"Bloom proudly - Livingstone DaisyFlaming Crimson Decapitator!"
A chilling voice sounded in the training room as Julis was surrounded by a red lotus of flame.
Circular discs appeared mid-air, spiraling like a whirlpool. Their burning edges rotated at a high velocity, essentially literal fire wheels.[1]
"Come!"
Dust flew as the numerous fire wheels centered on Ayato. He raised his sword in guard.
Facing that enormous blade, lined with a trace of demonic black, the fiery chakrams came one after another in fiery, merciless succession at a speed the naked eye could not follow. Just as quickly, however, they split, one after another, into halves, their flames vanishing like a candle in the wind.
At that moment, two fire wheels simultaneously attacked from opposite sides.
Silently both admiring and lamenting the precision of Julis' control, Ayato leapt backward.
His movement, unfortunately, had been predicted. The spinning blade above his head flew viciously downward. In unison, three more chakrams attacked from in front as three more came from behind. This was an attack which was intentionally staggered in order to exploit the timing of one's opponent.
Concurrently controlling over a dozen bodies in three dimensions was difficult beyond belief, but for Julis, this was performed with the ease of moving her own limbs. It took a prodigious degree of spatial awareness to pull off such a feat.
Ayato twisted his body, dodging the overhead attack, before spinning in a circle, his sword flying in the direction of the oncoming chakrams.
His intent, however, was not to cut through them, for he thrust his sword forward.
As the various chakrams collided with the blade of his sword, sparks flew, and they left their designated orbit.
Flitting past his body, they left a trail of smoke as they soared past ー and nothing more.
"Fuu...."
Ayato heaved a sigh of relief, before again raising his sword, Ser-Versta ー the Demon Sword of the Black Furnace.
"Honestly, you're always like this. Wearing such a nonchalant expression as you make such inhuman movements."
Julis, on the other hand, continued to gape at Ayato in wide-eyed awe.
"I swear, the more I see, the more I can't help but be curious as to what I'll see next."
At Julis' side, more than ten fire wheels continued to spin.
"No, you shouldn't be surprised by just this much, Julis."
"What do you mean by that?"
Julis had barely finished speaking before the chakrams beside her were sent off to attack.
The scene laying itself out before him was a carefully designed formation, a veritable garden of fireblooms.
"I wonder... how's this?"
Answering, Ayato suddenly dashed straight at Julis.
His upper body nearly touching the floor, he dashed directly at the conflagration.
"What!?"
Taken by surprise, Julis' reactions came a moment too late.
Although she urged her fire wheels forward, it was already clear they were nowhere near fast enough to catch up to Ayato.
Ayato dodged an incoming chakram, his goal right before his eyes ー when suddenly he noticed.
Julis grinned in satisfaction.
"You fell for it ー bloom, GloriosaRending Fireclaw!"
Suddenly, by Ayato's feet, a magic circle appeared, from which burst forth an obstructing pillar of flame. There were five in total; enormous talons of flame which aimed to jail their intended victim between them.
(I was baitedー)
Strega and Dante's powers all carried conditions which had to be met before they could be activated. Accordingly, techniques which could see use as a trap were innumerable; for example, Julis' technique which was even now springing forth.
"Hehe, looks like, this time, it's my win."
From the direction of the inferno, he could hear Julis' self-assured declaration of victory, though he couldn't see what kind of expression she wore.
The claws of flame were even now closing in on Ayato, preparing to snap shut the jaws of victory.
Even with the situation as it was, Ayato was completely unworried, and he calmly adjusted his breathing.
"Amagiri Bright Dragon Style, Intermediate Technique
Holding his enormous sword with only his right hand, he whirled, severing everything around him.
Flipping his sword to his left in a reverse grip, he spun in the opposite direction.
The flame pillars enclosing Ayato suddenly flashed with two lines of brilliant light before promptly disappearing.
"Whaー...!"
The flames hot enough to broil him alive suddenly disappeared without a trace as Ayato appeared immediately before Julis.
Julis was so stunned she couldn't even move. As her chest was touched by Ayato's attack, a loud sound echoed throughout the training room at nearly the same exact moment.
"Hmph. I thought for sure today I'd win..."
