(14 years and 2 months after reincarnation)
[Kyrielle's POV]
(2 days later....)
(7:45 a.m.)
'Cha chank.' I opened the door to the student council office while dressed in a black colored blazer that Diana bought for me.
"President, I'm here."
"It's you. From now on, you will become one of the five Security Ensurers in the Student Council, we will introduce you to the students in the morning assembly later."
"Right."
"But.... let's talk about the specific delinquent that you should worry about."
"This delinquent has been giving the Council a lot of trouble?"
"Yes.... His name is Garnet, and he's very powerful. He challenged every Security Ensurers to a duel, he won fair and square against all of them."
"There are four of us before me right? He challenged all four of them?"
"Yes. At one time he fought 2 of us by himself and he still won.... He's a brutal mage, and a dangerous fighter like you."
"Is that so?..."
This means he must be extremely strong right? I'm already getting somewhat excited to try out my new techniques against him.
"What kind of magic does he use in a fight?"
"....Miracles."
"Do you mean healing magic?"
"Not that kind. There are an obscure school of miracles which grants lightning power to the user. Magicians who are able to use lightning is extremely rare because they aren't magic, but they are miracles that generates lightning. Lightning is considered as the most dangerous element, take caution."
"Lightning magic huh.... This would be troublesome."
"At least you seem to have experienced it before."
"Yes... I did." Last time I encountered a lightning mage was at King Hal's city, and there I would've been dead if not for Lynn protecting me from the lightning.
"Lightning magic is extremely hard to counter, mainly because of it's extreme speed. But I don't think that will be an issue for you with your reflexes."
"Hard to say, I may be able to react in time but my body might not move as fast as my mind do."
"As for the boy himself.... I did a background check on him, and it seems that he is a magic knight. Or rather, a squire in training with a knight."
"Magic Knight?"
"Yes.... the King of Ataraxia has a new order of elite soldiers who uses both Magic and Melee weapon in tandem with each other. They are called the Magic Knights, and every single one of its members are at least Master ranked, even if they are a Squire."
"Hoh...."
"Well then, it is time for the morning assembly. I trust there's no need for someone to guide you?"
"Yes. I know what it's like to be a security ensurer."
"Good. Good luck Kyrielle, and thank you for joining the Student Council on your own volition, we are grateful to you for it."
"Naturally."
_______________
(Training ground)
(8:07 a.m.)
I stood at my post besides the section where the teachers sat on. As usual, the Master of Ceremony is talking on the stage during the Morning Assembly....
"-that concludes the report for the drawing contest. Up next, we have news from the Student Council. As you may have noticed already, there is a new council member standing among us right now, and she's no stranger to many of you. Let me introduce you all to Kyrielle Buffet, the new member of the Security Ensurers."
Following his words, I stepped up the stage and stood besides him. He hands me the mic.... "Go on, do your thing."
"Ahem.... My name is Kyrielle Buffet, and from today onwards I will be a member of the Security Ensurers. I hope you will all be nice to me, and behave so that I won't have to discipline you myself, thank you."
'Applause.'
I handed the MC back his mic, and turned around to walk back down the stage. It was then, a boy suddenly stood up from the crowd and yelled...
"Kyrielle Buffet, I want to challenge you to a duel."
.....
....What?
"Eh?!" (?x) It seems that the entire school had the same reaction as I do.
As the entire school was making a big fuss over it, Principal Jack walked up on the stage and took the mic.
"Calm down everyone, calm down. So, you want to duel with Kyrielle huh Garnet?"
"Yes sir." The boy said as he made his way closer to the stage.
"I will allow this duel to happen. What do you say, Kyrielle?"
I nodded my head to him. As this happened, he finally walked up the stage and stood next to me.
He is a tall boy with short brown hair and hazel eyes. His appearance suggest that he may be from a noble background like me. He seems to be about 15 to 16 years old, as he is quite tall.
"Good. What's your condition for this duel, Kyrielle?"
"I have no conditions, I accept the duel."
The boy walked up to the principal and talked to him. "I have a request, Principal. Please allow me to bring my weapons into the fight."
"Request denied. Bringing melee weapons into the school is strictly prohibited."
"But hear me out, principal. Two days ago, this girl fought using her fire swords like it was a melee weapon, isn't melee combat forbidden as well?"
"That's entirely different because what Kyrielle uses is not an actual melee weapon, but more akin to a close range magic-"
"It's fine, Principal. I can take him on even if he has a weapon. I heard from the President that you wanted to create a new subject to train new Magic Warriors.... Why not let this duel be a duel between two magic warriors? This can help promote the subject as well." I said as I winked to Principal Jack.
