Volume 1 Chapter 20 ACT.18 The Heretical Cult (IV)
Rai contemplates that cheat (special ability).
First, if he can predict all attacks, then the knee strike in close proximity earlier should not have hit.
Therefore, the range he can predict is likely limited to his line of sight.
Furthermore, the opponent referred to it as "prediction" rather than "foreseeing."
It can be inferred that he is not seeing a confirmed future, but rather observing the fluctuations of potential futures.
So, is he seeing all possible actions Rai could take simultaneously?
That is a no; if that were the case, his brain wouldn't be able to process it all.
Thus, there is a clear limit to his cheat (special ability).
'──Let me explore that place!'
With that, Rai levels his sword and, as he steps in, thrusts toward the nape of the opponent's neck.
"What the hell──?!"
The young man's body, attempting to block Rai's thrust, momentarily stiffens, and he quickly shifts his sword to protect his left shoulder instead of his neck.
In the next moment, Rai's sword flash pulls back briefly before being aimed again at the left shoulder and released.
The young man naturally blocks this, but sweat beads on his forehead.
"You bastard, no way..."
Yes, what Rai just executed was a feint.
His next move was read perfectly, and the optimal response was made.
Therefore, by using a feint, he merely attempted to read one step ahead and launch an attack.
However, this failed.
So──
'If one step ahead doesn't work, then I'll read 2 steps ahead.'
If 2 steps ahead doesn't work, then 3 steps ahead.
By probing the opponent's limits like this, accelerating his thoughts, and then surpassing them.
A typical knight wouldn't be able to do such a thing.
But, it is possible for Rai.
10, 20, no, even more.
In the fierce exchanges, or rather, in the one-sided storm of Rai's swordplay, the young man naturally becomes defensive.
And finally.
"Hah!"
Rai's sword grazes the young man's face, and he jumps back significantly to reset the situation.
Then, as if in a daze, he traces the wound on his cheek.
At last, Rai's sword has surpassed the young man's ability.
'──Ten moves ahead. That's the limit of what you can read.'
Rai breathes lightly, confidently asserting this.
The young man, hearing those words, opens his eyes wide and looks at Rai.
"So what?!"
Saying this, the young man charges at Rai.
In that moment, Rai throws his shield towards the young man.
"?!"
The young man's gaze instinctively shifts to the thrown shield.
Then, using the shield to distract him, Rai maneuvers with a unique stepping technique to circle behind the young man's blind spot.
As a result, the moment the young man looks back, Rai's figure suddenly appears to vanish.
'It's over.'
Rai makes a decisive slash from the blind spot, cutting across the young man's body.
* * *
However, in that instant,
the young man trips over something and stumbles.
──It was the corpses of the children that Rai had executed.
As a result, the young man falls, and Rai's sword barely makes a shallow cut.
"You guys..."
This turn of events brings the calmness that the young man had been lacking.
Fueled by the hatred of revenge that had clouded his mind, he finds clarity from the life-threatening danger that fell upon him, and from the now-late children who had accidentally saved him──he gains the steel will to defeat Rai.
With renewed determination, the young man seems different to Rai.
In this battle, as it stands, Rai is overwhelmingly at a disadvantage.
At that moment, "I" resolve, considering that I want to show my master something impressive for the first time in a while.
Hmmm, then it can't be helped!
'It's time for a change of players.'
Saying this, I forcibly take control of Rai's body and step into the foreground.
'This is to let Rai shine; I'll finish this in an instant!'
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