Old Testament Ballads (Old Virgin Ballad Guild).

ch. 51. Defeat.

Heathcliff drew a long, thin sword from his shield, and then held it steady as he entered his fighting position.

He stood with his shield pointed at me and the right side of his body away from me. I could not feel the force forced from his position.

I realized that trying to predict his movements would only confuse me further, and decided to go straight ahead and attack with full force.

Although none of us glanced at the dueling screen, we both immediately lunged as soon as the «Duel» message appeared.

I lowered my position as I ran; my body almost scratched the floor as it slid.

I turned my body just before I reached Heathcliff and swung the sword in my right hand to the upper left.

The attack was held up by his cross-shaped shield and produced several sparks. But my attack was part of two consecutive attacks.

Zero comma one second after the first strike, my left sword slid behind the shield. It is a type-injured style Dual Blades «Double Circular».

The attack from the left was deflected by his long-sword; the effect of his halo stopped halfway. Although disappointing, this move was only a signal to start the battle.

Using the power of the sword stance, I widened the distance between us and then lunged at my opponent again.

This time, Heathcliff retaliated by lunging using his shield.

His right arm was hidden behind his large cross-shaped shield, making it difficult to see.

"The!"

I ran to the right to avoid his attack. I thought that if I stood by the side of Heathcliff's shield, I would have enough time to react to the attack even though I couldn't see the trajectory.

But then Heathcliff raised his shield horizontally.

"Yeah!!"

With a low shout, he launched a stabbing attack with his shield. His attack came at me, leaving behind a trail of white light.

"Gee!!"

I can only survive by crossing my two swords. That powerful impact shook my entire body and sent me flying backwards a few meters.

I thrust my right sword into the ground to stop myself from falling and then turned around in the air before landing.

It was an unexpected thing, but it seemed that the shield itself could also be used as a weapon. Similar to Dual Blades in some ways.

I originally thought that my extremely fast attack speed would allow me to win in a first strike duel; but it seemed that I was wrong.

Heathcliff ran towards me, closing the distance between us and refusing to give me time to recover. The sword with the cross-shaped handle on her right hand was thrust towards me at a speed that could rival Angela the «Flash».

When the opponent started his consecutive attacks, I could only use both of my swords to defend. Before the duel, Angela explained as much as she could about «Holy Sword»; but it seems that a crash course just isn't enough.

Therefore, I could only rely on a split-second decision to withstand the incoming attacks.

After using my left sword to fend off the last upward attack of his eight consecutive attacks, I immediately tried the one-attack sword style, «Vorpal Strike», with my right hand.

"Hya .. aaa!!"

With a metallic sound like a jet engine, the sword stance left a trail of red light before crashing into the middle of his shield.

It felt as if I had hit a stone wall; but my hand kept moving to complete the attack.

A claang!! The sound of his collision clang, and this time Heathcliff was pushed back. I couldn't really break through his shield, but I felt the feeling of successfully «penetrating his defense.

Heathcliff's HP had been reduced slightly, but not enough to decide the fight.

Heathcliff landed straightforwardly and widened the distance between us.

"... Impressive reaction speed."

"It looks like your defense is too perfect ...!!"

We started exchanging attacks at blinding speeds. My sword was blocked by his shield; his sword was deflected by my sword.

Various light trails of different colors appeared and faded continuously around us, while the sound of our guns clashing shook the floor of the arena.

A small attack managed to enter several times, and our HP was reduced bit by bit. Although both players failed to make a decisive attack, one would win when his opponent's HP dropped to below fifty percent.

But I don't care about it anymore. I felt myself speeding up in excitement, as this was the first time I had faced such a powerful opponent since being caught in the World War of Swords.

Each time my senses sharpened, my attack speed rose again by one level. I still haven't reached my limit. I can still get faster. Follow me if you can, Heathcliff!!!

As I unleashed every strength I had, I immersed myself in the ferocious joy of swinging my sword. I must be laughing.

While the exchange of sword attacks intensified, the HP of both sides continued to decrease until it almost reached the fifty percent area.

Just then, Heathcliff's calm face finally showed a flash of emotion. Whatisit? The nervousness? I felt the speed of his attack decrease a little.

"Yahoo!"

At that moment, I left all defense and launched an attack with both of my swords: «Starburst Stream».

The sharp side of my sword moved swiftly towards Heathcliff like a blaze from a prominent sun.

"Among ...!"

Heathcliff raised his cross-shaped shield to hold. But I just ignored him and kept attacking him from right, left, up, and down. Meanwhile, the response became slower.

I can break through!!

I'm sure that the final attack will break through his defenses. With his shield more towards the right, my attack from the left shot inward, drawing a trajectory of light.

If this attack were to enter, his HP would definitely

reduced drastically to below the half mark, and I would win.Then, at that moment, my whole world shook.

"-!?"

How do I explain it? It was as if some of my time had been taken away from me. For a few tenths of a second, everything around me seemed to freeze; everything except Heathcliff.

The shield that was supposed to be on the right suddenly appeared on the left, as if I was watching a video that stopped, and held my sword.

"P-h!"

I was stunned at the fatal moment after the powerful attack was detained. There's no way Heathcliff will miss that chance.

The long sword in his right hand launched a single strike, which came at me with a disgusting accuracy that would definitely decide the match. I fell into an unsightly pile.

I could see the message of the purple system, which announced that the duel was over, with

my eye angle.

My fighting position has disappeared. I just lay there, my mind blank, even as cheers burst into my head once more.

"The room!!"

Angela ran over and shook me back to my consciousness.

"Ah .. yes .. I'm fine."

Angela looked at my blank expression with worry.

seriated.