Wallenstein

Declaring this, Shizuku waved Yoishigure like a conductor's baton from within her sphere of water. In accord with her movement, the mass of water wrapped around her took the form of enormous lashes. From the tips of the many lashes, the gathered water froze.

They took the shape of a thorn-covered hammer, and the hammer of ice swung down upon Wallenstein.

The hammer of ice struck violently without mercy, breaking the training arena floor with a cloud of dust and a thunderous roar. However—

"What a fine disposition, little girl."

The icy hammer had fallen slightly to Wallenstein's side. Wallenstein was currently uninjured, and slowly walking toward Shizuku.

If the hammer had hit, a human would've been smashed to pieces. Whatever words Shizuku had used, she must have also been hesitant?

—No. Shizuku wasn't like that. Among Ikki's group, she was unmistakably the most ruthless and merciless. Shizuku was surely serious. Right now, she was definitely swinging the ice hammer to crush Wallenstein.

Despite that, the ice hammer had missed.
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"Toudo Heigen."

It would be best to use excessive bullets and avoid physical contact with her opponent. Shizuku thought this, and first froze the battlefield to deprive him of footing. It would greatly reduce the opponent's agility, and more than that—

"Keppu San'u[4]."

Churning the enormous mass of water, she had it form spikes like a hedgehog.

"Fire volley."

The thorns of water fired in all directions without any attempt at aim. In a second, many thousands of high pressure water bullets drilled through the entire battlefield, cutting through concrete.

It was a quantity of water incomparably greater than what she used in the fight against Raikiri some time ago. But it was no wonder. Raikiri used lightning. In order for Shizuku, who used water, to fight against that, she would have to make all of her water pure in order to insulate herself from electricity. Because of that, the quantity of water she could use at the same time was limited.

However, right now there was no similar limit. The amount of water Shizuku could use was several hundred times greater than in the fight with Raikiri. The floor of Akatsuki Academy's underground training arena, the walls, the ceiling—every nook and cranny, had been filled with holes!

It was surely a masterful burst of projectiles that came down like hail. In the closed space of this underground arena, there had been no place to escape. Wallenstein must also have had his body soaked by this barrage—

As Shizuku planned, the bullets from Keppu San'u had struck Wallenstein directly.

But… even though… that was true.

Wallenstein did not stop. To say nothing of being made ground meat by the barrage, it had not even disturbed his calm stride. Indeed, he was walking calmly over the frozen ground.

What is this? Toudo Heigen and Keppu San'u aren't doing anything at all!?

In the middle of the surroundings that were without exception transformed into wreckage, blowing up dust and haze. Wallenstein had not taken any damage. On the contrary, not a spot of water could even be seen on his clothes.

Just what was this? Shizuku was definitely perplexed. And to the perplexed Shizuku, Wallenstein gave a low laugh.

"How regrettable. If I had no grudge against you, I would find this quite favorable. Well, this is also the whim of fate."

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Casually, with ten meters of distance between them, he took up a stance with his enormous sword in his left hand resting on his shoulder. The instant she saw this manifestation, Shizuku's whole body shivered. There was no mistake. She could instinctively sense that this stance was for the 'One-Armed Swordsman' Wallenstein's true deadly technique.

Something is coming!

Shizuku immediately ended the rain of projectiles from Keppu San'u, and protected herself with the frozen mass of water. With permafrost that had an excellent protective strength, she formed a castle wall. With what should be called a stronghold, she had prepared a defense with perfect readiness—


"Shizuku—don't guard against that!"


In that moment.

"Bergschneiden[5]."

Everything that protected her body was easily cut away.

If her judgment had been a moment late, her life would've been lost. At this truth, Shizuku gasped.

If Alice hadn't cried out, it really would've been dangerous.

An arm had been taken.

"Kuh…."

From the middle of the upper arm, her entire left arm had been cut away. From that perspective, the numbing pain crept up to her brain.

A slash that cuts through any kind of protection. A defense that lets him walk calmly even in the middle of a barrage. And a stride that was unaffected by Toudo Heigen.

If that man's ability is as I expected, it would be the highest among abilities.
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Together with those words, Wallenstein planted his sword into the floor as he stood in the mist.

"Ugh…!?"

Shizuku lost her footing and tumbled down, as if dizzy. She wanted to get up immediately, but no matter how many times she tried, her feet slipped.

I can't get up…!?

Was she unable to stand upon the ice that she had made with Toudo Heigen? No. Toudo Heigen was Shizuku's own ability. That power could not hinder Shizuku's movements. All the more given Shizuku's command of magic power.

Then why? ―There was one answer. There was another power in action.

"This is…!"

There was no doubt. Shizuku was sure that her hunch was the truth, and asked Wallenstein who was slowing coming into view through the mist.

"You made the ground lose friction, didn't you…!?"

"What a fast realization. That's quite correct."

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"Blocking, slashing, shooting. In this world, the effect of every type of power is greatly related to friction. No matter how fast the bullet, if its speed is stolen by friction at the point of impact, it would have no penetration and fall uselessly at its target's feet. And if an attack was altered by the same power, a blade can be made to unparalleled sharpness that cuts through any material without resistance."

A sword of excellent offense. A shield of divine defense. It was power that manipulated friction, which makes up the foundation of every kind of force.

"―That is the ability that I, the One-Armed Swordsman Wallenstein, possess."

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…Oh, I'm….

The consciousness of Shizuku, who had been blown away by a tremendous impact as if her entire body had been struck by lightning, slowly came back. Heavy eyelids lifted, and she saw what was in front of her.

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