Ink-Black Aura
A sharp slicing sound cut through the air as a sword strike descended. A long sword infused with brilliant blue aura sliced past my hair. Crack! Followed by a thrust. The sharp tip of the sword aimed to pierce my heart, but I twisted my body to narrowly avoid it and swung my long sword horizontally. Whoosh— Clang! It was a quick strike to the head, but Gawain raised his sword wrapped in blue aura to block it. At the same time, a heavy sound erupted. Even though the swords had clashed, it sounded like a shield being pounded. Tsk. He's incredibly tough.
After the semifinal against Luke, we waited and waited for the final. As expected, I faced Gawain, and I clicked my tongue lightly at his defense stronger than steel. Since Eustia eventually advanced to the final of the magic tower, I planned to deal with Gawain according to the plan. This guy Gawain... How did he get such a good drug? His mana volume has increased significantly. Thanks to that, since the match started, I still haven't pierced through his aura. Annoyed, I was considering whether to just use aura myself when he increased his speed and began to pour attacks. Boom! Kaka-gak-!
"You still have the luxury to be sparing with your aura. But how long can that arrogant attitude last?"
"Talking a lot during a duel. Is it because you ate the drug that you become noisy?"
"...I don't understand what you're talking about."
At my comment pointing out that he used the drug, Gawain's expression hardened. This guy is trying to make excuses. In the original story, Gawain consumed the Awakening Elixir from Friedrich to steal the title of Sword Master and entered the Demon King Tournament. He thought he could confront the Sword Master that way. But there's one thing those guys got wrong. Simply increasing mana volume doesn't make one a Sword Master. This principle is similar to how even after I awakened my traits and my mana volume exploded, I hadn't reached the realm of Grandmaster yet. Ultimately, to raise one's realm, the so-called enlightenment is important.
At that moment, while Gawain and I were sparring with swords, he said to me.
"May I ask you one thing?"
"Well, let's hear it."
"What is the reason you hide your true identity so much?"
"I cannot tell you that."
"Indeed. As I thought."
Clang— Without waiting for my answer, Gawain immediately poured out his aura like a storm. Seriously. I have to deal with people in front of me, so why would I reveal my identity? Well, if I'm found out, it's inevitable. But I still have to try to hide it. Amid the storm of blue sword strikes rushing without pause, I glanced at the nobles watching the match from the spectator seats. Curiosity, surprise, bewilderment—each face showing various emotions. Among them, Albireo, who knows my true identity, was expressing anger without restraint. Friedrich showed a faint curiosity. The emperor was watching the match expressionlessly. The Empire's Emperor Aragod. Does he know that the fate of Eustia and Albireo will diverge soon? One will fly closer to the sun. The other will fall like Icarus who lost his wings. While pondering amid the spectator seats. I detected something strange.
"Where did the Magic Tower Master go?"
Magic Tower Master Bahamut Wizardros. The Grand Magician who used spatial blocking magic in the tournament hall corridor. No matter where I looked, his figure wasn't visible. In the middle of the finals, where is this old man doing? It's worrying... but I can't sense him out during the match. Just then, as that strange unease climbed up my spine. Gawain's semi-circular aura dug into my side. Boom-!
"Hoo. So you can block this too."
"You didn't think I'd take damage from this attack, did you?"
"Correct. As expected, a normal attack won't do. Then, I'll unleash all my power at once."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh— From a distance, Gawain raised his mana explosively with a short warning. The air trembled with the vast amount of mana. The spectators' expressions showed tension, as if feeling the tremor even in the stands. '...This is dangerous.' Watching Gawain's blue armor beginning to emit dazzling light, I clenched my fists. During this time, was I holding back my full power in preparation for the duel with Friedrich? Seeing that Gawain seemed to be preparing something big, the spectators all held their breath and focused their gazes. It seems it's not the time to be worrying about the Magic Tower Master. I need to put more sincerity into it. I lifted my foot to suppress him and then brought it down strongly. Gooooong!
[Authority is used.]
[The opponent is resisting.]
