Chapter 80

Idra finally deployed her Soul Armament, <Azure Sky Lightning>.

(Up until now, it's been more like a preliminary battle... From here on out, it's a full-fledged, all-out fight...)

The moment I refocused and blinked,

Idra's figure, which I had been keeping in the center of my vision, suddenly disappeared.

"What...!?"

Just as I opened my eyes in shock,

"---Over here."

Her cool voice came from behind me.

I instinctively crouched deeply, and a horizontal slash passed over my head.

And then, in quick succession,

"---A little painful, isn't it?"

A powerful mid-level kick was unleashed without mercy.

I turned around while crossing my arms, firmly defending against the blow.

However,

"Ugh...!?"

The impact was violent beyond what I could have imagined from her slender legs.

(What... kind of power...!?)

As I was blown back a great distance, I spun in mid-air to reduce the momentum and took a solid defensive stance.

Idra slowly lowered her long right leg, which had delivered the mid-level kick, and took the unique stance of a dual-spear fighter.

I maintained my guard and spoke.

"...You've become even faster."

"Thanks. But, it's just getting started...!"

Then, in the next instant,

"Thunder Body---20 million volts!"

A bluish-white light emitted from her entire body, and a crackling sound echoed.

(This... is she charging herself...!?)

She was channeling a powerful electric current through her body to activate her cells, significantly enhancing her strength and reaction speed, allowing her to perform such superhuman movements.

(The ability to control electricity... This is going to be tough...!)

As I analyzed Idra's abilities,

"30 million volts---<Thunder Strike>!"

A raging bolt of lightning was released in a straight line from the tip of her blue spear.

"First Blade---Flying Shadow!"

The flying slash I released was immediately nullified by the bluish-white lightning.

(As expected, intercepting with Flying Shadow is difficult...!)

I was shown the stark difference in power and immediately leaped to the left to avoid the lightning strike.

When I successfully evaded, Idra was standing right in front of me.

"Thunder Roar---<Swift Lightning>!"

A relentless barrage of attacks came at me like a storm.

"Ugh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!"

I managed to block the first three strikes—thrusts, slashes, and sweeps—

(It's no good...! She's too fast...!)

It was impossible to block all the consecutive attacks.

Based on my experience, I quickly judged that I would have to take some damage and leap back a great distance.

The sharp, blue spear cut into my side and left leg, causing a burning pain.

"Ugh..."

I swallowed the pain and,

"---Haaaaaaaah!"

Immediately after landing, I charged to close the distance between us.

(If I keep defending, I'll be worn down...!)

I had to keep attacking to prevent Idra from taking control of the battle...

"Eight Blades---Eightfold Crow!"

"Thunder Roar---Ten Thousand Lightning!"

Our strikes clashed and canceled each other out.

"Uoh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!"

"Haah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!"

Our swords and spears clashed, creating sparks and a hard, resonant sound repeatedly.

But,

(Damn... It's too far...!)

The distance between Idra and me wasn't closing at all...

The difference in reach between a sword and a spear is roughly 'twofold'.

It was too far, too hopeless a distance.

Her spear would reach me before my sword could.

(Damn...!)

The number of cuts on my body increased one by one.

Just as I couldn't help but leap back to create some distance,

"50 million volts---<Thunderbird>!"

A massive bolt of lightning transformed into a small bird and was released with incredible speed.

There were easily over a hundred of them.

"Ugh, Eight Blades---Eightfold Crow!"

I released eight slashes in all directions to create a protective barrier around myself.

However,

"Ugh, ha...!?"

Faced with over a hundred birds, my barrier was too small.

I received almost all the lightning strikes and involuntarily knelt on the spot.

(This... is bad...!)

It wasn't a cut, a burn, or an explosion.

This was what they called an 'electric shock'.

The 'shock' that hit my entire body was so intense that I almost lost consciousness.

Idra didn't miss the large opening I had shown.

"70 million volts---<White Whale>!"

She unleashed the largest lightning strike yet, a massive white whale with a bloated belly, its mouth wide open, heading straight for me.

"Five Blades---Boundary Cut!"

The moment I severed the white whale with my strongest strike,

"---Disperse."

"What...!?"

The white whale released the enormous amount of lightning it had stored in its body all at once.

My vision turned completely white, and an unprecedented shock ran through my entire body.

"Kah...!"

I desperately held onto my fading consciousness, forcing my weakening legs to stand, and managed to stay on my feet.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

The air felt heavy.

No matter how much I inhaled, it wouldn't properly fill my lungs.

In this desperate situation, I took a guard stance.

"Still... standing...?"

Idra's trembling voice echoed through the arena.

"That last strike would have killed a normal person---even a tough swordsman would be bedridden for a month... Are you really human...?"

"Yes... But, it certainly... affected me..."

I had never experienced such a powerful strike.

My body was in shambles.

I was only standing by sheer willpower.

"I see... Allen's greatest strength might be his monstrous 'mental fortitude'... But---unfortunately, it's over."

She pointed her blue spear at me.

"You don't stand a chance without a Soul Armament. Continuing will only cause more pain... Just give up."

Idra calmly advised me to surrender.

"...It's true, I haven't manifested a Soul Armament yet. To someone who can freely use <Azure Sky Lightning>, I'm probably just a novice..."

As I said this, I delved deep into my consciousness, deep into the depths of my soul.

"But---even I can do something."

"...What can you do in that state?"

The next moment, Idra's figure disappeared from my vision.

"---This is the end."

Her voice and the sound of her slicing through the air came from behind me.

She must have come to finish the fight.

I no longer had the strength to dodge or even turn around.

But I had one last, secret move.

(If I use this with all my might... My Sword King Festival will definitely end here...)

My immature body couldn't withstand that shock yet.

I would probably be bedridden for at least a day.

(...President, Rimuru-senpai, Felis-senpai... Please take care of things from here.)

Without even turning to face the attack from behind, I poured all my spiritual energy into the depths of my soul.

At that moment,

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