Julis crossed her arms, pouting cutely.
Seated on the floor, Ayato gave a wry smile as he looked up at Julis.
This was the training room assigned specifically to Julis, within which they were the only two people. The ceiling was vaulted, and the room was nearly as spacious as a gym building. This clearly wasn't something available to just anyone ー a privilege reserved solely for the Top Twelve.
"Even with things planned out like this, I still can't win. I'm starting to lose my confidence."
"It's nothing like that. I think you're plenty strong already."
"Don't try and comfort me with those hollow words. I couldn't beat you even once today."
Julis puffed out her cheeks as she glared Ayato.
"I'm not comforting you. It's true; that last attack was pretty dangerous."
He'd been thoroughly fooled into falling for that last trap; it was an undeniable blunder. If his weapon were anything but Ser-Versta, he'd have been done in.
Moreover, the rate at which Julis learned was stunning.
When they'd first begun training together, Julis had been unable to keep up with his movements. But now, she was even making traps based precisely on his timing. Of course, given the short time they'd spent together, her ability wasn't enough to be a serious threat to him, but the gap between them was slowly but surely closing.
"At any rate, you sure have a lot of techniques, Julis. That was my first time seeing that last one."
"Heh. Well, I do take pride in at least that much."
Julis expression lightened a little.
Truth be told, her techniques were varied and numerous. Just of those Ayato had personally witnessed, there were more than a dozen types, which included offensive, defensive, and support abilities. This was the proof that she'd completely grasped the essence of her abilities.
"Unfortunately, I still can't win the Festa like this... Let me give you an example. If the Festa were to separate the Strega and Dante on one side, and everyone else on the other, who do you think would win?"
"Eh? The Strega and Dante, naturally."
The Strega and Dante were almost without flaw. The sole exception was that their abilities required the consumption of Prana, which wasn't a limitless resource. Nonetheless, when compared to those without their abilities, they certainly were a force to be feared.
Nevertheless, Julis shook her head.
"Certainly they would win... the first time, but only then."
As she spoke, a complicated expression flitted across her face.
"As such a competition continued, however, the ability users would fall, one by one. Once one's techniques have been seen through, spread and made known, they can be countered. There are always exceptions to the rule, of course, but at best, it's fifty-fifty."
"Countered?"
"The people here aren't stupid. If they knew of my abilities, the least they could do would be to think up ways to counteract my flames. Like Cyrus did, for example."
Ayato thought of the young man they'd fought a few days before.
He'd intentionally prepared flame-retardant puppets in order to deal with Julis.
"I see now. In other words, as a Strega or Dante, it is vital not to allow one's abilities to be known."
"Right. The more specialized one's techniques, the greater their power and the less their general effectiveness. The first time you encounter an opponent, of course you have the advantage. Continue to battle, however, and you can no longer rely on that advantage. Those who stand in the foremost ranks have a very clear understanding of this."
Although she spoke rather casually, but to stand at the top of Asterisk and continue to obtain victory was a nearly insurmountable task. This Ayato finally understood.
"Thankfully, my ability is ever expanding and many-faceted. This much is necessary to see the greatest degree of usability."
"The Strega and Dante aren't the only ones at a disadvantage once the essence of their techniques have been grasped though?"
"That's true enough. It's just that for them, the issue is especially pertinent. Hmm, by the way ー how's your body holding up?"
Julis suddenly focused on Ayato's face.
Julis likely meant nothing by it, but as she leaned in, Ayato unconsciously reddened.
"!"
Suddenly realizing the reason for his reaction, she pulled back in a hurry. Ayato averted his gaze.
"Um... well, not too bad, I guess. About the same as usual."
Pulling back a step, the tense atmosphere faded, and he dusted his pants off.
"I-Is that so? That's good."
Julis spoke in a deliberate tone which suggested she wanted nothing more than to sigh.
"Hah... It looks like three minutes really is your limit."
"Just about. That really won't cut it. Huh?"
"To be frank, it'll be difficult," Julis answered, with an awkward expression.
Julis' training with Ayato wasn't just a straightforward battle.
They were also testing the limits of Ayato's ability to fight at full strength.
