CH 101

When the match began, neither side made a move at first.

Just like that, the two sides continued to spend time slowly measuring each other, as if both of us were on the lookout for the other’s next action.

A development similar to the second match.

However, the true state of the situation is almost the opposite.

Ain, who was already able to use <Manual Arts>, with his extremely superior strength, had an overwhelming advantage over me.

When our attacks collide, the difference in power between us will almost determine my defeat.

In other words, Ain needs to match my attack with either a sword attack or a shield parry, while I need to get through both of them or I will lose.

Moreover……

[I know Dual-wielders are quite rare, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have the experience fighting against them.]

As we continued to glare at each other, Ain happily spoke.

[Being able to attack with both hands certainly is strong. That especially goes with the Sword Saint…… As you yourself have fought the Dual-wielding Nirva, you should know the intensity of his overwhelming firepower. It’s just, unnn, I at least don’t think Dual-wielding was better than using a sword and a shield.]

[What are you trying to say?]

When I asked, consciously showing no weaknesses, Ain lightly lifted his shield, seemingly showing it to me.

[————-You can’t use Parry, right?]

When he pointed this out, I was at a loss for words.

The <Ninja> Skill: <Ambidexterity>, which is essential for adopting the Dual-Wielding Style, has the effect that “when the same weapon is equipped on both sides, the weapon in the non-dominant hand can be handled in the same way as the dominant hand”.

This allows one to use the left-hand weapon in the same way as the right-hand weapon, but at the cost of not being able to use <Parry> and <Guard> techniques that aren’t usable with the dominant hand.

Especially in interpersonal matches like this, being able to use Parry is a trump card.

This not only meant that one of the cards that would decide this match in one shot wasn’t accessible to me, but it also meant that I don’t have another option but to evade Ain’s attacks.

[……I wonder about that? I might not have the <Ambidexterity> Skill, you know?]

Although I barely uttered that, Ain’s smile didn’t falter.

Ain isn’t the type to actively deceive people, but that doesn’t mean he’s naive enough to get caught by other people’s tricks.

[There’s no way a swordsman of your caliber wouldn’t know that. And yet, why did you persist in going through this match while Dual-wielding? Perhaps, were you aiming for a tactic that can only be used if you have two weapons where, for example, you can’t use it unless you had to give up one weapon……]

I shudder at his extremely accurate foresight.

I should make sure Ain doesn’t think any more than he already has.

[Let’s end all these tedious talks!!!]

As if to interrupt Ain’s thoughts, I ran forward.

(With a situation like this, it can’t be helped! In any case, I’ll just make the first move!)

Ain is better than me in swordsmanship, ability, and Arts-handling.

So, if I had the chance to win, it would only be through a surprise attack.

[Heehhh…… Then, how about this?]

However, the distance between me and Ain is too far.

Before I could close the distance to Ain, Ain swung his sword and slashed it at an angle.

[————-<Air Slash>.]

I shuddered at the sound of his calm voice.

The only technique I’ve shown Ain so far was <Air Slash>.

And yet, he has already developed <Air Slash> at an angle he shouldn’t have seen yet, correcting the angle on his own.

(You d*mn cheat! Even those Copy-Users in shounen manga have a little more modesty than you!)

I swore at him inside my mind, but that didn’t really change the situation.

At the same time as he released a wind blade from his sword, Ain rushed towards me.

[Kuh!]

He may act casually, but it’s a well-thought-out and nasty attack.

The wind blade, which was fired at an angle, is much harder to avoid than the vertical <Air Slash> that was fired in the first match.

If I force myself to avoid the wind blade, Ain himself would probably follow up with a blow to me after my posture gets broken.

But now, I have abandoned my shield and taken up a second weapon.

I can’t nullify the wind blade with my shield, and even if I tried to cancel it out with my sword, I would lose outright due to the difference in our power, as proven by the result of the second match.

In that case……

[————<Gale Sword>!]

""

I abandoned both evasion and defense.

