Raikiri 6 vol 4

"Take this! Dragon Fang!"

It became an attack.

Lævateinn―the flame that surged from the point of her sword in a flash took the shape of a living creature.

It was―a dragon. A dragon with a long, serpentine body. That fiery dragon opened a jaw full of teeth and struck down upon Touka.

Touka managed to just barely sidestep that burning dragon's jaw. Instantly, the dragon twisted around to bare its teeth against Touka again.

Lævateinn was no ordinary fiery weapon. With fangs that burned through everything, for the sake of taking a bite of the enemy, it was an attack that would follow its target to the ends of the earth. Shaking it off was impossible. Touka didn't have a single means to counter it.

An average Blazer had no chance against Lævateinn. The magic that came from Stella's overwhelming capacity all carried enough power to deliver certain death. If a challenger started a fight with an inadequate offensive, he'd find himself beaten at his own game. So Touka―

"―Raikiri."

At the approaching fire dragon, she responded with the strongest and fastest attack she had.

―She had nothing else to offer. And that was what Stella was aiming for.

I have you!

The slash of plasma collided with the Dragon's head. In that instant, Stella dashed forward with all her strength, and drew near Touka with a burst of speed.

Touka had fallen into Stella's trap, and used Raikiri. Right now, she was unable to interrupt her technique―which mean she was completely defenseless. This was the moment when the fight would be decided.

For a breathless instant, Stella crossed the distance with explosive force, and gave a knockout blow. It was a vertical downward slash. Right now, Touka who had just used up her killer technique wasn't able to do anything―

"Eh…?"

Shouldn't be able to do anything. Stella's attack should definitely have hit.

But in that moment, Touka showed a movement that Stella didn't anticipate.

She had certainly recovered from Raikiri―but… her recovered stance had not stopped the technique.

She used Raikiri's momentum to turn her body, and attack twice...!?

A devastating propulsion born of a sword draw based on extreme electromagnetic force. It was a second attack using high speed rotation.

Yes, Touka had completely seen through the tactic Stella was going to use. So Touka had―purposely used Raikiri, in order to induce Stella to jump in by making herself look defenseless.

And that scheme had worked flawlessly. Stella's abdomen, where Touka had aimed at for the second blow, had been mowed down by Raikiri―

"Ah…guh…."

Illusionary form―against a sword that cut through endurance directly without injuring the flesh, Stella fell to her knees.

And in the next instant, Narumaki fell precisely on the back of Stella's neck. It was the moment that decided the battle.

"…I didn't hear about you having that kind of counter-move."

"It's because this is the first time I've used it in combat. Attacking the enemy's weaknesses is fundamentally correct, but now that you're at the same level as the best in the nation, your opponents will take advantage of your own weaknesses without remorse too. To win against opponents of this class, it's critical not to let yourself be read like that."

To the junior who was looking up at her, Touka explained the reason for this defeat.

"You're not quite there yet, Stella-san."

And she gave a very composed smile.

Facing that, Stella couldn't help but feel frustrated.