If it was just for a short period of time, Ayato was able to forcibly release the bonds his sister had placed upon him. Unfortunately, "short" was the right word; his released state could only last for a few minutes at a time. Moreover, the recoil from forcibly unsealing himself left his body tormented by pain and just about unable to move.
Three minutes ー that was the upper limit on how long he could last without suffering the recoil.
"At the very least, I can still fight at a normal level."
"At that level, I'm not sure that 'fight' is the right word. Then again, that's infinitely better than simply collapsing."
When his abilities were sealed, Ayato's strength was below average as compared to the students of Asterisk.
He was capable of releasing his abilities for just over five minutes at max, with the cost of such an action being an inability to move for an entire day. The cost was simply too high for such limited gains.
Julis dipped her head in thought, before slowly raising her gaze.
"Let me double-check something. You are unable to break your seal again in your current state, correct?"
"Unfortunately not. I need to rest for a few hours in between."
Whatever energy he had remaining after doing so had to be used to sustain normal bodily functionality.
"So even if just for a split second... it's not like it's impossible..."
For example, in the fight he'd just had with Julis, he'd only broken his seal for the slightest instant, which hadn't resulted in any undue burden. Perhaps it was better to describe it as having bored through the seal, as opposed to breaking it.
Moreover, the upper limit on time was a hard restriction.
"That sort of life-or-death dodge could at the very least be used in a surprise attack. At full power, of course."
"That's true."
He had just shown this to be the case, after all.
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Thinking of life-or-death dodges, he suddenly recalled the silver haired girl he'd run into in the hallway. As he thought of her actions, so much like that of a small animal, he couldn't help but smile.
"It's pointless to cry over spilled milk. Let's figure out how to use your three-minute limit as-is."
"I think that's probably for the best."
"Well, even if it's only for three minutes, but in that state, who could even last three minutes against you? If they were stronger than me, it could potentially be a problem, though... Hmm. We really just need to try it out and see. But just how do we find such a person?"
"Are there really students stronger than you?"
Julis was stunned by his words.
"...Are you serious? No, you know what? Forget it. I already know what kind of person you are."
"Haha."
"Ayato, I'm honestly happy that you think so highly of me, but when it comes to those who are stronger than me... Although I don't really like to say this myself, but there's definitely a number of them if you include this entire city. At the very least, enough that you couldn't count them with your fingers and toes."
"Really?"
Julis was very strong. Although she'd had trouble against Cyrus a few days ago, that was only because of the extent to which he'd laid out traps beforehand. In a true contest of strength, Ayato was sure the fight wouldn't last long.
That said, the ability to manipulate the situation to one's advantage was undoubtedly a kind of strength as well; that much, he wouldn't deny.
"Let me give you an example. St. Garrardsworth's student council president is rumored to be a swordsman who stands at the very height of swordsmanship. From what I've seen in previous tournaments, his abilities are, at the very least, equivalent to yours when unsealed. The student council president of World Dragon is also rumored to be an absolute monster, but as she isn't yet of age to participate in the Festa, I don't think we need to worry about her."
"The student council presidents of St. Garrardsworth and World Dragon..."
Claudia seemed to be the same. As expected, the student council presidents of Asterisk were truly the strongest of the strong.
"Oh, speaking of which. I know of one such person. Last year, it was all the news could talk about for days on end. The reigning champion of the Lindvolus, from Le Wolfe. What was her name..."
Ayato hadn't had the least interest in the Festa, but even he'd seen her in the news. She'd already taken the Lindvolus twice, and if rumors were to be believed, she was posed to do that which had never before been accomplished, and take her third as well.
"ーThe EreshkigalVenomous Witch, Ophelia."[2]
Julis suddenly muttered in a tone with repressed emotion.
"Right, right."
Ayato clapped his hands in recognition before noticing Julis' strange condition.
Was she upset? Was she sad? Her face was hard to read.
"Julis...?" Ayato worriedly called out.
Julis broke out of her reverie. "Oh, uh, sorry about that. I was just thinking about some things."
Julis tried to brush past the issue as she she suddenly raised a finger.
