Chapter 98

Holding Ria and Rose under my arms, I hurried towards the staff room.

As I passed through the open door, the vice principal noticed me.

"O-Oh, Allen! I'm glad you're safe... Ria and Rose!?"

He opened his eyes wide at the sight of the unconscious duo.

"Please rest assured. They're just unconscious."

"R-Right, that's good. But for you to be injured so badly... You must have faced a formidable opponent...?"

"Yes, it was a close fight. --By the way, have you managed to destroy the barrier? What about communication with the outside?"

When I asked, he grinned.

"Ah, that's all set! The principal will probably arrive in about five minutes. Of course, we've also contacted the Holy Knights Association. You did a great job, Allen!"

"Is that so? That's good to hear."

If Ms. Reia comes, it will be all over.

(Alright, the battle is almost over...)

In the meantime, I'll do what I can.

"Then, Vice Principal, I'll go to assist the president and the others."

Just as I was about to leave the staff room,

"---No. Allen, you need to run."

The vice principal grabbed my shoulder firmly and said with a serious look.

"I've received a report from a teacher on the front line. One of the 'Thirteen Knights of the Oracle' has been confirmed among the enemies. No matter how strong you are, Allen, you can't win in your current state..."

"...The Thirteen Knights of the Oracle, you say?"

Now that he mentions it, Dodoriel said something similar during the battle.

"They are the highest-ranking officials of the Black Organization. Each one possesses the strength of a national-level force, and their power is said to be on par with the 'Principal Class.'"

"Ms. Reia's level...!?"

"Yes, that's right. Fighting the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle is like fighting a whole country... So, Allen, you need to run."

The vice principal patted my shoulder and said this.

But,

"...If that's the case, I have to go even more."

There's no way I can back down after hearing that.

"What? Why!?"

"The president and the others are still fighting such a formidable enemy. I can't just run away and leave them."

My strength is small, but in battle, the difference in numbers matters. More people are better.

"---Thank you for your concern."

I said this briefly and left the staff room.

"Ah, Allen...! Damn, Principal... Please come quickly..."

■

Shaking off the vice principal's stop, as I headed to the schoolyard, an unbelievable scene came into view.

"What... is this...?"

The schoolyard, which looked like a wasteland, was littered with the fallen students of Senrin Academy. Among them, a tall, slender man stood calmly.

(He did this...)

I shook my head to clear it and regained my composure. Then, while keeping him in my peripheral vision, I approached the president, who was lying on the ground.

"---President, are you okay?"

I gently shook her shoulder.

"A-Allen...? R-Run... That monster is... impossible to beat..."

She said this and quietly lost consciousness.

(...That strong an opponent?)

A swordsman who could make the stubbornly competitive president say she couldn't win. An opponent too much for me to fight in my current state.

(But, I have to do something...)

Now, I'm the only swordsman left at Senrin Academy. If I run away, everyone here might be killed.

(The only thing I can do is buy time...)

With this thought, I heightened my alertness to the maximum and approached the man who caused this disaster.

"Did you do this...?"

"---Indeed. There were too many bugs, so I got rid of them."

"...Bugs?"

The anger I had suppressed earlier flared up again at the insult to my comrades.

"Are you... Allen Roadel, right?"

"...!?"

For some reason, he knew my name.

"Don't be surprised, I just received a report. It seems there's a child with some skill."

"...I see. It's creepy to know my name one-sidedly. Why don't you introduce yourself too?"

I tried to keep the conversation going to buy time.

"Hmm, you have a point. I am one of the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle—Fuu Ludras. Remember that."

Fuu bowed slightly, a polite gesture. He seemed to be the type who could have a conversation.

Fuu Ludras.

He was tall, over 190 cm. His long black hair reached his back. His body was slender for a swordsman. He looked to be in his early thirties. His deep-set, well-defined face gave an intellectual impression.

Without his sword, he might have looked like a scholar.

He wore a white noble's outfit with a black overcoat. The overcoat had a green pattern, which I had seen somewhere before. This was probably a special outfit allowed only to the highest-ranking officials.

"...Your target is Ria?"

"Ria...? Ah, right. The current host of the Primordial Dragon King, I believe."

He placed his hand on his chin, as if trying to recall.

"The 'host' of the Primordial Dragon King...?"

"Yes, we are collecting phantoms, including the Primordial Dragon King. To be blunt, the girl doesn't matter. We need the contents."

"...'Phantoms'? ...'Contents'? What do you mean...?"

