Axe Devil Gorgol was a famous adventurer who mainly became known from working in the northern Jagra Republic . His axe technique could cut large trees in half with a single blow, and could easily cut through the hardness of Golem class enemies . Above all was his characteristic attack『Typhoon』where he held an axe in each hand and spun like a top . It was said that it was like a tornado that swept through swaths of ordinary monsters .
「Haha . You're interesting . 」
The man wearing silver armor Vanil was overwhelming that strong man with his black sword .
「NuooOO」
Gorgol swung his axes, but every attack was repelled by Vanil's black sword . It wasn't even difficult for him . He continuously killed Gorgol's attacks by aiming at them with all his strength and tremendous speed just before he would try to swing downward . Gorgol was completely unable to attack .
「What is that sword speed . 」
Gorgol seemed to be in a difficult situation . However, Vanil looked bored and spoke .
「But, I'm a little tired of it . 」
He stepped forward while warding off the axes, then leapt forward .
「Hello!」
「You bastard . . . 」
Gorgol was amazed at Vanil's sudden appearance before his eyes . And beyond that, he was frightened to see the bloodshed defense magic crackling as it was repelling the sword aimed at his stomach .
「Oh, you had better avoid it . Won't it break?」
At Vanil's words, Gorgol paled and started evasive action . At the same time, an explosion occurred .
「Wi, Winner: Vanil!」
The referee declared that with a raised hand .
Gorgol was blown away by the impact, and the venue was excited and violently applauded as Vanil held a daunting pose while smiling .
The explosion that occurred just now was the result of the self-destruction of the bloodshed defense magic when it was broken . Although it only distributed the damage to the entire body, it was still much better than being sliced by an attack that could break it .
Thus, the first finalist of the Grand Tournament general division was confirmed . Vanil was a mysterious man who showed overwhelming power . Everyone in the venue was fascinated by the strength of that man .
◎ Resurrect City, Middle Arena, Audience Seating
「Strong……」
Minaka muttered that single word .
The swordsman in silver armor Vanil; after witnessing that strength, Minaka remembered the fact that she been pursued by him before and reflexively shivered . The thought of what would have happened if she had fought at that time was too scary . However, Kazane beside her was watching Vanil with an expression like she didn't understand something .
「What is it?」
Jinrai was concerned about that situation and asked . After she met the god Norman some time ago she was in a strange unfocused state, but now it was the usual Kazane's face .
「Yeah, that's definitely Vanil-san, but somehow he looks younger than when we first saw him, right?」
「Younger?」
After Kazane's words, Jinrai turned to look at Vanil with an inquisitive gaze .
「Doesn't Minaka-san think so, too?」
Minaka shook her head apologetically after Kazane's question .
「I am sorry . I really don't know . But I think you would know better than me . 」
It seemed she didn't have a very good memory . But Jinrai narrowed his eyes and said「Is that so?」
「If so, that gentleman is probably Val Nielsen . 」
Jinrai said . Minaka muttered「No way . . . . . . . 」Louise and Mefirus showed a similar reaction . However, Kazane, Tiara, and Naoki all didn't recognize that name .
「If I remember correctly, I heard he could swing his sword so fast that the opponent would die before they even noticed it . 」
「Yes, there was such a story . I have never met him, but he was an active rank S adventurer decades ago, and it was said his sword was as fast as lightning . 」
Jinrai nodded to Minaka and Louise's remarks .
「That's right . I'm certain his current age is around 70 to 80 . The sword movements seemed similar so I thought he might be a disciple, but did he actually wish for youth by a devil's power?」
While saying that, Jinrai was watching Vanil leave the venue with a mysterious face .
「An acquaintance?」
Kazane asked about that situation, and Jinrai nodded .
「Though he's only an acquaintance . It has been about 30 years . 」
「I see . 」
Kazane also nodded after Jinrai's words .
「Well, even if we think about it now it won't make any difference . Putting that aside, Yumika and that Genzo's match will be next . 」
「They're starting immediately, right?」
「It seems that way . The problem is whether or not she will be able to do anything with her Wolf God Transformation . 」
Minaka reacted to those words .
「Wolf God Transformation . Yumika was talking about that and apologized . 」
「Ah, she felt bad about not using her trump card even though Minaka-san showed her Thunder God Transformation . 」
「But being apologized to for that was a bit of a shock . 」
「She's still a disciple . 」
Jinrai apologized to Minaka's unintentional bitter smile .
「I understand why she tried not to use it . 」
「Yeah . That man called Genzo still hasn't displayed the depths of his power . 」
「That Ojii-chan is still unknown to Jinrai-san, right?」
「That's right . 」
Jinrai nodded . Jinrai felt his way of fighting would be the same Eastern style as Minaka, but beyond that he could only guess .
「Ah, it looks they're coming out . 」
Minaka said after the conversation between Jinrai and Kazane .
◎ Resurrect City, Middle Arena
When Yumika came out from the west gate there were a lot of spectators looking at her .
(I can't get used to this . . . )
Yumika smiled wryly . She was just a high school girl until a while ago and shouldn't have been the kind of person to appear in such a place . But now she found herself here .
「Well, there's nothing else to do . 」
She muttered to herself and looked ahead . There was an old man with a katana on his waist . The glint in his eyes was strong, but that gaze was not directed at Yumika .
(Who are you looking at?)
Based on his line of sight it seemed like he was looking at the VIP box seating . Genzo noticed Yumika's appearance and changed his gaze to look toward her . But there wasn't a strong hostility in that gaze like there was just before .