Instead of escaping from its trajectory, I increased my speed and plunged myself toward the wind blade and Ain coming from behind it.

[Wha!?]

As I raised the sword in my right hand, exposing my body unprotected, the wind blade slammed into my chest……

[—————<Body Flicker>.]

The next moment, I leaped behind Ain.

This was my absolute trump card.

It’s the most powerful evasion technique against an attacker.

Even though my body moved to a different location, the speed of my swinging arm remains the same.

With my accelerated right sword, I swung it down on Ain’s unguarded back……

[—————–<Parry>.]

As if anticipating this, Ain twisted his body and intercepted my sword with his shield.

No, it isn’t as if he had anticipated my actions.

The timing of his movements can’t be explained though, that is unless he had moved his body before I activated my <Body Flicker>.

Ain knew about Nirva, who could also use the <Body Flicker> Skill.

And so, realizing that there was no way I would take the attack without a plan, he predicted that I would evade with <Body Flicker>.

My arm that swung down didn’t stop.

The strike from my right hand struck Ain’s perfectly timed <Parry>……

[……Eh?]

I flung away Ain’s shield.

Feeling elation from my plan working, my lips distorted to a grin.

This is something Ain, no, anyone in the world would never know.

The only person in the world who possessed the <Twin Arts> Skill was <Sword Saint Nirva>.

And even Nirva himself had not mastered this skill in the true sense of the word.

The trick was simple.

I used my right hand to use the <Gale Sword> while activating <Shield Break> with my left hand.

Due to <Twin Arts>’s effect, which enables you to “use a technique performed with one hand to be applied to the other hand”, not just my left-hand weapon, but also my right-hand weapon has the effect of breaking through shields.

(I could do this!!!)

With the certainty of victory at hand, I deactivated the Arts on my left hand and thrust my left-hand sword at the Ain, impatient visible on his face.

[Not yet! <Gale Sword>!]

However, Ain didn’t just let himself get defeated.

With the fastest attack Ain can muster, his sword struck forward, intending to mow away my thrust.

Because of the direction of my attack, my body is leaning forward and I couldn’t dodge his attack.

Before my attack can reach Ain’s body, Ain’s <Gale Sword> will reach my sword……

[————<Parry>.]

My sword parried Ain’s sword.

[Wha……!?]

This time, Ain’s face was dyed with astonishment.

In exchange for the ability to use Arts with my left hand, the <Ambidexterity> Skill should have made it impossible for me to use Parry with my left hand.

That’s why, I shouldn’t have been able to parry him here.

Ain must have thought that was the case.

And in fact, he thought right.

……That is, if only I had not let go of the sword in my right hand beforehand.

The condition for <Ambidexterity>, which allows you to use Arts with your left hand, is that you must have the same weapon in both hands.

In other words, the moment my right-hand lets go of the wooden sword and becomes bare-handed, <Ambidexterity>’s requirements aren’t met, and instead of being able to use Arts with my left hand, I’m able to use Parry.

(————This is my surprise attack. A killer full course for the clueless!!!)

Even if he outclassed me in terms of ability, I’m still ahead in terms of knowledge about Arts.

And so, I’m going to make use of his cluelessness and the holes in their knowledge to suppress him down!

[Kuh!]

But still……

Even though he was hit by many unexpected things, had his shield and even his sword blown away, Ain’s eyes didn’t give up on the match.

I have no weapon in my right hand right now.

So, I would pick up the weapon within the opening my Parry had opened up, and start the battle again.

Perhaps, that is what Ain thought.

However……

(……Sorry, Ain.)

I will not be picking up the sword.

Instead, clenching my unarmed hand tightly and firmly……

(I told you this when I found out you set this match up, didn’t I?)

Thereupon, drawing my right arm like a bow……

[Don’t tell me, wait———–]

Before the flustered Ain fished saying those words, telling me to stop……

——————I said I’ll beat you up for this!!!

And thus, my clenched fist struck the white prince square in the face.