-Henry’s POV-
I received Dione’s sword strikes.
There were plenty of chances to counterattack, but I chose not to. I kept taking her blows instead.
――――Dione’s swordplay is beautiful.
Graceful, yet powerful.
She seamlessly blends hard and soft techniques.
It reminded me of the time I sparred with Alexia.
That’s why I wanted to keep clashing blades with her a little longer, to experience her technique as much as I could.
But…
(Her sword is starting to slow.)
She must be getting anxious because she can’t break through my defense.
The unease creeping into her heart was dulling the sharpness of her blade.
At this point, there was little meaning in continuing to receive her attacks.
I would’ve liked to keep enjoying the dance a little longer… but it was time to bring this to an end.
「Haaahh!!」
Dione raised her left-hand sword.
She brought it down at a diagonal angle.
I read the strike perfectly.
「Hup!!」
I countered with a slash of my own.
Like a perfect parry, our blades clashed at the exact moment, and her sword went flying.
「!!?」
Dione’s eyes went wide in shock.
I immediately followed up with a slash.
But she quickly stepped back, avoiding my strike.
「She dodged, huh.」
I murmured.
Dione, beads of cold sweat on her brow, muttered back,
「So strong… I can’t believe someone this powerful exists. The Grand Martial Tournament really isn’t for the faint of heart.」
To steady herself, she took a deep breath, “Fuu…”
The sword in her left hand had flown far off and was lying on the ground.
She only had one blade left.
She gripped that one sword with both hands and raised it.
「……」
An immense pressure radiated from her, something she had never shown before.
A surge of killing intent and fierce energy.
She was preparing to unleash her ultimate technique.
「So, you’re going all in. …Very well. Come. I’ll take it head-on.」
I said, raising my short sword.
In the next instant—
Dione kicked off the ground and charged.
「ZAAAAAAAHHHH!!」
She released the strongest slash of the match so far.
It was like lightning ripping through the air, fast, violent, and unrelenting.
But,
With my psychokinesis-enhanced dynamic vision, I was tracking it perfectly.
(Now.)
I thought silently.
And I swung my short sword to meet her slash.
「!!」
The victor, was my short sword.
Dione’s blade was sent flying and stabbed into the ground several meters away.
The impact from the clash had injured her right wrist.
She clutched her right arm, clearly in pain.
「It’s over.」
I said.
Dione lowered her gaze…
「Yeah… I lost. A complete defeat.」
She quietly admitted.
It was her declaration of surrender.
The female announcer, picking up on that, used a Voice Amplifying Magic Stone to shout.
『It’s over! It’s over!! The winner of the first semifinal match is, Henry!!!』
The next moment,
The arena erupted.
「UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」
「Henry’s a beast!」
「No way! The big one lost!?」
「Even with that tiny magic power pool, Henry pulled through!」
「That perfect parry was sick!」
「Incredible!」
「Guess that pompous speech wasn’t just for show.」
「Henry’s got the skills to back it up.」
「He was on the defensive the whole time, looked like he was in trouble.」
「What are you, stupid? He never looked troubled. He was calm the whole match.」
The crowd roared with excitement.
Applause and cheers broke out everywhere.
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