"I’m sorry for blurting that out. I heard something from Lord Mrothgir and father. I don’t know you well, so if I am wrong, my humblest apology.”
“…”
“Well then, let’s continue the match.”
Balrog words stunned me. Is that how it looks like? Am I lacking the resolve? I don’t know. There’s no use thinking about it.
Right now, Balrog charges at me at full speed. He opens his mouth while running. Flames gather at the front of his mouth. The flame forms a spherical shape while rotating until it becomes large and shiny. I throw up six layered barriers at my front and prepares for the impact and counterattack.
Balrog jumps and directed his attack at me. He fires the sphere of flames.
FSSSSHHHH
It was a big blunder for me. I thought it would just be a fireball that would just explode upon contact…
What came piercing my six layered barriers, is a compressed heat ray going through all of my barriers and accurately penetrating the middle of it.
The downward direction of the heat ray causes the ground to melt, so as I avoid the heat ray, I also try not to step on the ground that it hits. Unfortunately, I got hit on my right shin and leg rendering me incapable of any more movements.
I don’t have the time to heal myself so I counter with piercing barrier going upwards. Balrog wasn’t able to change his momentum mid air so the piercing barrier drills through his left arm.
I limp my way out of his attack range. I am literally dragging my injured leg. Balrog on the other hand just examines his left arm that has hole in it. Although it looks like it didn’t hurt him that much, the arm with a hole limps.
“Well done little girl. I really didn’t think I would get injured like this. However, I am not really good at prolonged fights and I want to finish this as fast as possible. I am on a paid leave so I want to enjoy my leave by not beating up little girls but ramming matadors at the arena.”
“…”
“And you also know that the comparison of our injury is different to a degree. You need to get treated as soon as possible.”
What he said is true. I can barely hold out my wakefulness at this sea of flame. The burns and injuries that I accumulated aren’t helping either. He can pierce my barrier with that heat ray so I don’t think I can have the time to heal myself is possible.
I have to go all out now too…
This time, the flames around Balrog flickers with intensity. Another Balrog appeared or more likely, a copy of him made up of fire.
He then rushes at me with the copy and ready to throw a punch.
“Ah! Damn! I just have to do it!”
[Morning Glory Fifteen Petal Layered Barrier!]
BAM
BAM
BAM
Balrog and his copy rush at me with consecutive punches, sending tremor with each hit.
“UOOOOHH!”
[Spiked Barricaded Barrier!]
The layers of barrier sprouted sharp thorns. I called it barricaded as it protects and gives damage to the attacker from the front when they hit it physically. I basically have a fortress of a spike in front of me and each punch Balrog throws is rewarded with a painful backlash of hitting my spiked barrier. And then…
“I’m going to finish this!”
[Spike Extend!]
The spike that was staying dormant shoots out extending into longer spikes that pierce the limbs of Balrog and his copy.
“You can’t move anymore with these spikes gouging your body Balrog! This is my win!”
At my declaration, Balrog and the copy fade with the sea of flames!
Eh?!
What happened?!
“Those two are just copies.”
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“Ah?!”
WHOOSH
As I heard a voice from my back, I reflexively turn around to see who’s in there.
But as soon as I face the way where I heard the voice, a large fist made a gust with its strike appears at the front of my face.
During the morning glory barrier, my back is unprotected. The two Balrog at the front were decoys…
The real Balrog was behind me…
The punch stops right before it hits me face. Because of the shock, I fell on my knees…
“You lost. And that would be more evident if I continued this punch.”
“Ah…”
Upon his declaration of my loss, Lirin comes and also declares that I lost. The fire in the battlefield is extinguished immediately and Balrog’s blazing body is now gone and he is back to normal.
“Come on, stand up.”
“…”
“Hey.”
“…”
“Haaa…Look here. You are impressive, ok.”
“Eh?”
“Even though you lost, you were able to land a clear hit to me. Your manipulation of your barrier shapes and form is magnificent. Although I can say that you are still inept in terms of a real battle. But remember that a barriers true use is for shielding, so don’t rely on it too much.”
“Balrog…that’s…”
“Don’t fret over this lost. You are fighting me, who has experience battles in the past. I am also giving you these compliments because I have known Lord Mrothgir for decades. I am well aware that he cannot give a proper compliment to people or a detailed evaluation of someone’s abilities.”
“I heard you Balrog.”
“Oh…”
Master and Higan come over.
“Asagao! Are you okay… I guess not… this large cow here is terrible.”
“Don’t call me cow.”
“Shut up. If you ever did something worse than this to Asagao, I wouldn’t let you see the sun of tomorrow.”
“Keep that threat to yourself lass. Your opponent is not me.”
Master examines my injuries.
“Come here, I’ll patch you up. You must have spent most of your energy in that battle.”
“Haa…you don’t say…”
Master heals me. I can feel my body is regenerating and connecting all the muscle fibers and my bodily tissues are reforming. In no time, my wound and burns are healed.
“Done. Good thing there are no internal damages and such.”
“Um…”
“Hmm? Don’t think so much about it. I already expected it. Well, let’s go to the spectator seats. Diyu and Higan’s fight is about to start.”
Expected?!
Does master mean that he already knew that I’ll lose? Why…
Even though I gave everything…he already expected this? Is he basically saying that I am weak enough that he knows I will lose by default…
But…what would I expect…
…
Still…
I hate this… I feel like… I have been played at… I thought that… no… I am hopeful that I can win… even a little…
And then… this… is expected… I feel like my chest is heavy… it’s… painful…This sensation… is this…what Ichirou felt at that time?
