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64 - To You, Who are Like the Sun (Part 1)




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Chapter 64: To You, Who are Like the Sun (Part 1)
“
”
Suddenly, he started crying, and just as suddenly, he drew his sword and asked me to fight. His emotional instability knew no bounds. I didn’t understand his current situation, nor was I interested.
But──
“──Dark Sword”
Darkness condensed in my right hand, forming a sword.
Faced with a challenge, refusing was not an option.
“Now. ──Come at me.”
“
”
Abel didn’t move immediately.
How much time had passed? The more I concentrated, the more unnecessary information slipped away.

Yet, this irritation didn’t fade.
The reason this guy in front of me was challenging me didn’t matter. But the fact that he dared to challenge me in his state of indecision was infuriating.
“
”
Abel moved.
A frontal slash without any finesse.
No fighting spirit. No murderous intent.
Such an act wasn’t even an attack, just an insult.
“──Kaha!”
I punched him, sending him flying.
Just like the first time we crossed swords.
“The reason doesn’t matter. Come at me seriously. ──After all, you can’t win against me.”
“
”
I spat out my words in irritation.
What meaning he found in them, if any, I didn’t know.
“I’m sorry
 I am
 sorry
 Thank you, Luke.”
“
”
Somehow, he apologized and, inexplicably, thanked me.
I completely didn’t understand the meaning. Not that I was interested in what state of mind led him to say those words.
But it was clear that a fighting spirit had taken hold in Abel’s eyes.
“Kuku, let me say it again. ──Come at me.”
“──Physical Reinforcement”
A Presence of Magical Power.
Then, he moved. This slash bore no resemblance to the previous one—a serious strike. ──That’s good.
To overpower an opponent who comes at me with their whole being. That’s what I prefer. Anything less is meaningless.
Hmm, the sword is as honest as ever──
“──!”
A sudden stop.
Abel’s movement was beyond my expectations.
“Rahh!”
With a tearing shout, he unleashed a kick aimed solely at catching me off guard.
I could barely defend, but my stance was compromised.
I jumped back, taking a defensive position. ──Next.

Kukuku, quite the ill-mannered move, isn’t it? Whose influence is that?
No need to think about it. This must be something Alfred taught me
 something I would do.
“Ahahahaha! Indeed, you are abominable!!”
Techniques are meant to be stolen.
He was watching me.
No, more like observing.
“──Physical Reinforcement”
Even faster.
“──Physical Reinforcement”
Even heavier.
“──Physical Reinforcement” “──Physical Reinforcement”
But his movements became more complex.
His sword, laced with numerous feints, trying to deceive me.
I acknowledge it. You have grown.
When we first confronted each other at Aslan Magic Academy, I thought I could win even with my eyes closed──but now, you’ve become strong enough to make me keep them open.
Your unconventional moves have increased.
Yet, your swordplay has become more refined.
“──Slash!”
His strike unleashed as if targeting the gaps in my consciousness.
Apparently, he’s learned to use skills too. Making the most of the fact I didn’t have this information, a merciless attack I couldn’t anticipate.
“──Dark Slash.”
“!”
But there’s nothing you can do that I can’t.
Abel abruptly interrupted his slash and leaped backward. A desperate but sensible decision.
The difference in technique and skill is clear. If he had continued to face me head-on, the outcome would have been certain.
“You may have grown a bit, but ultimately, you’re still far below me. In the end, you’re just imitating me.”
“
”
Indeed, with the fifth level of “Physical Reinforcement” unleashed, he is fast. A regular elemental mage might not be accustomed to fighting such an unusual opponent and could be completely overwhelmed. But──
“It won’t work on me.”
No need for special magic or skills.
My “eyes,” trained and honed through swordsmanship, can predict the future if I can catch even the slightest glimpse.
No matter how complex the movements, a few exchanges of swords are enough for me to discern habits and preferred patterns.
No matter how fast or heavy.
If I can see it, I can counter it.
Yes, if I can see it, even just a little──
“Luke, can I
 really fight with all my might
?”
“
Ha?”
Abel looked almost tearful, his words clearly emerging from deep internal conflict.
─Understanding this, I was nearly overwhelmed by a rising anger.
“This is the first time I’ve felt such insult in my life.”
Intense anger spread through my body like waves, causing a slight tremble. But, even in the midst of battle, I must remain composed.
Letting emotions take over would be foolish, as the rational part of my brain reminds me.
“I won’t say it again. Come at me with everything you have.”
“Understood. Here I come.”
At that moment, my anger abruptly subsided, as if something had snapped within me. It was an intuitive sense of alertness.
“──Physical Reinforcement”
Abel vanished.
Not figuratively, but literally. In an instant, Abel disappeared from my sight.
The delayed sound of a roar and the slicing of wind followed.
“──!”
If I can see it, I can deal with it.
But
 he’s too fast to see.
“Yaaaah!”
My body reflexively turned towards the source of the sound.
The angle was bad. The timing, worse.
The tremendous impact that traveled through my hand and resonated throughout my body was too great to deflect, and I was easily blown away.
“──Armor of Darkness, Wings of Darkness”
I controlled my uncontrollable body with magic, soaring into the air.
Looking down at the ground, I locked eyes with Abel, who was panting heavily.
And then, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ahahahaha!”

