Volume 4, Chapter 35 – Chris vs- Shizuku

◆ Christina POV ◆

Without even acknowledging my introduction, the expressionless Shizuku-dono lunged forward in a single burst.

Fast! But I can react.

I parried the blow and followed up with a counter-strike, but Shizuku-dono gracefully slipped away and created distance.

“Hah!”

I steeled myself and closed the gap, launching a flurry of attacks before she had a chance to sheathe her blade.

My goal was to disrupt Iai, the secret technique of the Shin’ei Style.

Clang, clang, clang!

Shizuku-dono deflected my attacks with her sword.

Her expression remained frozen, making it impossible to read her thoughts, but I didn’t feel the same overwhelming gap in power that I had felt during our match in Yurgu.

I wasn’t sure if it was because I had grown stronger, or because she was lacking her usual brilliance due to being manipulated by Suikyou.

However, judging by the scene, this was likely where Shizuku-dono had cut down my Shishou.

If that were the case, if I didn’t stop her here, that blade might eventually be pointed at Fiene-sama.

I cannot allow Fiene-sama to be cut.

For the sake of the world, and for Shizuku-dono’s sake as well, I must not let that happen.

Shizuku-dono shifted to a counter-offensive.

I caught her overhead diagonal slash with Sesrumnir and immediately knocked her blade upward.

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Following through, I delivered a front kick that sent Shizuku-dono flying back, regaining my distance.

“I’ve grown stronger too. Shizuku-dono, it won’t be like it was in Yurgu this time!”

I didn’t know if it would reach her heart, but I returned the taunt just as she had done to me back then.

Shizuku-dono remained expressionless. She simply stood straight and gave her sword a light flick.

In the next instant, pale blue flames appeared around Shizuku-dono—one, two, three, four.

“What?”

With another flick of her sword, those pale blue flames surged toward me.

“Kuh!”

I dodged the flames by a hair’s breadth and closed the distance in one leap.

But Shizuku-dono was already there, waiting for me in an Iai stance.

Putting every ounce of my soul and strength into it, I came to a dead stop and dodged her two-hit combo following the draw. Because I dodged by the narrowest of margins, I felt a few strands of my bangs flutter down.

“To be this strong even while manipulated… but what on earth were those flames?” I muttered instinctively.

“Chris-dono! Be careful! That is a technique called Foxfire, used by the Black Fox that Shizuku has summoned!” Souji-dono shouted from across the bridge.

I see. It seems Shizuku-dono is possessed by something like an evil spirit known as the Black Fox.

If that’s the case, she might be saved by Fiene-sama’s Purification after I defeat her.

As these thoughts raced through my mind, Shizuku-dono launched another volley of Foxfire.

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“Shizuku-dono! The same trick won’t work twice!”

I shifted my body axis just enough to dodge and closed the distance again.

As expected, Shizuku-dono was waiting for me in an Iai stance.

I deliberately stepped into her range.

A silent, godspeed draw followed by a slash assaulted me.

But I slammed Sesrumnir directly against Shizuku-dono’s blade.

Sesrumnir and Shizuku-dono’s sword collided.

With a violent sound, Shizuku-dono’s sword shattered.

Shizuku-dono hurriedly leaped backward.

“Shizuku-dono, this Christina has broken the secret technique of the Shin’ei Style! Now, wake up! You didn’t come here to become a monster!”

However, Shizuku-dono’s expression remained frozen; there was no reaction.

“Kuh, no good, then.”

Shizuku-dono tossed aside her scabbard and drew a spare sword. That was her last remaining blade. If I could deal with that, I might be able to subdue her.

Shizuku-dono swung her sword and fired Foxfire at me.

“Shizuku-dono! No matter how many times you do it, it’s the same! Flames of that level won’t hit me!”

I wove through the incoming fire and approached her again.

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Contrary to my expectations, however, Shizuku-dono used her innate agility to maintain distance and fired more Foxfire.

Surprisingly, Shizuku-dono had abandoned the sword duel and switched to using flame attacks as her main means of offense.

“Shizuku-dono!”

Once again, I faced her from a distance of about ten meters.

“In that case!”

Instead of charging in a straight line, I moved in an arc, gradually closing the distance.

Since her sword had been shattered, Shizuku-dono was avoiding close combat.

combat. In this situation, I should be able to do it.

I dodged the Foxfire attacks, occasionally blocking them with Sesrumnir, slowly guiding her movements.

Finally, I succeeded in cornering Shizuku-dono at the water’s edge.

“Now, there’s nowhere left to run, Shizuku-dono.”

As if resolving herself, Shizuku-dono sheathed her sword and took an Iai stance. I likely wouldn’t be able to shatter her blade by doing the exact same thing again.

“Now, for the final clash.”

I kicked off the ground and rushed toward her.

I raised Sesrumnir high, preparing to strike her head-on from above.

Shizuku-dono unleashed her draw-strike, but her timing was a fraction slower than before.

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Hmph, just as I expected.

Instead of swinging Sesrumnir down, I slammed the hilt of Sesrumnir against Shizuku-dono’s blade.

CLANG!

With a metallic ring, Shizuku-dono’s slash was deflected, and Sesrumnir was knocked out of my hand.

Losing her balance, Shizuku-dono swung down with a second strike.

I dodged the downward blow by rolling on the ground.

Then, though my posture was slightly unstable, I delivered an Iai slash with a sword imbued with Fiene-sama’s Purification Magic!

Snap!

Shizuku-dono reacted to my Iai slash and blocked the strike with her sword. But in that instant, both my sword and Shizuku-dono’s blade snapped, sending fragments flying.

One of the shards from my sword, Enchanted with Fiene-sama’s Purification Magic, embedded itself in Shizuku-dono’s shoulder.

At that moment, a white light erupted from the shard!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

For the first time, Shizuku-dono let out a loud scream of agony.

In that window of time, I retrieved Sesrumnir and regained my stance.

Once the light faded, there stood the expressionless Shizuku-dono, bleeding from her shoulder, yet still attempting to continue the fight.