26 – Student Battle, Finals 4
How many minutes had passed?
No, was it seconds?
While losing sense of time, Bailey managed to stay standing though his knees were about to give in.
“Arrghhhh!”
“Gah…!”
The attacks from the great sword. Though they seemed to be wide swings, they left no opening.
His aim was precise, and the feints were numerous and technical.
Bailey had to stay on the defense. No, that was a lukewarm way of describing it. He was riddled with wounds.
“You’re a tough one, Bailey!”
“I told you to stop laughing!”
They collided.
Bailey’s limbs shook. He could hardly feel anything.
It was a wonder that he could even grip his sword and shield. It was almost as if they were stuck to him.
But he could hear the cheers of the crowds. Probably because the others were fighting.
However, he could not pay attention to them in order to find out how they were doing.
The sounds of swords rang in his eardrums. His consciousness was just one brushstroke away from being painted completely white.
Great sword stuck shield.
The overwhelming arm strength. He somehow managed to push back against the crushing pressure.
“Aaaaaaaahhhh!!”
Using his whole body like a spring, he pushed.
Roy’s eyes widened.
Just then, a violent wind blew. It was like there had been an explosion, and Roy was knocked off of his feet.
“Bailey!”
On the other side of the curtain of sand.
He saw a girl with blue hair, stretching out her hand. It was Millie.
(You did it…!)
Their eyes met for a moment, and she grinned. He was sure then.
“AAARGGHHHH!!”
Godor jumped out and swung down with his axe.
Roy quickly raised his great sword above his head, and the two heavy weapons clashed.
“Are you alright, Mr. Bailey…!?”
“Yeah. Somehow…”
He nodded as Arnela helped him up.
Both Millie and Arnela were covered in cuts and dust.
“I’m sorry. It was tougher than I expected…”
“No, you did enough.”
They must have been surprised by how vicious it was as well. And yet they had managed to stop the enemy and rush to him.
Now it was just about defeating Roy. That was what Bailey thought as he looked over…and froze.
Godor was unleashing a barrage of attacks, while Roy was only guarding…
Or, that was what it looked like.
But Bailey realized it.
Roy’s eyes were waiting for something.
“Godor…!”
But it was too late.
In the next instant. Roy’s sword bounced up like a spring, and knocked Godor off of his feet.
Then he pulled back his sword…with overwhelming power.
“AAAAAAAHHH!!”
“Damn…”
A flash.
The thrust turned into wind that swirled.
It bent and twisted the air, turning the ground into powder. And then it slammed into Godor and Millie.
The red alert echoed.
(He had such a trick up his sleeve….!)
His trump card. Roy should be quite depleted. This was not something you could use repeatedly. However, it had changed the situation entirely.
As things moved rapidly, the crowds cheered. Bailey felt cold sweat dripping.
“Phew…”
He stood up and exhaled.
And then Row walked to him slowly.
“Mr. Bailey…”
“I’m going.”
He patted the concerned Arnela on the shoulder.
Then he walked forward so they faced each other in the center of the ring, just like at the start.
“…This is it for you, Bailey.”
Roy muttered.
“It’s over. And so…”
“Surrender? You must be joking.”
Bailey laugheed.
(I know it, Roy.)
That he was stronger.
He hated him. And whenever he saw his old friend outside of the ring, he would feel his blood burn bitterly.
Iria Orlando. Sigurd. Leo. They were all geniuses too. He could not match them.
Why was he different?
Why couldn’t he become stronger?
He had put in the work. Nearly died. And so he would not have any regrets when this was over.
Still, he could not win.
How many times had he bit his lip? Kept his feelings back and smiled at the others?
He did it so many times that he wasn’t always sure what he really felt.
(Know regrets, even if I lose…)
Well, he could say that effort was beauty, or that he did his best. But such words wouldn’t really override his feelings.
Bailey thought about his teammates.
While they were so different, with their own opinions…they were united on this.
“I want to win. I do. Because we’re not geniuses…”
And so he could believe in them. That they were true comrades.
That was why he could not yield now.
“It’s one on one now, Roy Belms…!”
He stopped shaking.
His wounds did not matter. He thrust his sword forward.
Roy was not smiling now.
He raised his own great sword.
And then…
“UOOOOOO!!”
“AAAAAHHH!!”
The two shadows clashed.
Roy clearly had the advantage.
Everyone assumed it would be over quickly.
—Except for those who knew them.
The four students of the Viskinel Academy.
If you were to choose one as your trump card, who would it be?
Bailey was good with attack and defense.
Millie had magic.
And Godor was strong, and could go berserk on the frontlines.
But no.
There was one among them who had not shown her hand yet.
“Wha…!”
Roy’s eyes widened.
An arrow had suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
Arnela Dilmont.
She held up her bow as she stared straight at him.