Volume 4 Chapter 4 Shikiba Yato
'The next match is, oh! The exchange student from Yamato, Shikiba Yato... um, in Yamato, the last name comes first, so here comes Yato Shikiba!! Wow, she has beautiful black hair. Everyone from Yamato seems to have black hair, but seeing it like this, it's really stunning!!'
It was Yato's turn.
Elk watched Yato on the projection screen.
Yato's battle outfit was unique, probably from Yamato.
Anyone from Yamato would recognize it right away. It was a sleeveless kimono that showed her shoulders, and she had 2 Yamato swords, called 'katana,' tucked into the obi around her waist. She wore a skirt on the bottom.
However, the 'kote' covering her arms and the 'gusoku' on her legs looked very tough. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail, held up with 2 hairpins.
Yato stepped onto the stage with a determined attitude.
Her opponent was Kishirio, the boy who had dominated Block A with Elk. He wielded a fierce weapon, a spiked iron ball on a chain.
'And here's Kishirio! He has a deadly weapon, the spiked iron ball!! Now, what will happen in this fight!? ...Let the match begin!!'
It was a bit late, but Elk was curious.
She asked Elena, who was sitting next to her.
"Um, who is doing the commentary?"
"Hehe. I don't know their name, but the commentators for the martial arts tournament are chosen by recommendation. Well, usually, the jokers get picked a lot~"
"Really~."
Elk thought about how Nickes might get chosen next year... And then, the match started.
Kishirio swung the spiked iron ball around──then threw it into the air.
Suddenly, the iron ball began to move like a living creature.
"Is it a weapon skill, or maybe a manipulation skill? ...Hmm, it might be a weapon skill. Maybe it's the 'Iron Ball Technique'."
"Yato... is she okay?"
The iron balls come flying at Yato, tracing a complicated path.
"Take this!! Iron Ball Dance!!"
"───."
Yato dodges the raging iron balls.
Both Elk and Elena are surprised.
"Wow... she's dodging the iron balls with minimal movement."
"Yeah. By the way, do you notice? ...Yato's eyes."
"...Eyes?"
"Yeah. Her eyes are moving with the iron balls. It's like she can predict their movements."
"...Maybe that's her skill."
"I think so too."
Elk's guess was correct.
Yato has a triple skill. In other words, she is a genius born with 3 skills. The one she is currently using is one of her skills, 'Insight Eye.'
The ability is 'Counter Foresight,' a skill that allows her to see the movements of objects clearly. When used in ranged attacks or close combat, it boasts unmatched strength... but that skill relies on Yato's physical abilities.
No matter how well she can see, it means nothing if she can't dodge.
"Ugh... you!!"
Kishirio, starting to get impatient, pulls the iron balls back to him.
Then, he begins to swing the chain like a whip.
In response, Yato─── places her right hand on the sword at her waist.
"Take this!!"
Kishirio swings the chain whip towards Yato.
"───Hmph."
"Eh?"
A clang───... was heard.
For just a moment, Yato's hand wavered.
That alone caused Kishirio's chain to explode into pieces.
Kishirio was completely unable to see it.
Yato's second skill, 'Iaijutsu'... An auto-counter skill that automatically slices any target that enters a 5-meter radius around Yato.
By the time you notice, it's already too late.
Yato was already inside Kishirio's guard.
"W-wait!"
"'Blossom Strike: Red Peony'."
Once again, there was a sound like a clank...
It looked like Yato just passed by Kishirio.
Kishirio was confused, looking around in a daze.
But── in the next moment.
"Ah!"
A cut appeared on Kishirio's full body, and he exploded with blood.
The blood spread across the stage like flowers... and Kishirio fell.
A blood-red peony bloomed. Yato, for just a moment... just a brief moment, had a terrifyingly deep smile.
Then, without showing any interest in the fallen Kishirio, she left the silent venue.
'W-winner... Yato'
In the empty stage with no winner, the call for victory echoed hollowly.
* * *
"Unbelievable..."
"Yeah. It's terrifying..."
Elk and Elena exchanged glances and smiled wryly.
Yato's strength was insane. She far surpassed the level of a new student.
Elena tilted her head, saying, "Hmm..."
"That kid was smiling at the end, right?"
"Ah, I thought so too."
"It's kind of scary... I don't want to get close to her."
"Hmm..."
On the stage, a janitor was cleaning up the blood.
Next up was Elwood. And then it would be Elk's turn.
And to their surprise, Elwood's opponent was none other than Fine.
'Third Match!! Elwood vs. Fine!! Here we go, the battle everyone is watching!! Will the genius of triple skills, Elwood, win, or will the speedster, Fine, take the victory!! This is a fight you can't miss!!'
On the stage, Elwood with dual swords and Fine with bare hands step up.
Fine waves excitedly at the crowd, while Elwood gives a light wave and smiles.
'This is definitely a fight you can't miss... Everyone in the audience!! Don't take your eyes off this battle!? Now... let's begin!!'
"I'm coming───!!"
As soon as it starts, Fine disappears.
Elwood doesn't move.
But there's a sound of Fine running around, and the wind starts to whip up.
Elwood's hair sways───he tilts his head slightly. Something passes by.
No way, did Elwood dodge Fine's lariat?
"Wow, you're fast."
Elwood smiles brightly and nods.
He doesn't draw his swords. He doesn't move an inch.
Only the sound of Fine running can be heard. Just barely, you can tell something is moving.
The power of the skill 'Accel.' The threat of speed.
"You're fast, but───your level is still low."
Elwood shapes his right hand like a knife.
Then, he steps half a step to the side and swings his hand down.
"Ugh!?"
Bam!! Fine, hit by the knife hand on the neck, is slammed onto the stage.
Fine looks confused, eyes wide in shock.
She somehow stands up, staggering away from Elwood.
"Ugh, ha... cough, cough... can, can you see me?"
"Yeah. I can see you very well. Oh, it's not a skill. My skill is───"
"Huh?"
Elwood has disappeared.
And then, he pressed his twin swords against Fine's neck from behind.
Fine understood.
This unique... burnt smell.
In an instant, Elwood had circled behind Fine.
The smell of the ground burning, in other words.
"My first skill is 'Accel,' evolved into 'Godspeed.' Your movements are fast, but... you're still not close to me."
"Uh..."
"Sorry, but you lost."
"Aw... I get it, I lost. It's my loss~"
'Winner, Elwood!!'
A superior being.
Fine accepted defeat and fell back dramatically.
Elwood reached out his hand to Fine, and the venue filled with applause.
Elena, who was watching the match, said,
"A genius, huh?"
"Yeah. I only understood one of his triple skills."
"Hehe. If Elk wins the next match, you might see the second one!"
"Right. Alright... it's my turn."
Elk, wearing an eye patch and a hood, got ready.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Be careful out there!"
Elk clapped his fists together and started walking toward the match venue.
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