"....I see. Then, the condition for the duel is settled. The duel will happen at tomorrow's lunch break, and I will not hear any complaints about Garnet bringing a weapon to the school. Now, you two are dismissed. Don't do this again Garnet, or I'll have to suspend you once more."
"Thank you, principal." (2x) We both bowed our head as we turned around and got down the stage....
He glances at me with an arrogant face. "I'm looking forward to testing your skills, Kyrielle Buffet. You seem to be a capable fighter."
He said that with a grin on his face.... but I sense no malice from him. He just likes to test his skill out, I could see that written on his face.
"I feel the same, Garnet Barner."
"I hope you'll give your all in the duel, and not cry like the little girl you are tomorrow when you lose."
"Oh, a boy who has to bring a weapon into the fight is now insulting me for my size.... Are you trying to compensate for something?"
"W-what?!"
"Hahaha, did you think I was talking about your dick? Now we see who's sensitive in what parts...."
"Tsk.... We'll see if your sass can match your skills tomorrow." He said as he turns around and walks away angrily.
I was a boy in the past, I know that if a girl insults me about my "brother's" size I'd be extremely hurt.
Well then, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
______________
(The next day....)
(10:49 a.m.)
Right now I'm preparing in the student council room, alongside Diana and the rest of the members who will be spectating my fight.
"Garnet is from class 6-B in the school, he's one grade lower than us." Diana said as I stuff my mouth with the sandwich I bought from the cafeteria.
"Oh?... Mwybe he wuv be strwng enwgh to fait mi."
"Swallow before you talk!"
The president also joined in. "Kyrielle, I heard that the sword he has is a magic sword with unknown effect.... Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Gulp.... Probably. It's not like this is the first time I have ever fought someone with a sword anyway, and I could always just use this."
I spawned a fire sword that's about 160 cm long, just slightly longer than me. "Besides, this could never fail me."
"Please don't burn down the building."
"It's actually safe to touch the sword since it's covered by a layer of mana, how else do you think I can grab the sword? Unless I want it to, it wouldn't be hot to touch."
"Oh... Your magic control is amazing if you can do this in the middle of a fight." Said Diana as she puts her finger on the blade.
"You'll get used to it once you've used it enough times...."
"It's time for you to go. It'd be distasteful if you went late."
"Yes yes, you nag just as much as the last president, Mr Current President."
I got up from my seat and headed off to the training ground.
"Well then, I'll be off."
"Be careful Kyrielle, he's good... And good luck." Diana said to me with a worried look.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely bring him down."
_______________
(10:59 a.m.)
When I got to the training ground, the MC is already on the stage waiting for me, and Garnet is right there besides the stage. On his shoulder is a slim but heavy looking claymore about his size, and on the blade are inscribed with magic crest.
"Why do I always shows up late even if I am right on time...." I mumbled to myself before continuing my way to the stage.
The Master of Ceremony saw me approaching, and took his mic.
"Attention everyone, the duel is about to commence. Please get ready to witness the ultimate showdown between the two strongest person in our school!"
"Yeah!!!" (?x) And why does he always talk like a wrestling commentator? Can't he just speak like a normal person like he does during the morning assembly?!
"To my right is Garnet Barner, a trouble maker for the last month who have defeated all the student council members.... He is a trainee magic knight who uses lightning in combat, commonly known as the Voltaic Squire!"
"Boo!!!" (?x)
"And to my left is Kyrielle Buffet, a former student council president who has dominated the school as the strongest mage in the past. She is now more famously known for her trip across the entire Demon Continent, and is also an apprentice of the Magic Pioneer Lynn! As of now people are starting to call her the 'Red Empress', a suitable nickname for such a powerful person despite her small size!"
"Yeah!!!" (?x)
What.... Who the hell gave me such an edgy and lame nickname?! Who told him about me and Lynn?! I'm pretty sure I told no one here about the Bostnia Con-
Oh... God damned it, Principal Jack!
"Now, the duel between these two legendary students will happen right before our very eyes! Let us not blink even once while the fight happens, and learn from their techniques and skills about how to be a better fighter!"
"Yeah!!!" (?x)
As soon as the MC finished talking, Garnet stood up from the stage where he was sitting on, and walked up to me in a threatening pose until he is just a breath away from my face.
"I hope you will show me a good time, Miss Red Empress, I'm very excited for this fight."
"Same here, Mister Voltaic Squire."
"Hahaha, I guess we both have lame nicknames huh?"
