CH 35

[VS Axe Saintess]

Thus, it was settled that I would be having a serious match with Ophir, but then Turbo-sama threatened us: “I’ll kill you if you leave even a scratch on the children,” so we decided to change location to outside the sandstorm that was the temple’s barrier.

Still, Turbo-sama sure was overprotective of the children; she was just like a mother hen…

Compared to my first impression of her, she was like a totally different person now.

“‘aight, gimme all ya got!”

Anyways, back to the present. Ophir excitedly brandished her Holy Axe.

Needless to say, Arca and Magmell was watching at a distance, holding their breath in tension.

“Are you sure I can go all out?”

“‘course. I ain’t gonna forgive ya if ya hold back even in the slightest.”

“Got it.”

In that case! I transformed into Vermillion Bird Form.

Then, I had the Magic Blade Sword Hinokaguzuchi turned into a single-edged longsword and held it in a low stance.

“…Well, well. Looks like this’s gonna be fun!”

Bam! Ophir kicked off the ground, closing in on me.

She was so fast that it made me wonder if she had even reached the speed of Arca’s spear thrust.

――Clang!

Naturally, I parried her blow with an extremely fast quickdraw slash.

The impact transmitted to my hand was quite heavy; not only was she fast, her strength was out of the norm.

I expected no less from a saintess who was raised as a daughter of a goddess.

In terms of fighting ability alone, she was clearly a cut above the rest of the saintesses.

But.

――Slash!

“Ohh!”

I immediately turned Hinokaguzuchi into dual swords and pursued her.

“That’s an interesting weapon ya got there! Yer pretty fast, too!

“But!” Ophir shook me off with a big swing, “Yer strength is lacking!”

――Swish!

“Really? In that case, how about this!” I dodged Ophir’s attack, turned Hinokaguzuchi into a greatsword, twisted my body, and released a head-splitting slash.

But.

“Tempest Break!”

――Bang!

“Owaah!?”

I was blown away along with my greatsword by the Combat Art Ophir released.

What power!?

“Hehe, how’s it? The Combat Art taught by the Goddess of Wind hit different, don’t cha think?”

“Yeah, you’re really strong, I’ll give you that. My body has warmed up now, thanks to you.”

“Ha, acting tough. I’ve grasped most of your moves. Ya took me by surprise with yer irregular attacks, but ya can’t beat if that’s all ya got.”

“Yeah, that seems to be the case. So, I’ll show you. —My ‘going all out’, that is.” Saying that, I took off to the sky.

I then turned Hinokaguzuchi into a staff and said, “Pierce! Purifying Fangs of Light— Sunlight Vermillion!”

“Wha!?”

——BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNGGGG!!

“Hey!? Ain’t ya a swordsman!?”

To Ophir, who had hurriedly run away from the desert, I prefaced, “Oh, my bad,” and said, “but I actually have multiple rare skills. 《Sword Saint》, 《God Spear》, and 《Void Staff》, to name a few.”

“Huh!? There ain’t no way that can be true!? Wait, uooh!?”

BAM! I lunged down with spear-shaped Hinokaguzuchi in an instant.

Ophir dodged by hair’s breadth, but my attack wasn’t over yet.

“And this—” Hinokaguzuchi changed form again.

It was now a long-handled weapon with a large blade—yes, an ‘Axe’.

“—is the power of 《Nether Axe》.”

“—Wha!? N-no way!?”

“Tempest Break!”

――Bang!

“Owaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!?” Ophir rolled around on the sand having received my blow.

Then after a moment, thud, her Holy Axe landed beside her having fallen from above.

“I forgot to say, but I can make the skill and ability of the opponent I fight with mine. And I’m immortal by the way, so I don’t die and the injuries I’ve received will heal in an instant.” Also, I could impregnate women at will, but… there was no need to mention that.

“W-what the hell… that’s just absurd…” Ophir clenched her lips, seemingly vexed.

I quietly nodded, “Right, that absurdity is me. I have an absurd level of power, even if I do say so myself. And I’m still growing stronger. Honestly, even I myself don’t know how strong I can be.” The stronger my opponent was, the stronger I could be.

Just how high could I reach—I slightly looked forward to it.

“But well, that’s the kind of guy you’re fighting with… did I meet your expectation?” I asked reservedly.

Ophir threw herself on the sand and said, “Aa~h, ain’t no way I can win… Seriously, yer one hell of a guy…”

“Haha, my bad.” I smiled bitterly.

Ophir then said, “But,” with the corners of her mouth curled up daringly, “yer truly the perfect man for me, ain’t cha! —‘aight! I’m yours henceforth! Now, embrace me!”

――Whish!

“Wait!? What are you doing!?” My eyes were about to pop out seeing Ophir throwing off her outer garment excitedly and became topless.