Slash! Clang clang clang!
Swish.
After one clash, Melissa's posture lowered as she strongly pushed her sword away to create distance.
Flash Slash.
Feeling a chill run down my spine, I immediately activated backward evasion.
Whoosh! Boom boom boom boom! Clang clang clang!
I wanted to aim for the delay after using Flash Slash, but there was no time to change direction. Melissa's Flash Slash can't be seen with the eyes. An explosive release of power originating from firmly planted feet, and with it, a blue flash of light shooting forward.
You can't dodge a bullet by seeing it. Melissa's Flash Slash is the same. You have to react just by seeing the stance.
The blue flash quickly grew larger in my vision, and I clashed swords with it just as the invincibility time of backward evasion ended. If I hadn't avoided it through space, my body would have been cut into dozens of pieces.
I'd rather fight the 'Ancient Hero' or a Army Commander, it would be easier on my mind.
Slash!
Melissa's thrust containing fierce power passed by my armpit. I can't block everything. Even if 'blocking' in the system blocks all frontal attacks, at least half of Melissa's attacks are unguardable. If the action of twisting my body to the right had been even slightly late, it wouldn't have been the empty space beside my armpit that was pierced, but the heart beating inside my small body.
While deflecting sword energy, I briefly complained inwardly as I clashed swords following the grain of sword energy streaming from the blue sword.
Each collision with the blue light is like walking on thin ice. The blocking that has protected my body from all attacks so far doesn't work. An opponent with the same swordsmanship, and even a dimension above. It's different from my past self who gained one level in class thanks to the mana given by the holy sword. At this point in time, I'm even at a disadvantage in class.
The method of attacking by aiming for the post-delay doesn't work. All of Melissa's movements flow like water. Even my sword swung with the determination of sacrificing an organ against her lightning-fast blue thrusts is blocked.
At least when fighting the 'Ancient Hero', there were openings. It's a different battle pattern from the 'Ancient Hero' who stubbornly mixed in large attacks trusting in their protective energy and counter sword energy.
How on earth should I attack?
Twirl.
Sword light bursting from Melissa's waist drew a circle. That blue trajectory was aiming for my neck. Fast. Strong. Can't be blocked.
Tap tap!
Slash slash slash!
I gritted my teeth and activated backward evasion. It wasn't too late. But as soon as the distance widened, blue sword energy burst from Melissa's sword shot in aiming for my entire body.
Should I cancel it out with Starlight Sword Energy? The cooldown hasn't reset. Should I use the cooldown reset function? No.
Tap tap tap!
Boom boom boom boom!
A storm of sword energy swept through where I had been. I became a deer darting across the battlefield, moving in zigzags, carefully but quickly moving my body to avoid being swept up in the aftermath of the sword energy.
If this world wasn't a game, there would be no way for my current self to beat Melissa.
But this world is a game.
With the 'system', there must be a way to land an attack.
Like when I took down Elenoa, I need to send my body beyond space and create a 'situation where only I can attack'.
If so, first, approach again.
Screech!
Taking advantage of the gap when sword energy weakened, I approached Melissa through a charge skill and immediately blocked the sword swinging towards my waist.
Clang clang clack! A sword with blue sword energy, if not blocked properly, I'll be cut to pieces. Barely managing to block the sword after my body lurched forward, I immediately activated a 'skill'.
Swoosh.
Counter. A skill that takes the opponent's rear. My body during movement is positioned beyond space. After the normalization patch, Counter gained about 0.5 seconds of invincibility time.
0.5 seconds, an incredibly long time in a fight like this.
In this state, attack.
Slash slash slash!
Ignoring Melissa's sword grazing past my body left and right, I too swung my sword. Clang clang clang clang!
But it's still not easy. As if she had eyes on her back, Melissa blocked the sword coming from beyond space attacking her from behind as if to show off.
If once doesn't work, twice.
Again, left Counter then right Counter. Clang clang clang! Don't give time to detect me. Activate Astaroth's cooldown reset. Then, backward evasion followed by charge. Continuing, skill combination that only gains invincibility judgment in place. Slash! Clang! Blocked. Once more, left Counter. Then right Counter. If this doesn't hit, I'll activate the bracelet's cooldown reset too.
Slash!
I felt it. The Flash Slash used with the last right Counter clearly cut through Melissa's waist. I gritted my teeth and twisted my body to avoid being caught in Flash Slash's post-delay.
Melissa's movement stopped. Blue protective energy swirled around Melissa's waist where I had cut through.