"Haha, that's right.... If you have nothing else to say, then shall we begin?"
"Let's. But first, a ceremony." He said as he gripped the greatsword with his two hands and brought it in between us.
"Uh... what?"
"Bring out your fire greatsword, and tap it on mine. This is a ceremony that all knights do before they duel."
"Oh.... Blaze Edge. Is it like this?" I said as I tap my fire greatsword on his greatsword.
"Repeat after me.... Let us both fight in honor, and may our losses take no effect on our kinship."
"Let us both fight in honor, and may our losses take no effect on our kinship."
"Yeah!!!" (?x)
"Well then, let us begin." As he said that, we both looked at the MC and nodded our heads.
"It seems that the participants are both ready, and respectful towards each other. Now, take your position!"
We both walked away from the stage and into the open field until we are about 20 meters away from each other.
"....Let the duel commence in 3!"
This boy is a Squire huh? He may be skilled in using his greatsword so this is a good chance to learn and copy techniques that actually uses my Blaze Edge like an actual melee weapon.
"2!"
I guess I can also just melt him down with Forbidden Sun but... That'd be boring right?
"1!"
That is why, I'll limit myself by only using techniques with my Blaze Edge. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to learn from the experience.
I'm getting very excited to test my skills out.... Let's do this!
"Zero, start!"
"Blaze Edge : Spiral Blades!"
"Ignis!" He yells out immediately, and from his left hand shot out bolts of lightning towards me as we both walked towards each other.
I intercepts his magic attacks with my Blaze Edges, and it seems that none of us has the upper hand in mid range.
'Bang!' 'Bzz!' (5x)
It was then when we are about 6 meters of distance from each other, he raised his greatsword high up to the air....
"Thunder!" 'Zam!'
From the sky, a bolt of lightning strikes on his sword. His entire sword is now electrified. 'Bzzz!'
He points his arm at me and casted another spell.... The ground below me glows in a bright golden color.
"Thunder!"
"Shredder!" I made the three Blaze Edge spins in layers above my head, and just as expected....
'Zam!' A lightning struck down on me from above, and broke one of my Blaze Edges.
As I was busy with the lightning, he had already closed in on me. I have no time to spawn more Blaze Edges, we are within striking distance!
"Hah!" He raised his sword over his shoulder and swung down at me. I raised my sword and blocked his attack....
'Tank!'
"Urgh!" Why is there so much power behind his swing?! His attack was powerful enough to make me slide slightly backwards, and almost threw me off balance.
"Hike!" He swung his sword upwards in a follow up attack.
'Tank!' I tried to block the attack but the upper slash threw my balance off entirely as I drop my rear leg to the ground. "Urgh!"
"Helm Splitter!" 'Tank!'
He raised his sword overhead and swung down at me to cleave me in half.... Luckily, I had my last Blaze Edge on. "Shredder!"
'Tank!' His sword slams into my spinning fire sword and bounced back a bit. Seeing this chance, I got back up on my feet and jumped backwards.
"You cannot get away, Stinger!" 'Thud!'
With a lunge, he kicked off the ground and rushed forward at me as he thrusts his sword at my face.
'Fwuom!' By reflexes I duck backwards and the sword misses my face by a mere centimeter as it narrowly cut my bangs. "Damn!"
Almost falling backwards, I put my arm out and.... "Incinerate!" 'Bwuom!'
"Lightning!" He says as he grabbed his greatsword with the both of his hand and blasted the entire area with a wave of golden electricity.
'Boom!' 'Bzzz!'
The recoil from the incinerate threw me backwards, far enough to get away from him safely.
"This is incredible! Not only was he able to counter Kyrielle's Spiral Edges, he was able to completely push her back and almost ended the fight there twice!"
"Phew...." That was a bit too close just now. I even had to use Incinerate just to get away from him in spite of me saying I wouldn't use it....
It seems that I underestimated him, a lot. His lightning bolts are fast enough to intercept my Blaze Edges, and his swordsmanship is just too much for me to handle at close range.
I can't defeat him if I am too passive. I need to find some way to counter his aggression with my aggression, I need to control the fight somehow.
He raised his sword up.... "Thunder!" 'Zam!'
I get it now, his melee attack is powered by electricity and whenever he does that wide area blast it use up all of the electricity from his sword. Whenever his sword is lighted by electricity, it will swing much stronger. I can probably do the same thing with my Blaze Edge and negate this effect....
"Hah.... Hmpt!" I imagined a coat of fire lighting in my Blaze Edge, and covered my greatsword in even more flames than before.
I shall name this technique 'Ignition.'
