Chapter 73: Decision in Stella (1/2)

Chapter 73: Decision in Stella

“W-What?!”

The swordswoman that had fallen back had now returned, her body clad in radiance.

The attack that Io used as a feint was evaded in a speed that was clearly at a completely different level from before and, just like that, her sword travels to his flank.

Tightening his abdominal muscles, the attack that was repelled until now had brilliantly cut the body of the giant and blood flowed.

“It can cut!”

“Naval, what kind of magic is that?! I will also go to the rear and have it casted on me as well!” (Hibiki)

“Hahaha, Hibiki that is impossible. This needs a special catalyst after all! Just obediently provide me support!” (Naval)

Naval stops Hibiki who was already trying to head to the rear.

“Wu wu, if you had such a trump card, you should have used it faster! You are sparkling and look beautiful too~” (Hibiki)

“We are pushing hard!”

The speed of Naval was originally higher than him. Even if Io’s strategy is to freely move his sturdy body with fluent body techniques, against the hyuman whose height is different and excelled his speed, it was impossible to evade them completely. Now that her attacks were connecting properly to damage, the schema has made a complete reversal.

Keeping a distance not too far yet not too close, she coils about the demon general Io while one-sidedly cutting him.

There was no chance for Hibiki to intervene, Naval was dishing as much attacks as she wanted. With her speed, there was no chance to follow her and the wounds continued.

Compared to the regeneration, the speed in which he received wounds was faster. But at this rate, it will never reach a fatal wound. The wound she did at the beginning in his flank has already healed. If there is something she can aim for, it would be the weakening of his strength by lost of blood. As expected, things like neck, chest and stomach; he didn’t permit her to aim at them.

Hibiki’s two handed attacks leave shallow cuts. She is changing into a style where his muscles won’t be able to catch her attacks. Putting slicing as her objective, she is moving in a way so the previous error doesn’t occur again.

But in that turn of events there is one knight that had practically stopped parrying attacks or stopping them. He looked at the battle with a dazed expression.

“… That is… Rose Sign. Are you kidding me? Why does she have such a…” (Bredda)

It seems he had noticed something, he turned to the rear where Wudi is.

Wudi, who knew the position of prince that Bredda possessed, could only turn his eyes away.

No one in the party except Wudi knows, about Bredda holding the position of prince. Because of that, there were a lot of chances where he obtained information other people would be unable to touch. In that information, there was also the reason as to why Naval was able to change this situation into an advantageous one.

A fragment of a rose, Rose Sign.

Its size is on the level of a coin, but in reality it is one of the magic items that holds terrifying power.

It’s a one-time use item and, when used, the pattern of a crimson rose will appear at the back of your neck. This is also one of the reasons for its name.

Its effect is simple. It uses life as food and forcefully brings out power. When it is born, it will slowly consume you until your death and will greedily devour that power you will never be able to recover. And so, it will provide the user with strength surpassing one’s limits.

The effective time is until that person dies. It is by no means a long time. That is to say, in exchange for a power that the user will never be able to obtain in his entire life, your death is set in stone.

“Calling such a thing… a plan? Naval, you are…” (Bredda)

A pure swordswoman like her can’t activate it. Bredda understands that. His thoughts reach at the conclusion that it must be Wudi or Chiya that cooperated with her.

(It is most likely Wudi. If it were Chiya, she wouldn’t be cheering so merrily for her. Is she going to such lengths to protect Hibiki-dono and I?!) (Bredda)

It is certainly not a situation where they could survive with the sacrifice of no one.

However, to take all the responsibility by herself and forcing her own death, it is something Bredda would never approve. The knight that faked his social position and joined the party, still didn’t have the way of thinking a royalty should possess. Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice someone. This reality is one that a politician can’t avoid.

And actually, the effectiveness of Rose Sign is immense. Even in the present state, Io, who had been proving a difficult time for them, was now taking the defensive. He is someone that even with a handicap of 4-times blessing was still able to win.

“Ah, Naval! You must not, that attack is…!” (Hibiki)

There is no way to know if Hibiki’s warning reached her. Naval, who had jump up to the air, swung her sword straight ahead and got the demon general’s arm. And then, that sword continues unto its insides… and stops.

“I got you!” (Io)

Io wedged the sword and tightened his muscles. His opposite arm fires a powerful uppercut at Naval.

“Not yet!!” (Naval)

In midair, she puts her right hand on top of the left that is at the back of the sword’s handle and places force as if pushing her whole body. Naval, kicking the body of Io, uses that momentum to push the sword that had stopped in the middle and slices the bone and remaining meat.

The uppercut that was approaching her from below, Naval manages to put her feet on top of it and use that strength to propel her to the direction of the attack.

Io didn’t let out a single scream from having his arm cut off and didn’t stop his fist either. Nevertheless, one could clearly see that he was sweating and looking at his own arm that was now bleeding, he finally distorted his expression.

A blood spray that had never occurred was happening now.

