"You can actually project a physical sword? Is this a type of magic? I haven't seen anything like it before; you're just making me more and more curious!" Jibril gazed at the exquisite sword in Riku's hand, her eyes sparkling with fascination.
Riku frowned slightly at her intense scrutiny. The Unlimited Blade Works he had drawn from 'Emiya Archer' contained a multitude of replicated treasures, including the legendary Excalibur. Yet, the sword he wielded was a mere imitation—one rank lower than the original. It was classified as a B++ grade treasure. Despite this, his energy surpassed that of Archer significantly; he could potentially wield the power of the true version—or even exceed it.
If Jibril looked down on him, he could easily leave, even if he couldn't defeat her.
Riku knew he lacked practical combat skills and swordsmanship, but backing down now wasn't an option. He needed to gauge his current level! His expression hardened as he prepared himself.
In the blink of an eye, the Hermes Boots glowed brightly, propelling Riku forward. He left a series of afterimages as he charged at Jibril, the sword in his hand gleaming with silvery light.
"Ding--!" The clash of their weapons rang out as Jibril effortlessly blocked his strike with her black energy sword, sending shockwaves through the air. Sparks flew as the two blades met, illuminating the darkening surroundings.
"You've got good speed; it's impressive—almost on par with those stronger demons. But your strength seems to be on the level of an ordinary demon, and your swordsmanship lacks any real skill," Jibril observed, her bright eyes assessing Riku with curiosity.
"I don't need your judgment!" Riku retorted, his eyes narrowing. He urged his Hermes Boots to speed him towards Jibril's side, swinging his sword with determination.
"Ding–!" However, the sword was directly blocked by Jibril. A brilliant defensive barrier rendered Riku's attack completely futile.
With a flick of her wrist, Jibril cut through the air, aiming for Riku's neck with lethal precision.
"Swish--!"
At the last moment, Riku managed to evade, but not without feeling the sting of blood trickling down his face.
"The power gap is too vast. I can't match her at all." As he created some distance, Riku's expression darkened. Though he had anticipated this outcome, the disparity was far greater than he had imagined.
"Unknown challenger, I suggest you unveil your hidden cards quickly. Otherwise, it'll be difficult for me to evaluate your capabilities," Jibril proclaimed, hovering gracefully in the air, her obsession palpable. "Currently, you're classified at a skull level of LV.3."
The Flügel were god-killing war weapons, known for their peculiar hobbies—collecting and categorizing the leaders of their prey as trophies to flaunt their prowess. In this hierarchy, the skull level of dragon species ranked at LV.5. To other races, humans were often dismissed as mere monkeys, and in the eyes of the Flügel, they were no more than ants on the ground, with a collection status rated as negative.
Jibril, particularly, was an Exception Unit among the Flügel. She relished challenging the strong, collecting their skulls, and had an obsessive fascination with the unknown. It was this knowledge that had led Riku to confront her in a test of strength.
If it were any ordinary Flügel, Riku would have fled without a second thought. Those war weapons did not hesitate to kill; they struck mercilessly without granting any chance for escape. Even with his space-transfer ability through the dimensional Teigu, Shambhala, he was far from safe, as the Flügel also possessed spatial capabilities.
"Since you wish to see it, I'll show you," Riku said, lowering his sword, his voice steady.
Jibril's eyes sparkled with anticipation, her excitement growing visibly.
Suddenly, a surge of energy enveloped Riku, his clothes rising as if caught in an invisible wind. A powerful elemental aura erupted around him, isolating their surroundings.
"I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body, and fire is my blood. I have created over a thousand blades, unknown to Death, nor known to Life..."
With each line, a shift occurred. The atmosphere thickened, and both Riku and Jibril sensed a profound transformation in their environment.
Then, the world around them morphed into an eerily dark realm. A bright moon illuminated the landscape, casting a hopeful glow over the sandy dunes scattered with countless extraordinary swords.
"Where... is this?" Jibril exclaimed, shock etching her features as she looked around, bewildered.
"Welcome to my world, Jibril," Riku declared, lifting his sword with an air of indifference.
Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!
Link: Påtreon.com/gotouchgrass
I post 10 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.