6. Duel – 05

time interference.

It is a supernatural ability that only a few of those who inherit the lineage of Count Serias are born with, and it is a truly fraudulent ability that makes it possible to interfere with the ‘time’ of the world, even if it is only for a limited time.

It is impossible for the current age of magic to interfere with the element of time, but the blood and blood of Count Serias could only temporarily interfere with time for the sole reason that they were born with that kind of paranormal ability.

Anyone can realize how powerful the ability of ‘time interference’ is at the point where it is possible to interfere with space-time, which can be said to be the fundamental element that composes this world, beyond the surface of space-time.

However, as far as Erekaya knew, the ability called ‘Time Interference’, born with the lineage of Count Serias, was a terribly imperfect ability.

First of all, those with the ability to interfere with time could not deal with the element of ‘time’ itself.

At best, should I say that it only deals with a part of it, a very minute factor that exists on the surface of space and time?

For example, Altina’s father, Count Serias, had the ability of ‘instant foreknowledge’ to see the future that would come 3 seconds later, and Altina herself had the ability of ‘time acceleration’ that shifted the relative time between herself and others.

In other words, the place where the hands of those with time interference ability could reach was only a part of space-time.

It doesn’t deal with time itself, but you can realize how incomplete the ability is at the point of barely dealing with some parts of it.

Second, the range to which the ability called time interference was applied was limited to the inside of the person.

Count Cerias could not share the vision projected through her ability of momentary foreknowledge with others, and Altina’s time acceleration was nothing more than accelerating time within her body.

While those with other paranormal abilities basically interfered with this world, distorted the laws, and displayed mighty miracles, those with time interference abilities were unable to influence the world itself.

From the outside, it looks like an invincible ability, but in reality, it is a very humble and non-existent ability.

That was the reality of the ability of time interference possessed by the members of Count Serias.

Yes, obviously it had to be. But that ability that Altina is showing off right now… Something was different.

Originally, Altina’s ‘time acceleration’ ability would only be applied within Altina’s body, and would not have had any effect on this world, including Erekaya.

However, the one that Altina showed off just now surpassed all the restrictions attached to the time interference ability and succeeded in giving Erekaya a shot.

‘… Could it be that he used his will?’

If Altina had reached the stage of embodying her image into reality beyond the level of a master, and if she had supplemented her imperfect ability to interfere with time by using her will, then the current situation would not be absurd.

Intention is a representation of human imagination and possibility itself.

No matter how incomplete my ability is, if I ‘strengthen’ my ability through will, it will have better precision and completeness than now.

… However, there is one thing I don’t understand.

How could Altina use her time interference ability without realizing Erekaya’s synesthesia?

The current Erekaya uses her synesthesia, and from the start of the duel until now, she has never missed Altina’s movement for a single moment.

‘… No, no.’

The premise was wrong. In fact, what if Erekaya hadn’t noticed? What if you didn’t recognize it as an attack even when you saw Altina’s attack?

“It looks like you ate one shot, Altina. Couldn’t it be that the attacks Desperado could launch weren’t the only bullets that possessed the properties of dispersal?”

Yes. Desperado, the new god, was not a simple magic bullet gun that fired only powerful percussion bullets, as Erekaya had thought.

Truly absurd, Altina was able to send Desperado to unleash her ability itself!

“I was thinking it was a little strange. Desperado is probably the most effective means by which you can harm me. It was not like you to use such a desperado from the beginning to draw my guard.”

Just now, Altina’s surprise shot at Erekaya wasn’t a blow from Erekaya.

The true nature of that attack was a paving stone for launching an attack that surpassed time shortly after!

“The reason why I was able to escape from my attack was probably because I twisted the trajectory of the attack by ‘accelerating’ the time around me to the limit, and the attack that flew outside my consciousness also followed the trajectory of the bullet you fired in the past, so it ‘jumped through time’. It must have been. That’s great, Altina.”

Erekaya said that as if she was genuinely admiring her while wiping the blood from her mouth.

No, to be more precise, I was more impressed with Jin, who had brought her to such a level in just one month, not Altina.

I was proud. And I was proud of it as if it were my own work.

The fact that Jin’s skills were much better than he expected, and the fact that he had such a great talent for teaching others made Erekaya’s heart warm.

As far as Erekaya knows, Altina von Rudel Serias will never be her opponent.

It was unexpected that Altina had reached the level of a master in a month, but even that was far from enough to elicit sincerity from Erekaya.

But behold, didn’t the current Altina succeed in giving Erekaya a shot, not enough to show off her skills beyond her expectations?

‘jin.’

Ah, how could I not be happy? How could I not be impressed?

Those who have inherited Pendragon’s lineage are extremely few in number, even if you search all over the continent.

It was not only because the original hand was a precious family, but also because the family’s elders were excessively obsessed with ‘pure blood’, so the number of people who made up the clan was extremely small.