I am unable to do anything about how I feel right now… I can only bite my lip in frustration…
I hate this…
.
.
.
After Alstroe confirms that I am already fine, Diyu who steals glances at me sighs under her breath with relief.
I sit on a oak wood bench that was furnished with elegant paint to make it look like more woody. I specifically sat beside Alstroe.
In the battlefield right now, Diyu and Higan face off. Lirin in the middle confirms if they are ready and they both nods. They then speak…
“You…where are your weapon from yesterday?”
“My cutlass? I am not going to use it. Consider it as a handicap. Fufufufu.”
“I really don’t see any difference about it.”
“Really now? My cutlass is made of mithril and it’s a good conductor for my magic. I am basically saying that I cut my fighting capabilities in half.”
“Tsk, annoying vixen.”
“Aren’t you the fox here?!”
“Let’s start this!”
“I’ll make sure that this won’t take long.”
After that, Lirin declared the start of the match. Diyu immediately rushes at Higan while she is chanting something.
[Leg Enhancement: Gale!]
Whoosh.
Higan is flying!
“Hooo. That’s incredible. She was able to learn that from just observing. I should say that Higan is really talented. Although the way she floats in the air is unstable and kind of wobbly.”
“Master?”
“I came here to be the explanation guide. Don’t mind me. It’s my hobby.”
“Sure…”
Higan is steadying herself in the air. She continues to chant spells as she floats. Diyu too is astonished but she collects her thoughts and speaks.
“What a cheap trick.”
“Is it now?”
“If you want an aerial battle…I can give you one!”
In Diyu’s back, bat wings sprouts from it. She flaps it several times and soars in the sky too while looking smug at Higan. Higan’s eye twitches as she shows a smug smile.
“Then, if that’s how you want to play it, then so be it.”
[Water Cannon!]
[Thunderous Crawl!]
“EH?!”
Those are spells I never knew Higan can use! I snap a look at master.
“I lend her some books with advanced magic spells on it since she can’t compound magic.”
The water that flew at high speed in straight line hits Diyu and it is followed by a thunder. That would pretty much electrocute her.
As the current of electricity crawls Diyu’s body, she falls but was able to steady herself mid-air and flies again.
“I got to say, you are not half bad. But still not good.”
“Oh? So what are you going to do? Bloodsucker.”
“Hmph. I see no reason to use magic against you. I’ll get a bit physical.”
Diyu glides in the sky to reach Higan. Higan tries to retaliate with the magic she used earlier but Diyu already knows how it works so she dodges it and lands a kick in Higan’s tummy.
But contrary to our expectations, Diyu’s feet is stopped mid air. This time, with a deadpan face, Higan made a smug face.
“Tsk. Cocky brat!”
“Fufufufu. How was it? To kick an unbreakable wind?”
“Eat this!”
With Diyu’s other feet, she made a roundhouse kick. Higan didn’t expect the attack so she blocks it with her hand.
Again, it was caught by something.
“Oh! That’s really interesting!”
“Master?!”
“Higan is using the wind enhancement, not only to cover herself in wind to propel herself in the air but to also blocks physical attacks. The reason she only uses it on her feet is to bait Diyu. That girl, she is quite a schemer.”
“Wait, master. About Diyu, she got directly hit by Higan’s magic earlier but, how is she still fine?”
“Isn’t obvious? She is a vampire, and as a vampire, she has a strong vitality.”
“…”
Higan and Diyu’s lock on in mid air continue as Diyu is trying to pull out her feet from Higan’s wind entrapment.
“This is a good distance to cast a spell.”
“Hmph.”
“Are you still trying to act tough?”
“Well, you may have got me this time, but…if I just use a bit of more force…I can do this.”
As just Diyu said, she spins her body forcing her entrapped feet to force its way to Higan, kicking her directly. Higan got thrown off. Before Higan crashes at the ground, she was able to cast the wind enhancement again to soften the landing.
As she steadies herself, Diyu came rushing again and this time, she grabs Higan in her ankle and threw her again in the air. She then follows it with a kick in the back. She then spins her body and performs an axe kick which Higan manage to block with both of her arms. But to no avail, Higan crashes now to the ground. She is a bit tattered.
“Well, How is it? I told you, right? I don’t need my weapon, and I haven’t even used any magic yet.”
“…”
“Hmph. I really wonder why so hostile towards me. Oh, are you scared that I might snatch away your friend?”
“!”
That’s a really cruel provocation. I know Diyu didn’t mean it…but…
“Unforgivable… You dare try to break my bond with Asagao! You want to destroy and shatter our precious memories together! Unforgivable! You want to snatch away Asagao from me!”
“No… I didn’t say anything like that…”
“Asagao, she willingly accepted me. She takes me with her to experience the outside world! I am now really happy that I get to spend more time having fun with her, adventuring and doing funny things with her together with Alstroe! She is like the hand that saves me from my drowning dull life and gave color to my black and white world. She is my treasured friend together with Alstroe-san! And you want to shatter it!!!”
“Wait…I didn’t say anything like that!”
“Unforgivable!”
Higan…I never really knew that this is how you feel… I am quite moved… but… you’re exaggerating…
Suddenly, magic gushes out from her body. She emanates a strong magic.
The two tails that she has increased in numbers. A third tail appears. In just a short time, she was able to power up. Alstroe is already strong, but to think that Higan gets strong at a really fast pace…
But there is something more than a new tail appearing…
There is something materializing at her hand…
After a while…it fully manifests itself…
An umbrella?!
“Seriously!?”
Master shouts.
Don’t worry master. I want to shout that too…
Higan acquired a Soul Weapon.