Skill 31 Volume 9

Within the fierce exchange, Stella’s body and blade were changing at a terrific pace, in order to surpass Ikki.

At this rate, she would overtake him with the next blow.

However-

(I too am growing right now!)

“Oooooooooooohhh!”

“...!”

Suddenly, a counterattack, with a flash of black and accompanied by a great shout, left Stella’s eyes open in surprise.

Why?

Ikki’s attack pattern had changed.

(Just now, he didn’t turn his body…!)

Up until now, after taking an attack from Stella, Ikki would spin like a top and immediately return the blow.

That’s how he’d been dealing with Stella’s powerful blows.

But now, Ikki was answering not with defense, but his own attacks.

In other words, this was no longer attack and defense, it was simply attacks clashing.

Normally, such a situation would be completely in Stella’s favor.

For Stella to lose in a match in power was unimaginable.

However, that unimaginable outcome was happening now.

In this clash of offensive power, Stella’s blade was being pushed back ever so slightly.

Why.

There was one reason.

As Stella’s own arms received numbing blows, she understood.

It was Madoka.

In this high speed battle, Ikki felt the spinning Madoka he’d used up til now start to fall behind, and quickly revised his technique.

Instead of spinning his entire body to cycle the force, he used his upper body muscle control to cycle the force through his back muscles and channel that force into his next attack.

To do that, he couldn’t be stiff anywhere in his body.

If he stiffened anywhere, the force he absorbed would explode there.

He had to relax as much as he could, so that the muscles in his body were almost fluid.

Even more deeply relaxed than as if he were asleep.

In the middle of that high speed clash.

Stella shuddered at the sight of the man capable of doing that.

What an guy. He was incredible.