Then, in an instant, it was confirmed that the person who inherited Pendragon’s lineage, even though it was a collateral, had such great talent. I mean, I couldn’t.

However, contrary to Erekaya’s proud feelings, Altina was just staring at Erekaya with a tired expression.

I thought I had completely caught the enemy off guard.

Last month, I thought that with the help of Jin, a technique that transcends time, ‘Echo of the Sky’, would be able to completely subdue Erekaya.

However, even though Erekaya suffered significant injuries, she was in good condition to continue the duel.

It was bleeding profusely, but it was a wound on the skin, and the fatal wound was avoided by leaning back before the previous attack hit.

In other words, it couldn’t be said that Erekaya’s condition was much weaker than usual. And will Altina really be able to win against Erekaya?

… No, let’s not think weak. Didn’t I promise him before the duel? Whatever the outcome, I will do my best.

The number of hidden secrets has all been revealed. If that’s the case, from now on, it will be a test bed to compete with each other’s accumulated skills.

Take deep breaths evenly. With all the thoughts in her head driven out, Altina rushes towards Erekaya.

Kaaang!

Altina rushed at Erekaya like lightning and swung her sword.

Immediately after that, the sword Altina is holding begins to blur, and it begins to ‘appear’ in multiple places at the same time beyond time and space, aiming for Erekaya.

It was the application of ‘Echo of the Sky’.

A foul swordsmanship that embodies the trajectory of the sword she attacked in the past and the trajectory of the sword she will wield in the future through ‘time acceleration’!

“… Kut!”

In the end, Erekaya had no choice but to be recklessly pushed back by Altina’s barrage of sword attacks.

Altina’s own skill alone was close to Erekaya’s, but her sword transcended time and appeared in many places, so even Erekaya couldn’t easily receive the attack.

‘… reach No, it’s reached!’

And seeing Erekaya pushed away by her own sword, Altina felt joy.

I am currently fighting on an equal footing. She was pushing Erekaya, who had always been chasing after her and had to look behind her, even for a moment.

That made her happy and proud.

No, this is not enough. Not satisfied with this alone. Even in the face of my teacher, it is unacceptable for me to lose to you on this spot.

Jump over.

Kaya, I will surely outrun you here!

In the end, Erekaya, who was frantically dodging Altina’s sword, drove to the end of the gymnasium. A situation where there is no more escape, no place to retreat.

‘chance!’

The trail of the sword that had filled this space so far suddenly disappeared. And all that was left was the sword Altina was holding.

Erekaya also noticed what Altina was up to, but it was too late. Altina had already finished all the preparations.

This blow entwined with ‘acceleration’ fired by the Desperado transcends time and space and is sure to hit Erekaya.

It is currently the fastest blow that Altina can use. Even if the opponent is Erekaya, there is no way he will be safe from this blow!

‘The blade of the sky!’

Altina’s sword strikes at a speed that the human eye cannot even perceive. No matter how Erekaya reacts, there is no way she will be able to respond to this attack that transcends time and space!

And-

Crackle!

The sound of swords breaking echoed everywhere. Erekaya and Altina stood still for a while, as if time had stopped.

After a while, Erekaya stared at her half-cut sword and slowly opened her mouth to Altina.

“That’s great, Altina. You are, in a sense, as if you have surpassed me.”

“… did you jump over? you?”

“Yes, you are by no means inferior to me. Because this me, Erekaya Del Pendragon, acknowledges that.”

It was really close. At the last moment, Altina’s attack was an attack that even synesthesia could not grasp. Even Erekaya couldn’t tell where the attack started or ended.

… However, it was possible to predict the ‘trajectory’ of the attack.

Because Erekaya del Pendragon knew a lot about Altina von Rudel Serias.

In an instant, Erekaya synthesized all of Altina’s habits, preferences, and behaviors to anticipate the trajectory of her favorite attack and ‘placed’ her sword in that direction.

No matter how much Altina’s sword transcends time and space, it would be impossible to ignore the cause and effect.

As a result, Altina’s sword, which was accelerating beyond sight, met Erekaya’s sword in the middle and failed to accelerate to its limit-

Fuhuaak!

The reaction to the failed technique was to return to the body of the caster, Altina.

softly-

The sword Altina was holding turns into powder and slowly starts to scatter in the air. A stream of fresh blood flowed from Altina’s mouth.

However, her eyes looking at Erekaya were not at all despondent. No, rather, she was looking at Erekaya with more burning eyes than before.

“… never, never give up I will definitely surpass you next time. certainly.”

“Yeah, whatever. I will never decline your challenge, Altina.”

While saying that, Erekaya was looking at Altina clearly and holding her in her pupils.

Unlike before, when he didn’t look at her, he even acknowledged the person she was.

Okay, should I be satisfied with this much today?

Although the result is not without dissatisfaction, she is not alone.

With her teacher, next time she will definitely be able to surpass Erekaya.

Thinking so, Altina slowly closed her eyes.