Crackle—
A flash of lightning grazed Anno's cheek, leaving behind a bloody mark and sending him into a momentary daze.
Squelch—
A wound appeared on Anno's neck—the few places on his body not protected by the Fairy Treasure Armor were already scarce.
Anno regained his clarity. Paying little heed to the blood pouring from his neck, he swung his sword backward. Sakumura, who had not managed to leap away again, was struck on the shoulder by Anno's pommel and let out a muffled groan of pain.
"Haah."
Sakumura took two steps back, sat down on the ground, caught his breath twice, and smiled.
There was a massive wound across his chest and abdomen.
"My strength really is far inferior to yours."
Even with the enhancement of three Command Spells, the best Sakumura and Anno could manage was a draw.
Anno bore wounds as well—and that alone was enough to satisfy Sakumura.
With Anno's physical strength combined with the protection of the Fairy Treasure Armor, not just anyone could injure him.
This man was truly like Camelot's white ramparts—far too hard, hard enough to drive one into despair.
Because of the Command Spells, threads of roaring lightning coiled around Sakumura's sword. Even so, they had only barely reached the point where they could break through Anno's defenses. Nothing more.
They could not grievously wound Anno, much less force him from the battle.
"Is the gap in Mystery truly this terrifying?"
Sakumura could not help but sigh.
"Forget it. Judging by your attitude toward the sword, even in the Warring States Period—or even the Heian era—you would never have been among the very greatest swordsmen."
"The sword is your tool, not your pursuit."
Even so, Anno was already quite exhausted.
The current Sakumura was an enemy on the same level as Gilgamesh