「Hmm . You're an extremely young lady . 」
「I'm sorry that someone like me showed up . 」
Yumika said, and Genzo shook his head .
「That way of talking isn't good . The people you defeated couldn't be defeated by a person who could be referred to as『someone like me . 』」
Yumika looked embarrassed after Genzo's remark and replied「That's right, isn't it . 」Genzo nodded .
「That's right . Otherwise there would be no value in me defeating you . 」
Then Genzo drew his katana . Yumika groaned because of the dreadful sense of intimidation that was being emitted from that black blade . However, it couldn't be helped even if she was frightened . Yumika also took the spear from her back and held it forward .
The referee confirmed that the tips of both blades were crossed and withdrew after applying the bloodshed defense magic .
After the final confirmation that both were set up in the correct position, he said
「Begin」
with a raised hand .
「First mover wins!!」
Yumika activated her Wolf God Transformation .
「What is that?」
As one would expect, Genzo was surprised to see that situation .
The girl in front of him now had silver hair and a face like that of a beastman . Not only that, her ears were now like a dog, and a tail also grew . However, the visible changes didn't matter . Her ability was terribly strengthened .
「Here I go!」
Wolf God Transformed Yumika kicked the ground and dashed . Her doubled Agility greatly exceeded the leg strength of a human being .
「Fast . 」
Rather than surprised, Genzo looked like he was impressed . But Yumika didn't know about Genzo's ability . She had no way of knowing that he accurately grasped to what extent Yumika was currently strengthened with his Skill『Information Probe』derived from Ninja Master .
And with the devil's power, Genzo's ability exceeded the ability of a human being . His speed was practically the same as her Wolf God Transformed speed as he caught her spear strike with his katana .
「What?」
It was Yumika's turn to be surprised . He stopped her blow directly even though her Strength was also doubled by her Wolf God Transformation . That was the first time a human opponent had done so .
「What ridiculous power!」
The grinding sound of spear tip and katana blade colliding resounded . The clash only lasted for a short time before they stopped .
「You heard from your friends, didn't you? That I am a devil user?」
「Yes, I know about it . 」
It seemed the Wolf God Transformation advantage had decreased considerably, but it was possible that it wouldn't have even been a match without it .
(But being this close favors him)
Yumika thought, then withdrew in one go with a back step .
「So you thought that if you withdrew you could use your spear's advantage?」
However, Genzo divided into『four people』on the spot .
「Clones?」
I heard that he was a Ninja from Kazane, but I never thought he could use clones . . . . . . she thought and clicked her tongue . Some high-ranking Ninja skills created real images . If so, this was also possible . She almost reflexively summoned her silver wolves, but summoning was forbidden .
(Since that's the case, are clones allowed?)
She thought, but the referee didn't call a foul, so the match was still on .
But clones weren't his only ability . Genzo released another ninjutsu .
「Skill・Metal Evasion Technique」
Following those words a tremendous cacophony of metallic sounds surround the Wolf God Transformed Yumika . The Metal Evasion Technique essentially used the sound of metal objects striking against each other to attract attention so the user could escape, but it could also be used as a diversion .
「No, what is this?」
Wolf God Transformed Yumika was violently shaken by the sudden noise . The『Super Hearing』granted by her transformation was a burden right now . That was natural, since Genzo deliberately used it because he knew Yumika's abilities from『Information Probe . 』
Yumika was in a pinch because of the impairment from the abrupt noise and the fierce attack from the four bodies, but with the passive skills『Intuition』and『Nimble』she somehow succeeded in fending off the attacks . However, she couldn't gain the initiative and go on the offensive at all . This was an unknown domain for Yumika, who had mostly fought Jinrai challenging from the front and monsters fighting through instinct .
(Ah, enough already, I have no idea what to do)
Yumika was flustered and doing her best to avoid the attacks .
She wanted to activate the skill『Zone』to boost her concentration here, but that skill was not compatible with the type that disturbed the opponent's pace . If her rhythm were disrupted after activating it not only would Zone be cancelled, the stability of her mind would also collapse, and she would be in a bad condition . However, while considering such a thing, the four Genzos raced towards her from all directions .
(Can't you even give me a chance to think?)
Yumika thought of her companion who would be able to come up with a strategy .
(Kazane!)
An unknown opponent's one-sided attack that didn't give any gaps . If Yumika were Kazane she could come up with a way to deal with it with her Skills,
But she was being completely led around by the nose by this strange opponent's strange technique .
(But)
When her best friend's face popped into her head, Yumika's train of thought completely switched over and relaxed . Her concentration ability increased, and『Zone』was activated by her own power rather than with the Skill list . The surrounding scenery and sounds disappeared, and her concentration ability increased to the limit .
(1・2・3, I can see them!)
Wolf God Transformed Yumika swung her spear horizontally and sliced all three in one blow . And the sliced clones disappeared . But . . .
There was the sound of something stepping on Yumika's spear from above .
(The fourth one . . . . . . That's right, just now they came from four directions)
She couldn't recognize that for some reason . Perhaps a Skill with recognition inhibition similar to Invisible was used . And the tip of a katana was protruding in front of Yumika's eyes .
「I believe this is my victory . 」
Genzo said while standing on Yumika's spear, and Yumika ground her teeth in frustration and
「I lost」
So announced . Together with those words, the referee raised his hand and shouted「Winner: Genzo!」
Then among the excited cheering, Genzo said「Ho」and got off the Wolf God Transformed Yumika's spear . She didn't notice his weight while he was on it, but when he got off she noticed the profound difference .
「 . . . . . . I completely lost . 」
She softly muttered . It was Yumika's complete defeat .
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