"?!" He was surprised when he saw that I copied his movement and used the same technique as he did.
As for close range, I'll have to try and replicate his techniques.... I shouldn't block so much, don't fear the blade.
His attacks with the greatsword will always overpower me if I try to block it. Deflecting it with a well timed block will work but that's too hard to do for me right now... If I want to fight him, I'll have to parry his attacks with attacks of my own. Meet blade with blade and clash with him.
Blaze Edges : Spiral Edge
Once again he walked towards me even while casting magic. "Thunder!"
"Shredder!" I formed a shield over my head with a spinning Blaze Edges and approached him as well.
'Zam!' The lightning bolt hits the blade above me. He aimed his hand at me, and yelled "Ignis!"
"Blaze Edges, go!"
'Bang!' (2x) As we clashed spells from mid range, we once again, walked until we are within striking distance.
I'll use his technique against him....
"Stinger!" 'Thud!'
I kicked off the ground, and lunges at him with my sword pointed at his body.
"What?!"
'Clink!' He barely deflected my stab to the sides, and swung at me with a sweep at my face.
'Fwuom!' I ducked slightly backwards and avoided the slash to my face, then came back on him with a swing of my blade. He raised his claymore and swung at my blade as well...
'Clank!' Our blade clashed, and bounced off of each other in a failed attempt to parry each other.
"Incredible.... they are clashing blades in the middle of a magic duel!"
From the recoil of our blades, I raised my sword overhead and came down at him with an overhead slam. "One Line!"
He raised his sword overhead as well, and swung at me as well. "Helm Splitter!"
'Tank!!!' "Urgh!" (2x)
Our attacks clashed together once again, both of our weapons bounced backwards, we were both knocked off balance from that failed parry.
I rebalanced my body and swung at him again, copying his footwork of stepping in while I launched my attack. All the years of training with my father came back to me in this instant, my attacks stopped being the wild swing of an amateur but instead the balanced slash of an intermediate swordsman.
'Tank! Tink! Tank!' Our blades clashed a few more times, bouncing off of each other as we step back in again and clashed once more. But before long....
"Take this, Helm Splitter!"
I'll use his move to counter this!
"Hike!" I swung upwards at him in an upper slash....
'Clank!!!' Our attacks clashed once again. But this time his attack was way stronger than mine, I was knocked off balance while he remained in stance. I was parried by him.
"Urgh!"
"Hah!" He swung his greatsword in a follow up sweep at my legs, I jumped backwards and was barely able to get out of the way as the tip of his greatsword scratches my thighs. 'Slash!'
"Electric Drive!" He yelled as he raised his sword up and cleaved down vertically.... A wave of electricity came out of his sword, shooting towards me in a vertical line. I was caught completely off guard as I didn't know he could do this.
'Zam!' 'Bzz!!!' "Argh!!!...."
The lightning that hit my body made my entire body spasm out of my control and causes intense pain all over. I loses control, and dropped down onto the floor....
"Is this it?! Did Kyrielle lost?!"
But....
"No wait! The school's barrier didn't activate, it wasn't a lethal blow!"
"What?! How did you survive that?!"
"Hah.... Urgh.... That one was a nice shot, I'll give you that...." I slowly got back up on my feet after the electricity all transferred to the ground through my body.
"Ohh!!!" (?x)
"This is crazy, Kyrielle is still fine even after suffering such a powerful blow! Just what is she made out of?!"
"Urgh.... Can that guy just shut the fuck up?..."
I couldn't feel my arm and my legs, the nerves in them are completely burned.... But luckily, I can still move them like I can normally, and my Healing Factor should regenerate it within ten seconds....
"Not only did you learned my moves from just exchanging blows with me, but you survived 'Electric Drive'. It's a technique made to hunt and kill monsters by my mentor.... Was it just dumb luck, my sword losing it's voltage, or are you incredibly resilient and talented?"
Ten seconds has passed.... No one has to know that I sort of cheated here by healing my wounds.
"It was probably a mix of all three of them.... Phew, I feel all better now! Let's stop talking and start round two!"
"Very well. Thunder!" 'Zam!'
"Spiral Edge!"
His attack just now shot out a wave of electricity, it was no conventional sword technique that a warrior can use, a perfect technique for someone training to become a Magic Knight. This made me realize something.
There's no need to use my Blaze Edge like a conventional sword when it has no weight and is actually a spell.
Besides, I don't have to use only one Blaze Edge. I can wield a single Blaze Edge while I have the other three support my hand wielded sword.