“How scary, white woman. You said your name is Naval? Knowing an attack was coming and yet still greedily come to get my arm, moreover, kicking my fist and killing its power. Are you a monster of the sword?” (Io)

“For a demon general to call me a monster. It doesn’t feel bad. I now grasped the way to cut off your arms. If the arms that protect you are gone, it will be easier to make your head fly” (Naval)

Laughing fearlessly, she brushes off the blood sticking onto her sword. Her sword was already clad in a faint radiance and the white aura that she was releasing from inside her was steadily getting stronger. The shining aura flows to all sides as if dancing and then disappears.

“So there’s a hyuman magic I don’t know right? Honestly, I am deeply surprised” (Io)

“Well, I am surprised as well. At your power that I can’t overwhelm even when going to such lengths that is. As expected from a 4-armed giant race. You are one of those we call genius huh” (Naval)

“… I was originally a normal 2-armed giant you know? What you cut off is not one of my original arms” (Io)

Io responds to Naval’s praise.

“At that time when we were attacked by the spider, I couldn’t save my best friend. When I managed to repel it with my wound-filled body, I returned with his arms and transplanted it on me. It took a lot of time until I was able to move them properly though” (Io)

“Well, that was impolite of me then. I am sorry but I will have to finish this. There is also a fox woman right? From the 4 demon generals you are the weakest one. We can’t take our time” (Naval)

The light that was coming from Naval’s body surpassed its peak and was now weakening.

Maybe she is self-aware of this or maybe not, she once again begins her offensive.

“I am the weakest? Fumu, it seems you guys are doing a weird labeling there. Why would a weak general come to the frontlines? In terms of battle, I am the strongest one of the demon generals. There’s no demon general that can beat me in a one-on-one” (Io)

Against Naval’s fierce attack, Io limits himself to harden only the parts that he uses to guard and slowly manages to make them shallow. In these scene where blood is spraying here and there, Io seems to be calm, but in reality he is slightly reorganizing.

“That is good news then! If we manage to defeat you, we will be able to make a big step forward!” (Naval)

She didn’t even flinch at the words “strongest”. Naval goes full force at the demon general.

While handling the combo of fists, she puts force into the arm holding the sword and little by little, using full powered attacks, she maintains her distance while mobilizing.

In the middle of that, Naval does one step back and turns over her body. As if he had been waiting for this moment, she did just as Io planned.

(No good! Naval hasn’t noticed?!) (Bredda)

Bredda, who has been watching that fight with complex emotions, holds fears about Naval not being able to evade the next attack that is coming from the demon general.

It may be because Bredda receives attacks a lot, he is skilled at reading his enemy’s knacks.

This time, Io moved knowing that Naval would take her distance because she didn’t like how the situation was flowing.

“… A kick?!”

That’s right. Io hadn’t used a kick at all until now.

The distance it has is wider compared to a fist. The place where Naval is, is not a safe range anymore. She is within his range sphere.

In the space between them that she thought was safe, a fast kick that doesn’t fit the appearance of this giant was released. Avoiding it was impossible.

“You shouldn’t be careless!” (Io)

“Seriously!” (Bredda)

From the side of the released kick, a shadow appears.

Bredda, who had noticed Io’s prediction, moved to make a follow-up. From the front this attack is dangerous to defend, but attacking the leg from the side to shift its direction is something he can somehow manage. Bredda’s decision was correct.

Getting his kick’s direction shifted by an unexpected obstruction, of course, the balance of his body crumbles. Naval’s eyes shine with the desire to attack.

“I did it!” (Bredda)

Replacing the kick of Io, comes Naval. Her movements while spreading light powder were beautiful like a dance.

Io, who had read the aim of the girl accurately, leaves the arm that is supporting his body and uses the two remaining arms to protect his neck.

“I won’t get in the way! At this moment he isn’t even able to counterattack right?!” (Hibiki)

Hibiki forcefully cuts one of the arms of his and strikes his whole body. If it is at least cutting off one of the arms that are protecting his neck, it is possible.

“Hibiki, thank you!” (Naval)

Slipping through the arm that was left, Naval’s sword reaches Io’s neck.

“Nuu wu! Gu!!!”

She wasn’t able to make it fly off. It took her all to slip through his arm and release a punch.

But the sword of her, certainly got through his neck. The white radiance that was covering the sword was now shining faintly and only protecting Naval’s body.

The white swordswoman uses her remaining power to try and cut off his neck by placing force on the opposite side.

It doesn’t budge.

The sword that had gone through his neck didn’t move a centimeter.

“Praiseworthy. To think you would be able to do this much. I apologize for my impoliteness of thoroughly making light of you guys” (Io)

“… You bastard. That body is…” (Naval)

The purple skin of Io began to dye in pitch black.

“To think in this fight I would find an opponent I have to use my all” (Io)

The words of the black giant sent chills down Naval’s spine. The sword that had clearly reached to his throat by pressing all of the strength of both of her arms, was brushed to the side. The sword… broke.

Without minding that, she exchanged looks with Hibiki and Bredda and took her distance from Io. He didn’t give chase.

The giant, with the sword’s edge still in his neck, stays standing.