'Damn. This won't work.' The mana wave rushing out violently reached Gawain and dissipated. Luke blocked it in the semifinal. It doesn't work against a knight commander level after all? Swallowing the frustration, Gawain raised his sword and stomped the ground like a surprise attack. Crack!
"Hoo-!"
Gawain charging with a shout. Then, he continued to strike his sword in succession at the moment of the flash, like pounding a hammer. Boom! Bang!
'This bastard...!' The fierce continuous strikes continued as if he was aiming at my sword, not me. No way. Did this crazy guy decide to break my sword? While I was trying to readjust from a distance, Gawain stubbornly followed and swung his sword. Boom! Bang! Bang!
"You thought the sword could withstand without aura!"
Gawain shouted as if he found my weakness. I can't let this continue. I increased my speed to aim at his vital point, but the sword bounced off due to the blue aura covering his whole body. Tung!
'Fuck.' What kind of sword is this that doesn't even scratch? It was incredibly tough aura. Eventually, as Gawain continued his attacks without rest, the sword started to crack under the continuous blue aura strikes. Crack.
"!"
The sword was in a state where it could break at any moment. Did he notice that? He increased his speed even more and poured sword strikes at me. Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gawain was relentlessly attacking like a beast biting the nape of the prey's neck. While barely holding on by infusing mana into the sword, I looked at his face. He was swinging the sword silently with such seriousness that it didn't seem like words, but from his expression, I could see the anticipation of a soldier who has the goal in sight. Does he think he can kill me soon?
At that moment, the sound of the sword slowly splitting came. Crack.
'Damn it.' I thought I could hold until the end of the Demon King Tournament. In the end, was the difference between having aura and not absolute? I tried to fix the sword with mana so it wouldn't break, but as the exchanges continued, a thin crack kept appearing on the sword blade.
"Hoo."
In a difficult situation. If this is the case, I have to use aura and accept that my identity will be revealed. While in short hesitation until I decide, among the many spectators, the faces of two women were like stars in my sight. '......' A girl with golden hair looking at me worriedly, and a beauty with a sharp gaze like a beast. Eustia and Elda. The people close to me, who believe in me. The heroines I vowed to protect. When I saw their faces, the hesitation disappeared.
'Yes.' The only choice given to me now is one. The disturbance caused by revealing my identity can be dealt with later. I can't show them shameful appearances now. After deciding, amid the sound of Gawain swinging his sword like a machine echoing in my ears. On the stage watched by thousands of spectators, I infused my will into the mana flowing in my body. Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
"!"
Gawain, who noticed what I was trying to do, began to increase his speed to the limit. At the same time, his sky-blue armor emitted even stronger light. In a situation where one mistake could end the match, I prayed. For the power to immediately turn the situation around. For the sharp intent to cut through the blue aura in front of me. Zuuuuh.
At that time, the ink-black aura began to flicker on the crumbling long sword. This is the Aura of Severance. I swing the brush and draw a black line in the world. The line I draw will cut anything. Space. Even the world of the enemy.
"Has your true identity finally been revealed! Archduke!"
As I pulled out the ink-black aura, Gawain shouted loudly in the tournament hall. When he suddenly revealed my identity, the spectators fell into confusion. The nobles who had heard about the ink-black aura that cuts everything stood up from their seats. Amid the attention of all people in the tournament hall focused on me, I raised the aura in the sword even more. Gigi-gig.
Then, the sword made a strange sound as if it had reached its limit. This sword will soon reach the end of its life. I have to finish him with a single sword strike. However, while I was preparing the one strike, Gawain, who sensed that the sword's lifespan was almost over, swung his blue aura with his last strength.
"This ends it!"
Hwaaah-! The world drawn by the brilliant blue aura. Because he amplified the mana significantly with the drug, it was quite wide. However. No matter how hard the wall is, if it is cut through space, there's no way. 'Farewell. Gawain Calinant.' The shield that has protected Albireo until now. The blue wall that must be destroyed to kill him. Towards that high wall. I drew a long line with my black brush. "--------" A piercing ringing sound. At the same time, the ink-black aura cut through the space. Gawain's world split from top to bottom.