But for this to work I mustn't destroy my floating blades before I get within melee range.... I must find a way to keep some of my floating blades intact while engaging him in ranged combat!
"Ignis!"
"Shredder!"
'Bang!' (3x)
With my right hand, I made a Blaze Edge spin in place to act like a shield as I approached him.
"Tsk!... Thunder!"
Thunder can destroy my blades, I'll need to dodge it!
'Thud!' I jumped to the sides as a spot of yellow glow under my legs.
'Zam!' 'Bzz!!!'
As I was in the air and before he could fire another spell, I put a Blaze Edge behind my legs.
Air Dash! 'Thud!'
"She still has two of her swords intact! Will this round end it all?!"
I'm right above Garnet. I brought my sword overhead, and slammed down on him.
One Line!
"Hike!"
'Tank!!!" Our blades collide once again and bounced off of each other. But before he can recover I sent one of my blades at him.
"Shredder!" I made the sword spin violently like a saw and swung it at him.
"!"
'Tink!' (?x) He raised his greatsword and blocked the attack, but my sword spun in place and grinded on his sword until my blade broke into pieces.
But it was too late for him, the Shredder was only meant to buy me some time....
"Deep Stinger!" Combining the final blade with my Blaze Edge, I lunged at him with a powerful-improvised Stinger.
"Tsk!" He launched an attack at me to try to parry my attack, but upon our blades colliding....
'Boom!' 'Clank!!!' A small explosion happened in place because I detonated the floating sword as our blades clashed. This is Deep Stinger, an enhanced version of Stinger.
This time he got parried by me, and he was threw completely off balance as his rear leg fall to the ground while I remained in stance.
And to finish him off....
"Ignition Drive!" I detonated my Blaze Edge as I swung at him. Even though he is slightly out of range, I unleashed a wave of fire at him just as he hit me just now.
"!" He couldn't raise his sword up in time, and his knee is on the floor. He's done.
'Boom!' The wave of fire blasted him up.... A transparent dome shaped barrier formed in front of him, it was over.
"....It's Kyrielle's victory!"
"Yeah!!!" (?x)
"Hah... Hah.... Phew..." I sat down on the ground, exhausted from the fighting.
Garnet also dropped to the ground just as exhausted as I am. "Hah... Hah.... I could've.... I could've used 'Lightning' to block that but...."
"Hah.... You were caught off guard.... it's my victory then.... Hah...."
"Hah... Hah.... How dare you use my own attacks.... against me...."
"Hahaha.... That was my intention in the first place.... coming into this duel... to learn swordsmanship from a good mentor!... Urgh...." I groaned out in pain as I tried to get back up.
'Thud!' My leg gives out, and I dropped back down to the ground.
"You are such a fool, a genius idiot... Hah... But you've gained my respect...." He easily got back up, and walked over to me.
He reached out his arm to me.... 'Grab!' I grabbed his hand and he brought me back up to my feet.
"Hup!..."
"Thanks."
Doing this, I finally looked at his face closely. He is a boy with soft features, giving him a kind look. But in spite of all of this, he has brown hair, sharp eyes and jaws, giving him a look of confidence as well. A face that totally screams a knight to me....
'Pat!' He gently pats me on my shoulder, and looked at me with a slight smile in his face.
"Yeah!!!" (?x) As he did that, the school erupted into a thunderous cheer.
"You won, Miss Red Empress. I won't challenge anyone to duels again and make trouble for anyone, you can rest assured."
"I see.... Why were you doing that in the first place?"
"Well, it was what my mentor told me to do. "A warrior has to test his skills against worthy opponents. Go and challenge the strongest people in your school, hone your skills. By the time you graduate, you'll be a fine swordsman and magician." is what he said."
"So it's not like you are actively bullying people, but just want to challenge yourself and others to improve your skills huh?...."
"Hehe, that's right, and I did improve my skills. You better teach me how you did that Air Dash and Deep Stinger!"
"Alright, I won't mind becoming your training partner from now on if you don't make more trouble for other people."
"Deal. By the way here's a technique from me.... You can easily combine Air Dash with Stinger to do an Air Stinger."
"Oh! That sounds useful actually!"
______________
And that was the start of my rivalry with Garnet, the Voltaic Squire.
Somehow after this incident, Garnet, Diana and I became friends together and now we often times hang out together in school....
It's a shame that Garnet is in a different class from the rest of us.
And I've finally came up with a name for my new style of combat using Blaze Edges.... the Inferno Style.
My Blaze Edge resembles Aamon's fiery greatsword, and since Aamon was the Devil of Inferno, I decided to name my style after him.
(Chapter end)