Just like I predicted, Arcana charged forward while holding both of her daggers in a reverse position. Sirius' horn blazed blue as he aimed his bow at Sakurako. Letting go of the string, a blue flame was shot–the shape of it fixed itself into a sharp spear, similar to an arrow, but longer.
'Alty, you take the blue-haired one, I'll take the one with blue hair and I'll take the red-haired one.'
She's reliable and mature when it comes to battle. That must be what she's most experienced in. I mean, she's seventeen. Gah, why am I thinking about this now?!
'Got it!'
I charged forward, passing Arcana and the arrow, toward the blue-haired boy, Sirius. Although I'm inexperienced in combat, close-ranged combat will be the best in this situation. Not giving him space will close off his chances of pulling off shots.
Activating Physical Enhancement, I closed the distance between Sirius and me in an instant. Taking my black cloak off, I clenched my fist and thrust my arm at his gut. I felt the shockwave of my blow on my fist. It hit, but it didn't hit as it was supposed to.
'You don't seem like a child noble, I'll give you that. Of course, people think about closing down an archer by forcing them into close combat. It's logic. That's why–'
The blue horn on his forehead became engulfed in blue flames and much more compared to before.
'–I've practised with my sister and learnt close-combat.'
Sirius threw his bow away. My eyes naturally went onto it since he threw away his weapon and that's exactly what he wanted. He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. Sirius slightly lifted my arm. Taking one step, he was in front of it–he turned around and pulled me to the ground.
I quickly moved off the ground and gained some distance between us. Getting in close is the same as being at a distance. No, screw that, that technique he did. It looked exactly like that when Kei-nee was practising aikido. That technique was an aikido technique. One that shouldn't be of this world.
'Hey.'
What's this feeling inside me? I already left that world behind ever since I died, but just seeing something like that... makes something burn inside of me.
'What, kid?'
Even if I have accepted my leaving of the other world, why do I feel angry? Or maybe is it some sort of curiosity? No, I don't think it's either of those.
'Who taught your sister that technique?'
'You just want to know? If that's it, then it's fine. It was the Yellow King, Jaune.'
'Yellow King? I don't know anyone like that, but what I do know is that that technique... is not from this world.'
He looked confused.
'Not of this world?'
'That doesn't matter anymore.'
I ran at him to close the distance once more. I planned to close the distance again. I know even after the first try, it seems foolish, but if aikido techniques are what he knows, then it'll be a piece of cake dodging them.
Sirius fired a series of arrows at me.
'Shadow Marsh.'
I laid my hand out in front of me–shadows escaped from the hand and attacked the arrows, stopping their advance. Shadow Marsh is one of the spells I got from Shadow Magic. I don't understand how spells and magic work but it seems that the spells come to mind once you're strong enough to learn them.
Reaching Sirius once again, I used Mutilate and Claw consecutively as he used his bow to block my attacks. We exchanged a few blows until he landed a solid hit on me, causing me to slightly falter backwards. I couldn't breathe. He hit me in the abdomen, causing me to be winded.
A kick was set my way. Time slowed down and everything moved slower. Only my thoughts were normal. Using Thought Acceleration helps me think faster in times like these, but I can't move faster at all. So, as soon as I leave the distorted space of Thought Acceleration, then the kick will land in my face.
Meaning that I need to use a move that can be used instantly and one that will land. The best move I can think of is...
Time sped up.
Suddenly, Sirius stopped his kick–his face looked like he realized something–and he jumped into the air. Blade erupted from the ground, however, they missed their target since he dodged it before they came out.
I thought Bladeworks would be a good choice but it seems like I've underestimated him. Fighting like this is hard for me. Even so, I wonder how Sakurako is doing.
◈
Arcana was firing a barrage of short slashes at the pink-haired Dragonewt in front of her. Sakurako began parrying them with her hands. The daggers Arcana had were special, they were able to cut through the scales of a wyvern with ease. Slicing through a human's hand would be easy.
(If so, then why... Why hasn't she sustained any injuries ever since I started my assault?! The indifferent look on her face shows that she's making no effort to parry them too!)
Arcana started to panic. That exact panicking became her mistake. Because she was mentally worn down, her movements slowed and that created an opening for Sakurako to attack seriously. She drew an ensō in the air, only an inch off her chest. Once the incomplete circle formed in the air, it launches Arcana deeper into the forest and she landed in a tree.
Almost instantly after landing, Arcana got out of the tree. She heard the sound of wind on wings. Looking up, she saw the large silhouette of something which looked bat-like. Using her hand to block the sun, she saw the face. It was the girl she was just fighting, Sakurako.
On her back were large red wings. The scales were shiny and large. Dragon scales. The eyes of Arcana opened wide as she laid them upon the wings on Sakurako's back. She had finally figured out why the daggers didn't cut through her hands. Since Sakurako was a Dragon.
'You're a Dragon?'
(I thought Dragons became extinct after the disappearance of the Dragon God. What's one doing here with a noble?)
'Why do you believe that Alty is those nobles who bully people?'
The crimson-haired girl spun the dagger in her hand.
'More importantly, I should be asking you why you're fighting me? Weren't you made a slave against your will?'
Arcana believed that Sakurako was a Dragon who was made a slave against her will. Since her master didn't order her to do anything, she thought that the Dragon wouldn't attack, but it seems like she was wrong.
'Against my will? No, Alty was the one who wanted a fair contract. I'm the one who wanted to be a slave.'
'Why?!'
The demeanour of Sakurako changed. Her eyes changed to a blazing red.
'One who likes pain, like you, shouldn't be asking me why.'
The girl shivered as a chill travelled down her spine. She wasn't sure how to reply. But she knew something now. That everything was a misunderstanding and that she and her brother were in the wrong. The only thing left to do was to stop her brother.
'I-I think I understand now.'
'Ah, if so, then good.'
'Huh?! Wait, you're not going to get angry because we're trying to kill your master?!'
Sakurako lowered herself onto the ground–her wings retracted–and gave a large smile.
'If I did... He'd get mad at me. Besides, Alty is kind, so I want to be nice too.'
Arcana didn't speak. She simply stood in silence while looking at the naïve Dragon in front of her. She simply couldn't believe it. The girl had always thought that Dragons were beings who were smart and benevolent, but this Dragon was quite the opposite.
(What type of logic is that?)
She started doubting the position of Sakurako as a servant.
(Is that kid okay with a servant like her?)