizing the incoming attack.

"Isn't it a great ability? And look, it's a cloudy day today! Clouds cast 'shadows'—now this place is all under my control! It's like God is giving me a boost...!"

He spread his arms wide and spoke with a full smile.

"...You've certainly drawn out the power of your Soul Armament."

He truly is a genius swordsman...

"Thanks, but I'm not happy to be praised by you... By the way, did you know...? Soul Armaments become stronger the closer they walk to the 'boundary between life and death'—!"

As he said this, Doderel launched a sharp thrust.

"'Boundary between life and death'...? Does that mean near death?"

I dodged and responded to his question.

"Yeah, that's right! When you suffer near-fatal injuries and experience the boundary between life and death—the material and the immaterial—your body and soul become more closely intertwined, and your Soul Armament emits a greater radiance!"

"Hmm, is that so?"

I had a bit of an idea about this.

After fighting Shido and Ildra and suffering near-fatal injuries, I had somehow become stronger.

(I thought it was because the experience of defeating a strong opponent gave me confidence and sharpened my sword...)

It seems there is a theoretical basis for this phenomenon.

"While you were enjoying yourself in the Thousand Blades Academy... I've been running through battlefields day after day... Crawling on the ground! Drinking muddy water! Slaying people! All for one reason—to avenge you, who ruined my life...!"

Doderel's face contorted with hatred as he screamed.

(...He's broken)

His personality was irreparably damaged.

The turning point was probably the duel a year ago.

Doderel, who had mocked me as a "failing swordsman" for three years, lost to me in front of a large crowd he had gathered.

This wounded his delicate pride.

(Objectively, it's just a case of resentment...)

But this is indeed a result of my actions.

So, at the very least, I'll finish this—by cutting him down.

"Can you, who soaked in the warm bath of the sword academy, cut me!?"

Doderel opened his eyes wide and shouted,

"Shizukanae Style Secret Technique—Matsuraini!"

He launched a sharp thrust, concentrating his power into a single point.

To his question, I gave a short answer.

"---Yes, I can."

And I swung down a "simulated black sword" coated in darkness.

"Kya...!?"

That one strike tore through the "Shadow Realm" and left a deep sword wound on his chest.

"Wha, what...? My... My world...!?"

Doderel was more shocked by the destruction of his shadow world with a single strike than by the wound on his chest.

"---I can see from your sword that you've been through many battles. But, I've been honing my sword every day to stand here."

Ria, Rose, Shido, and Ildra—none of them were easy opponents.

Each battle was a life-and-death struggle.

The days I've spent are far from a "warm bath."

As I stared straight at Doderel, he glared back with bloodshot eyes.

"A failing swordsman... You're always an eyesore...!"

Suddenly, he wrapped his sword in a terrifying "shadow."

A dark, polluted, and overwhelmingly negative force.

It was likely his all-out attack—intending to decide the battle here.

"Let's go, Allen...!"

"Ah, come on...!"

Our shouts echoed, and Doderel swung his sword.

"Die—Shadow's Phantom Strike!"

At that moment, a wave of "shadow" like a muddy torrent rushed at me at an incredible speed.

It was a violent force that swallowed the surrounding trees and debris, overwhelming in mass.

In response, I raised my sword high and swung it down with all my might.

"Six Swords—Mingou!"

A massive slash wrapped in darkness tore through the earth.

Then—the pitch-black darkness and the hollow shadow collided violently.

A tremendous shockwave blew through the air, and a huge crack ran through the main building.

For a moment, it seemed the two forces were evenly matched, but then the "darkness" consumed everything.

"Wha, what...? No, no way...!?"

The black Mingou that could destroy everything engulfed Doderel, and a painful scream echoed throughout the academy.

"...Did I do it?"

As the dust cleared, there stood Doderel, barely standing on his two feet, gasping for breath.

"...You're tough."

As I muttered this, Doderel slowly fell forward.

"Haa, haa... Damn...!"

His body was riddled with deep sword wounds, and he was in no condition to continue fighting.

"...It's over, Doderel. The Holy Knights will be here soon. Stay still until then."

As I turned my back, Doderel spoke,

"Ahaha... Allen, you're... so kind... Even to a piece of trash like me... You show mercy... I hate... your sweet side... so much...!"

Doderel's body was enveloped in a sinister shadow.

"Wha!?"

I quickly jumped back and took a proper stance.

"---Ku, ahaha, hahaha, hahaha!"

Doderel's body was covered in black shadows that looked like patterns.

(...The wounds are closing)

The black shadows were stitching the wounds together and stopping the bleeding.

"Ahaha... Now, I could even tear apart the 'Thirteen Knights of the Oracle'...!"

As a test, he slashed the main building, and the outer wall exploded, exposing the classrooms inside.

(...What kind of power is this...?)

It seems the shadow also enhances physical abilities.

"Shadow and darkness... What a fitting battle between black forces...! A fallen genius swordsman and a failing swordsman—two outcasts with matching powers, perhaps?"

I ignored Doderel's taunts and focused on his body.

"...That power. You're pushing yourself to the extreme."

Looking at his body, it was clear that the shadows were constricting him, and blood was seeping through in several places.

It seems he was forcibly compressing his cells to force movements beyond his limits.

"That's not true...! This 'pain' is good...! People grow strong and tough by bearing pain! Come on, Allen... Let's 'grow' together...!"

Doderel smiled viciously and took an aggressive forward stance.

"...Sorry, but your 'growth' ends here today!"

I wrapped myself in an unprecedentedly dense darkness and took a proper stance.

---And thus, the final phase of my battle with Doderel began.