“Let’s go Arnos.”

Ray aims the tip of Initeio at me and kicks the ground.

Like an arrow, Ray shoots straight towards me and stabs at my throat.

“Slow.”

I push my sword against the tip of the incoming Initeio.

Against a sword that can cut magic Hiding Magic <Najira> and Arms Strengthening <Adeshin> my Kongo Iron sword itself will be destroyed.

Or it should have but halfway through his thrust Ray changed the trajectory of his sword and aimed at my left hand.

When the tip of Initeio was about to stab my hand I opened it and Ray stopped his thrust.

“What’s wrong? With your momentum, you could have pierced my palm.”

“If you catch my sword I’ll lose.”

Fumu. As expected.

I was going to let my hand be pierced and grab his sword. In pure sword techniques, Ray is better than me but in terms of strength, you can’t compare us.

I could have completely sealed his sword if he had pierced my palm but it seems that won’t be easy to do.

“It’s my turn now then.”

I casually extend my left hand and grab at Initeio but Ray retracted his sword and avoided it.

As I’m grabbing for his sword I also swing my sword down at his head with all my might.

Ray should have no choice but to block with Initeio, however, my sword will break if he does so he would both win and lose this match at the same time. If Ray doesn’t win by destroying the <Demonic Absorption Bracelet> (1) he’ll be burdening me further. In other words, Ray cannot destroy my sword.

What’s he going to do? If he doesn’t take this blow it will be a fatal injury.

“Fuu…….!”

Ray intercepts my sword with Initeio but at the moment they collided I felt a strange response.

It’s soft.

Ray absorbed the shock by not going against the power and skilfully diverting the direction of my force.

“Ohh. Show me that again.”

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

Our swords cross and again a surprisingly quiet sound is heard and my sword is brushed off. I changed the angles, power and even fired a barrage of them but Ray parried them perfectly every time. At first glance Ray made it seem easy but it was no exaggeration to say that it bordered on godlike.

How many mazoku could do this even in the age of myths?

“You’re a frightening man you know? Several times now you could have broken my sword.”

“Your sword is a demon sword. If not for the <Demonic Absorption Bracelet> this would be a different story.”

We both have disadvantages.

I’m using a normal Kongo Iron sword and I need to keep using <Najira> so I’m not disqualified but the bracelet keeps absorbing my power.

Ray can’t use his left arm and can’t take my sword on directly either.

Our handicaps are probably about even.

I can’t say either of our hearts are content with this but at least we don’t have to worry about the disadvantages.

“I can’t believe it……..that sword. It can fight evenly with Initeio…..!”

“Initeio slashes magical techniques and it should sever any magic applied to swords as well……! In fact the other demon swords he fought against all broke. What’s going on……….?!” ”

“……Perhaps because its a sword without magic Initeio is ineffective………?”

“Idiot! If it’s just a plain metal sword it would break on the first strike……….!”

“…….Perhaps it’s true then…….”

“…..A sword of the heart forged by a true master craftsman…….”

“…….How’s it different to magic power……..?”

Irrelevant words flew about from the seating area.

The battle between me and Ray is intense. I doubt more than a few people can accurately grasp whats going on.

“Are they going for an endurance match?”

Ray parries my blade again. Because he’s watching out for me trying to grab Initeio he’s on the defensive.

“I won’t take advantage of your handicap. If I stall for time it’s going along with the expectations of the royal faction.”

“I don’t care. No matter how much power is absorbed there’s no problem. Think more about winning than me.”

I forcibly cut down the distance between us as Ray is trying for a quick time out.

At that moment Initeio flashes.

“Of course that’s my intention……!”

Ray’s blade turned into a fierce attack and went straight for my left hand.

“Naive.”

I try to catch Initeio again but its path changes to my left arm so I stiffen my muscles and ready my sword.

Fresh blood scatters.

Ray cuts my left arm and I pierced Ray’s shoulder.