"That won't do. What if you lose to me, Stam?"
Sovell replied without hesitation:
"Don't worry. I won't lose."
"..."
Under Gawain's reproachful gaze, Sovell finally changed his answer.
"Fine. If I lose the bet, I'll grant you one request, no conditions. How's that?"
"Deal."
Gawain agreed.
The two walked to opposite sides, readying themselves.
Sovell dared not let his guard down. Gawain had only fallen victim to the giant bear the other day because half a day of fighting had exhausted his strength.
If Gawain had faced the giant bear head-on at full strength, there was no telling who would have won.
And naturally, Sovell couldn't use Magecraft in today's match against Gawain. That would have been far too unfair, wouldn't it?
╮(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)╭
The sun was now high in the sky. It was roughly nine in the morning, and Gawain's blessing began to take effect.
Shing!
Both drew their swords.
The instant Rhongomyniad left its sheath, the Invisible Air that Sovell had shaped into a scabbard dispersed and wrapped around the blade, coating its pale gold edge in a faintly blue breeze.
"What a beautiful longsword. Stam, is yours a holy sword like Carnwennan?"
"Hmm... I suppose you could call it that."
A holy sword was, quite simply, a sacred sword. Such swords generally inflicted greater damage on evil or defiled monsters, standing in opposition to evil swords.
Many people confused Demon Swords with evil swords.
A Demon Sword wasn't necessarily a demonic sword.
A sword imbued with magical energy, a sword engraved with Magecraft inscriptions, or even a cursed holy sword could all be called magic swords.
For example, Balmung, wielded by Siegfried, the Dragon Slayer of the Netherlands, was a superior magic sword.
A sapphire in Balmung's hilt contained true ether from the Age of Gods. By activating that true ether, its wielder could unleash a powerful slash far beyond his own strength.
Balmung could also change its attributes according to its wielder's characteristics.
An evil sword, on the other hand, truly was a sword of demonic evil.
Carnwennan, in Gawain's hands, was the finest of all holy swords when it came to purifying corruption and evil.
Wield the blazing sun's flames and burn away all impurity!
The storm longsword formed by Sovell's holy lance could just barely qualify as a holy sword as well. Fully activating the starlight within the Anchor of the Star could likewise counter darkness and corruption.
Sovell's White Robe had transformed into a cloak draped behind him, while he wore a suit of silver armor Merlin had given him, gleaming in the sunlight.
Gawain raised Carnwennan and attacked first!
He didn't know how his strength compared to Sovell's without Magecraft, so he would give his all against the silver-armored youth before him.
Sovell had already planted his feet, ready to receive the blow.
Clang!
Gawain's powerful strike came crashing down. The two holy swords collided, and Sovell's body sank a little under the force.
So this was the threefold strength granted by his blessing... Truly terrifying.
As Sovell marveled at it, sparks flew from their swords as they pushed against one another.
Sovell twisted left to redirect the force, letting Gawain's sword slide aside.
With a reverse swing, he brought Rhongomyniad overhead and slashed toward Gawain's left shoulder!
The instant his sword slid aside, Gawain began drawing it back in front of him. Seeing the attack, he stepped back with his right foot and held Carnwennan upright at his side, blocking Sovell's strike.
Gawain activated the Imitation Sun within the hilt. Carnwennan erupted with Solar Flare, forcing Sovell back to one side.
Sovell stopped holding back as well, activating the magical energy stored within his body to reinforce his muscles and heart. He would fight in his strongest state without manifesting his dragon scales!
At the same time, he released Invisible Air, wreathing Rhongomyniad's blade in a storm.
"Hah!"
Gawain roared and charged at Sovell, swinging Carnwennan as flames streamed along its blade.
Sovell no longer waited to counter, charging forward to meet him instead.
Their steps crossed, their bodies turning.
The holy swords in their hands clashed and howled.
Every burst of Solar Flare from Carnwennan was scattered by Invisible Air.
Sovell was exhilarated!
This was his first time facing a true opponent, testing himself against another with a weapon that suited him, a weapon that truly belonged to him!
He unleashed all the swordsmanship he had honed over eight years alongside the Red Dragon girl and the Incubus old geezer (crossed out), the mage, all to win this match! Purely for the sake of victory!
Gawain, meanwhile, was deeply shaken. At some point, the opponent before him had actually begun matching him in strength.
He was no longer relying mainly on defensive swordsmanship to deflect the force and counterattack. Instead, he attacked with faster strikes, a wilder presence, and colder, sharper swordsmanship!
Why?
I had three times my usual strength right now, an incredibly efficient percentage-based boost!
Was it that sword,
or was it him?
Or did he have a blessing too?
Whatever the reason, Gawain began increasing his output, putting everything into every strike.
My swordsmanship was nowhere near his.
Then I would make full use of my advantage in strength!
Facing Gawain, who now fought like a ferocious hound, Sovell found every blow somewhat taxing.
That threefold increase in strength was simply outrageous. And Gawain's muscle density had to be considerable!
Every slash Gawain directed at him was as heavy as a mountain.
I couldn't let this drag on!
Sovell understood that Gawain's blessing wouldn't disappear before noon. He would gain no advantage over those three hours, so he had to end this quickly!
Then Sovell unleashed Invisible Air at full power, compressing it into Wind King's Hammer (Strike Storm) and blasting Gawain away.
In doing so, he also released Invisible Air, fully revealing Rhongomyniad's pale gold blade.
Just before Wind King's Hammer erupted, Gawain placed Carnwennan in front of himself and unleashed Solar Flare, blocking the storm projectile that could have knocked him down in a single hit. Even so, the gale hurled him far away.
"Deciding this with our ultimate moves, are we... Bring it on!"
Gawain tossed Carnwennan high into the sky. The Imitation Sun within its hilt fully unfolded, becoming what looked like a second sun in the air!
"Holy sword, draw!"
"Holy sword, draw!"
The two voices rang out in unison.
Gawain caught Carnwennan firmly as it fell.
Sovell raised both hands overhead, holding Rhongomyniad aloft in its holy sword form,
"This sword is the sun's replica, the holy sword of the stars that vanquishes evil and upholds righteousness! The Solar Flare that burns away all impurity!"
"This is the tower of starlight that rends the heavens and connects them to the earth. Projection deployed, seals released... Cleave through everything!"
Solar Flare roared.
Starlight blazed.
"-Excalibur Galatine!"
"-Sword of Ultimate Radiance! (Rhongomyniad)"
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