"T-That reminds me. Asterisk's students aside, there are many other unbelievable individuals. For example, the head of the Stjarnagarmr ーthe strongest in Asterisk's history, as well as the most popular Strega of allー our homeroom teacher, Miss Yatsuzaki. She is also undoubtedly at an entirely different level from me."
"Yatsuzaki-sensei?"
"Don't be fooled by how she looks. She's the team leader of Le Wolfe's only group to ever win the Gryps. As for why she's now a teacher at Seidoukan instead, I'm not clear on the details either."
Ayato thought of their coarse and disrespectful teacher.
Thinking back, she never revealed any openings. The students who dared to make noise during her classes were always greeted with a punch.
To do such a thing to a student of Asterisk was inconceivable unless one was also a member of the same Starpulse Generation.
"However, compared to our previous example, you do have one advantage. Do you know what that is?"
"Huh? Well, no. I haven't the slightest."
"Your abilities are still completely unknown. The incident with Cyrus was covered up and there were no other witnesses."
That was certainly the case.
"You're referring to our discussion earlier."
"Yep."
In other words, the advantage of surprise when one's abilities had not yet "been seen through".
"The only thing that's been made known is the registration of an Ogre Lux in your name. That much is likely already widespread. From just that alone, however, not much can be grasped."
Julis turned her gaze to Ser-Versta, which had returned to its dormant state, and softly sighed.
"If only you could use its abilities while in this state..."
"Haha, that's pushing things a little."
When unable to pull out Ser-Versta's full strength, Ayato's strength didn't even enter the equation for Julis. Of the times when Ayato had revealed his true strength, it hadn't once been while Ser-Versta was in this dormant state.
"That reminds me, your sister previously used this sword before, right?"
"That seems to be the case."
"How intriguing."
"I think so as well. I never would have imagined that siblings would end up with the same Ogre Lux..."
"That's not what I was referring to."
Julis slowly shook her head.
"Your sister was a Strega, correct? Normally speaking, the Strega and Dante are incompatible with Ogre Lux weapons."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"It seems to derive from a sort of Mana interference with the Ulm Mana Dite. In all of Asterisk's history, the number of ability users who've wielded an Ogre Lux has only been around ten at most."
"Ogre Lux weapons despise ability users?"
Ogre Lux weapons had their own wills, and would choose their own users.
This was something Ayato had already experienced firsthand.
"The reason still isn't fully understood, but it may well be as you say."
Julis shrugged with a bitter laugh.
"Anyway, I digress. The takeaway point here is that until the Phoenix starts in a month, you need to be careful to avoid taking part in any battles, and thus revealing your true abilities. Do you understand?"
"Got it."
His answer seemed to satisfy Julis. She reached behind her, and pulled out her rapier-type Lux, and walked around.
"Alright then, let's start again. You need to learn how to deal with an unranked opponent without relying on your unsealed abilities. If you don't manage to step it up another notch, you might just find yourself cooked enough to be served for dinner."
"...That sounds pretty harsh."
How difficult.
"To be honest, the best would be to practice with an opponent who better matches the model, but that's not something I alone can help with..."
"Hmm? In that case, let's just find someone."
After he finished, Julis glared daggers at him.
"ーAre you making fun of me? You know I don't have any other friends."
"Uh, no, I never meantー"
"First and foremost, did you already forget what I just told you? Even if they're classmates and schoolmates, we can't let anyone know what you're capable of. Moreoverー"
Just as Julis began to break things down for him, a bell sounded.
A moment later, a space-window appeared.
『 ーYou have guests. How would you like to respond?』
As the machine announced their guests, Julis and Ayato traded looks.
- ψ -
"He~h. I sure never expected it to be them."
Julis spoke, her interest plain to see on her face, as she watched the pair of unexpected guests enter the room.
The first was nearly two meters in height, while the other was nearly his opposite - a girl so petite she seemed an elementary school student.
Both stared at Julis with a displeased expression on their faces.
"Saya and... Lester? What are you two doing here?"
The young girl so indicated by Ayato ーSasamiya Sayaー stepped forwarded and directed a finger at Julis' chest.
"Sneaky."
"Huh?"
Julis was stunned speechless by Saya's words.
"Sneaky...? What do you mean?"