He forced me to use magic.
For the first time, I was driven into a situation where I had no choice but to use magic, not of my own volition. And not just any magic, but ‘Wings of Darkness’ to control my body, and reflexively, I also activated ‘Armor of Darkness’.
That strike was so forceful, so alarming that even I felt a sense of crisis.
──How amusing.
I must be wearing a split grin right now.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this exhilarated.
What Abel did was exceedingly simple. He enhanced his body with both magic and skills.
Simple, yet immensely powerful. An obvious, straightforward strength.
Well, it’s not that I can’t replicate it, but
 now is a good time to try out a new spell.
“──Dark Magic Eye”
Dark magical power dwells in my eyes.
This spell allows me to absorb the magic of anyone within a certain range who enters my field of vision. It also significantly enhances all abilities related to “seeing.”
This is enough. I slowly descend to the ground.
“Let’s start over.”
“
Here I come.”
Once again, Abel vanished. ──No, he leaped at high speed to my right front.

I can see him. If I can see him, there’s no problem at all. No matter how fast or heavy, I can handle it.
“Teyah!”
Really, he’s underestimating me.
Raising his voice despite attacking from a blind spot shows he’s not completely ruthless.
Still fast. If my reaction is even slightly slower next time, it could decide the outcome.
But, no problem.
A straightforward diagonal slash. Probably his unconscious preference or a favored technique.
His overall movements have become more complex, but Abel’s initial strike is as straightforward as ever.
──See, right there.
Now, just to let this “power” slip away.
“──!”
Breathing, angle, timing.
Everything is perfect.
With no “enhancement” except my eyes, I can’t afford a single mistake
 but that’s an impossibility.
I swing my sword smoothly, like flowing water.
Abel, carried by his momentum, rolls past me, then looks up at me with eyes full of astonishment while supporting himself on the ground.
Just like the first time we crossed swords──.
“Are we done?”
“
Not yet!”
Slash, slash, slash.
A rapid exchange of sword strikes, unleashed at a speed beyond reason. The sheer velocity makes it impossible to counter; I must focus all my nerves on deflecting.
But that’s fine. There’s no problem at all.
“
”
Abel seems to have noticed the discomfort too.
With his current speed, it’s difficult to target him with “Dark Absorption” and “Dark Sun,” which has a lag in activation, is not an option.
However, “Dark Magic Eye” imposes a time limit on this fight. Unlike “Dark Absorption,” it doesn’t have an immediate effect, but as long as Abel remains in my sight, he will gradually lose magic power.
──This means, over time, he will slowly become slower.
Like being strangled by a silk thread.
Slowly, slowly losing power.
From the moment I activated this magic, Abel’s only option was a very brief battle.
Especially the first strike was crucial, but it’s all in the past now.
“I win.”
“
Yeah.”
I pointed my sword at Abel’s throat──.
§