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar words.

"Hmm... I don't mind talking, and I appreciate a young man with a keen intellect. I'd like to have a chat over tea, but unfortunately, I don't have the time now. Perhaps another time."

As he said this, Fuu took a rapier-like thin sword in hand.

"Wh-What...!?"

A dense, suffocating killing intent was released.

"...What's wrong? Not going to draw your sword, Allen Roadel?"

Only then did I realize I was standing defenseless.

"Damn...! Haaaaaa!"

I gathered the remaining spirit energy in my body and wrapped myself in a dense darkness. Thanks to a brief rest, my spirit energy had slightly recovered.

(If I can hold on for a few more minutes... I might just make it!)

The moment I took a proper stance,

"---What are you looking at?"

"Wh-What!?"

Fuu was behind me.

"---Tsk!"

"..."

A merciless strike aimed at the base of my neck. I kicked the ground sideways and narrowly avoided it.

"Hmm, not bad reflexes."

Seeing his attack, which showed no hesitation to kill, I felt the difference in experience and skill.

(If I just defend, I'll be killed...)

Attack is the best defense. I lowered my center of gravity and closed the distance as quickly as possible.

"Eight Blades—Yatagarasu!"

"---Wind Shield"

My full-force Yatagarasu was blocked by an invisible wall.

"What...!?"

"You shouldn't show any signs of panic during a fight—Wind Cut"

At that moment, a fierce 'gale' pierced my abdomen.

"Kah...!?"

It felt as if my stomach was being torn out, an overwhelming shock.

The force was so great that I was blown back and rolled on the ground, unable to take a defensive stance.

"...Hmm, it seems you are already greatly exhausted. However, to move like this without soul equipment... You are a rare talent... It would be a shame to kill you..."

Fuu said this with a relaxed expression.

(Not good... I can't win this...)

He truly is a swordsman of national-level strength. It's frustrating, but... I haven't learned soul equipment yet, and this is too early for me.

(But... I can't back down...)

I'll hold out for a few minutes until Ms. Reia arrives... I whipped my screaming body and managed to stand on both feet.

"...You can still stand? Your physical strength and mental fortitude are impressive."

I poured all the darkness I could into a genuine, full-power strike.

"Six Blades—Mingou!"

A massive, pitch-black slash rushed towards Fuu.

But,

"---Wind Tyrant Blade"

His massive wind blade easily tore through the black Mingou.

"Wh-What...!?"

The black Mingou, which had never been broken before, was erased. Seeing this hopeless scene, I was speechless and stood in shock.

Immediately after, the still powerful Wind Tyrant Blade carved into my entire body.

"Kah..."

The cuts from the wind blade were... deep. Too deep. Continuing the fight was out of the question.

(Damn...)

As I fell to the ground, clenching my teeth, Fuu suddenly looked up and said something unbelievable.

"Hmm, you've been badly beaten—Dodoriel."

Then, in the next moment,

"Aha... I'm sorry, senpai... But, we've successfully captured the Primordial Dragon King..."

Dodoriel, covered in blood, descended from the second floor of the school building. Behind him, a black shadow floated, with Ria hanging from it, who was supposed to be in the staff room.

"Ria...!? Dodoriel...!?"

As I shouted in shock,

"---Aha, how are you feeling, Allen?"

Dodoriel, whose wounds had somehow closed, leaned in close.

"You, why...!?"

I had cut him with a Flash Slash. He shouldn't be able to move normally.

"Aha, the progress of science is amazing... Just by sacrificing a bit of my lifespan, I can recover so quickly..."

He took a blue pill from his pocket.

(That's a Spirit Crystal Pill...?)

Looking at the <Shadow Master> in Dodoriel's right hand, I saw a significant distortion.

(I see, that's it...)

It seems he used the Spirit Crystal Pill's instability to dramatically enhance his self-healing ability.

"Damn... Not yet...!"

It must have been over three minutes by now.

(About one minute left...)

If I run for my life, I might make it. As I gathered strength in my legs and slowly stood up,

"...What?"

A strange impact hit the center of my body, something I had never experienced before.

"Aha... A swordsman's duel is a serious matter... This is... my victory, Allen..."

Dodoriel's face twisted in joy. Looking down, I saw his sword deeply embedded in my chest.

"Kah...?"

It hurt. It was hot. It was suffocating.

I couldn't breathe.

The taste of iron filled my mouth, and a burning pain shot through my body.

I fell forward, leaning against Dodoriel.

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