NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28
28. Maximum Battle Speed
“Dalton, and the knights too. Back off further. So you don’t get caught in the crossfire.”
With two swords at the ready, Luca gave orders to Dalton and the knights behind him.
“Luca, are you… planning to fight alone?”
“Half-hearted attacks won’t work on the Demon General, as the simultaneous attack earlier demonstrated. I’ll defeat him in close combat.”
While surprising Dalton with her declaration, Luca kept her gaze fixed on the Demon General ahead.
Gyrasvrim approached slowly, still gripping the red sword with both hands.
Recalling the earlier exchange, Luca’s gaze remained fixed on the demon general.
His slashes earlier had even torn through Dractio’s defensive barrier.
A direct hit would likely annihilate a human body.
If received head-on, that is.
“A sword bearing the names of Vim Force and Greed… a relic from the ancient war between gods and demons. Interesting.”
The demon general’s gaze turned towards Luca’s twin swords, Force Greed.
The blades shimmered beautifully in silver.
The hilt was shaped like a dragon.
Overall, it had a sturdy form. But, exuded an elegance akin to art.
(A relic…?)
Her swords were found in a certain dungeon before.
Judging from the inscription, they seemed to be crafted by a skilled dwarf artisan.
However, the origin of the swords was now an irrelevant detail.
Cut down the enemy before her.
Defeat them.
Vanquish them.
That was all Luca thought about.
“Indeed, the power of your slashes is extraordinary. But I’ve figured something out.”
Dangling her two swords, Luca stared emotionlessly at the demon.
Their gazes clashed in the air, sparking.
“Oh… And what might that be?”
“It’s…”
Luca’s figure vanished.
An ultra-speed sprint that ordinary people couldn’t even perceive.
“…Fast.”
However, with his transcendent reflexes, the Demon General intercepted Luca’s attack.
Silver twin swords clashed against the giant red sword, resonating with a metallic sound that echoed through the air.
Instead of engaging in a clash, Luca immediately leaped back.
She circled around Gyrasvrim like drawing a circle.
Then, she launched another attack at double the speed of before.
“Accelerated even further…”
“That slash requires a certain amount of ‘charge’ time. So, I can seal your continuous attacks without giving time to charge.”
Luca launched rapid attacks.
Slashing down.
Swiping.
Thrusting.
Her two blades danced and struck with dazzling speed.
“I see… Indeed, this won’t allow you to gather your aura.”
Gyrasvrim seemed to smile faintly.
He skillfully wielded his huge sword, effortlessly parrying all of Luca’s ultra-speed slashes.
(He’s not just brute force.)
In addition to the strength to destroy a town in a single swing, he seemed to possess exceptional swordsmanship.
Truly a transcendent swordsman.
Yet Luca remained undaunted, pressing on further.
Crossing her two swords in front of her body, she delivered a powerful blow.
“After all, you’re just a human…”
But even that blow was easily deflected by Gyrasvrim’s red sword.
“There are limits to your physical abilities… even if you’re descended from supernatural lineage and possess factors that enable you to unleash that power…”
“…Strong.”
She felt it.
More than any swordsman she had ever fought before.
The demon before her was overwhelmingly powerful and transcendent.
A shiver ran through her body.
Not out of fear.
Not out of despair.
But out of an ecstatic excitement, as if her blood was boiling.
“Then, I’ll get even faster.”
Announcing it, Luca accelerated.
Faster.
Even faster.
Faster.
Faster──.
She increased her speed to 7.7431 times the limit of her [Light Double Blink] Form’s maximum acceleration rate.
“Guh, ughhh…”
Her muscles, her bones, screamed in agony.
There would be repercussions later, but if they couldn’t defeat him here, Luca, with the other adventurers and soldiers, would all perish.
“I can still accelerate…!?”
“If that’s the case──”
Ignoring the pain, Luca unleashed her slash.
She maneuvered around the demon’s sword and struck him in the torso of his armor.
“…Kuh.”
Blue blood spurted out.
Even the defense that remained unscathed after the simultaneous bombardment earlier could be torn apart by a slash of greater power.
Another two strikes, three strikes──.
Luca’s slashing speed slightly surpassed Gyrasvrim’s, cutting into his arms, legs, chest, and torso one after another.
It would take a little longer for Salome and the others, who were maneuvering for a pincer attack, to arrive.
Originally, Dractio planned to immobilize the demon with defensive magic, but Gyrasvrim’s attack power exceeded their expectations.
If they went on the defensive, they would be overwhelmed.
They had to keep pressing the attack.
If they waited for the pincer attack to be ready, their unit would have been wiped out before then.
“What… are these… afterimages…!?”
Confusion mixed into Gyrasvrim’s voice.
Indeed, after Luca moved, her image remained for a short time.
It was akin to an afterimage, close to a doppelgänger.
And their numbers grew, one by one.
“The speed is increasing endlessly… Ridiculous!?”
Gyrasvrim’s slashes couldn’t reach Luca.
Even if they appeared to get hit, they were merely striking her afterimage.
Her real body remained untouched.
Avoiding the swinging red giant sword, Luca continued to slash at Gyrasvrim.
She kept slashing.
Dodging, slashing.
Slashing, dodging.
Each individual strike didn’t inflict significant damage, but gradually, they would deplete Gyrasvrim’s stamina.
Then, when an opportunity arose, she would sever his head, pierce his heart, or strike at a fatal point.
While sticking to a hit-and-run strategy, Luca waited for her chance.
Eventually, the demon’s movements began to slow down slightly.
(I’ll finish this)
Luca accelerated all at once, accelerating, accelerating, accelerating, accelerating──,
“Ultimate Technique, Greed Bite──[Maximum Battle Speed].”
She reached her maximum speed.
Sixteen afterimage clones were created.
“This is moving at sub-light speed! For a mere human to…”
Even Gyrasvrim couldn’t help but utter a surprised voice.
“This is the final form, [Icicle Ronde].”
Seventeen Lucas, including her main body, simultaneously and quietly declared.
“It’s over, Gyrasvrim.”
The fastest and strongest strike ever unleashed from seventeen directions slammed into the black demon general.
Blue blood splattered magnificently.