But it seems the hit condition was met.
Swish.
I lowered my posture and raised my sword.
Finally phase 2. How will it come out?
Swoosh.
Melissa's blue form blurred and.
Disappeared.
"!?"
No, she started moving at high speed. My eyes barely followed her movement.
Whoosh!
Wind blows from all directions. Movement accompanied by a storm of mana, Melissa's illusion started using the battle area widely. Inside the wide circular space of the Tomb of Swords, she moved fiercely in circles centered on me. Like a beast that has spotted its prey.
She will attack in some way. Either charge in at that speed and cut my body, or.
Whoosh!
The first attack came from my rear flank. A fierce sound of splitting air containing tremendous power.
Sword energy. Straight line. In the form of a thrust.
That sword energy shooting in at a terrifying speed, I barely twisted my body to avoid it.
Whoosh!
Before I could gather myself, the second sword energy. Crescent, in the form of a slash. I ducked my head just like that. It cut off a few strands of my long hair as it passed.
Third. Thrust form, aiming for the chest from the front. Fourth, thrust form, aiming for the neck from behind.
Slash slash slash slash!
They start flying in from all directions. Can't dodge them all. Woong! I raised sword energy. Starlight settled on my sword.
Given chances are 5 times. 10 times if using cooldown reset?
Within this number of times, detect Melissa's form moving at high speed and cut it down with sword energy. At the same time, deflect the blue sword energy flying in from all directions.
I complained inwardly.
Sister Melissa, the sparring difficulty is too high. Did you treat the high-ranking demons you faced like this too? I'm your cute little sister, this is too much.
After throwing a tantrum that wouldn't be conveyed, I immediately sprayed Starlight Sword Energy against the crescent sword energy fired from the left aiming for my waist.
Boom, boom, boom!
1st, 2nd, 3rd.
The sword energy flying in from all directions doesn't stop. Taking advantage of a gap when I had some leeway, I tried to detect Melissa's movement and spray sword energy, but it didn't reach.
The pattern doesn't end. Barely enduring by using even cooldown reset. It's vicious. Can I really not win?
I bit my lip.
If necessary, I'll give up my bones. With the hero's power, I can chase Melissa's illusion moving at high speed.
Slash!
Against the sword energy rushing in as if to pierce my abdomen, I stopped evasive maneuvers for a moment.
It will hurt a lot.
But, there's no other way.
For an instant.
Chris's worried expression flashed through my mind.
Rain.
How long are you going to rely on the power of the past?
The powerful and sweet power of the past, but this comes with severe pain. Rain can just log out easily. The backlash of pain is borne by Isulbi in the real world. The heartbreaking sorrow is borne by Chris.
Rain, you're irresponsible.
Didn't you decide not to get hurt today, not to worry Chris unnie?
Isn't there something I can do with my current power?
○
In a distant memory, a younger and more timid me.
The me in the memory looked at her hands full of blisters with a tearful face.
"Hee, it's hard. It's too tough."
"Our little hero, this is a technique worth trying."
"But I have the golden protective energy. This protects my body."
"What will you do in front of a power strong enough to tear apart the protective energy? Will you get badly hurt and cry out looking for Elena?"
"But..."
I was dejected. Because it was as Melissa said.
Melissa couldn't maintain her stern expression and ended up hugging me.
"...How did such a small child like you end up with such a great mission? If that goddess was in front of me, I wouldn't have let her off."
"..."
I silently burrowed into Melissa's embrace.
"You don't have to do it now. Um, but you know? I'd like you to practice the sword path once in a while. What did this Sister say about swords?"
"Block, thrust, and slash."
"Right? This can be seen as blocking. Aura, the purest sword energy has the power to cut and pierce everything. If you use sword energy for defense, what power in the world could pierce it?"
Melissa, who pulled me out of her embrace, drew her sword.
Twirl.
Melissa's sword beautifully embroiders the air.
The blue light filling Melissa's surroundings is beautiful.
I watched that beautiful sword dance with my mouth agape.
The trajectory of blue lines cut through all directions.
The 'lines' gathered to become a 'plane'.
○
If it's the current me who has swung the sword again from the beginning.
Slash slash slash slash!
I swung my sword up, down, back, in all directions.
Straight trajectories, not covering the same place twice.
Densely, but as fast as when cutting down enemies.
Starlight enveloped my body.
Around me, impenetrable starlight fell.
[Sword Curtain]
[Invincible while casting]