"Your physical abilities are astonishing. I never expected that, besides your exceptional talent with the sword as the National Kendo Championship champion, you would also possess such incredible martial prowess.
But you're thinking far too naively. Did you really think I hadn't guessed that you would risk everything to get close to me?"
Watching Seiya race across the collapsing stone pillars, Akihiko Kayaba wore a look of surprise.
Clearly, he had not expected Seiya to excel not only in kendo, but in physical ability as well.
With such outstanding physical capabilities, Seiya had not needed to deal with his attacks so miserably before.
The reason he had acted that way was likely to lull Kayaba into lowering his guard.
Fortunately, Akihiko Kayaba was also a cautious man. After losing his Shikigami, he had long since guessed that Seiya would try every possible means to close the distance and make one final desperate gamble.
The reason was simple. In the SAO world, there were very few long-range attack options. Against someone like him, who possessed numerous crowd-control and ranged skills, Seiya would not have even the slightest chance of victory if he did not close the distance.
As Seiya leaped high into the air, about to bring his blade down on him at close range, Akihiko Kayaba slowly extended his other hand and condensed a shield out of thin air.
"Have you forgotten? My Unique Skill, 'Divine Sword,' and the 'Dual Blades' skill both involve wielding swords with both hands. I was originally meant to hold a weapon in one hand and a shield in the other."
Hearing Akihiko Kayaba's words, not only did Seiya, already airborne, twitch at the corner of his mouth, but the Strategy Group players watching on Floor 55 also began cursing outright.
"Akihiko Kayaba, you bastard!