As she observed Arthur's relaxed and composed behavior while watching the battle, Hinata felt, for the first time in a long while, a profound sense of helplessness.
It was an unpleasant feeling.
A feeling she had not experienced in a very long time.
Arthur stood there, practically motionless on the battlefield, as though everything unfolding before him were nothing more than an interesting spectacle.
There was no tension in his shoulders.
There was no urgency in his movements.
His gaze was simply calm and observant.
To Hinata, that was deeply unsettling.
She truly hoped that Fritz would somehow manage to contact Luminous Valentine.
Otherwise…
The core forces of the Western Holy Church would be completely annihilated right there.
Boom!
Meanwhile, Benimaru's katana suddenly ignited with black flames.
The air around the blade shimmered with intense heat and concentrated magical energy.
"Let's go again… this time without holding back!" Benimaru roared as he charged toward Hinata.
Sensing the growing danger surrounding Benimaru, Shion and the others became anxious.
Everyone immediately realized that the battle between the two had reached an entirely new level.
They wanted to rush in and help him right away.
But they couldn't simply ignore their own opponents.
Each of them was trapped in their own battle.
Every confrontation was far too intense to abandon.
The final clash had begun once again.
At the center of the storm of blows and energy, several cuts had already begun to appear on Hinata's body, while Benimaru did everything he could to avoid being struck by her blade.
He knew perfectly well what he was facing.
He knew that this woman possessed a deadly technique.
If he were struck by her blade seven times, his fate would already be sealed.
While everyone fought with all the intensity they could muster, Arthur remained standing still.
He simply watched.
And, in a way, admired what he saw.
Especially Benimaru's abilities.
"It was worth sacrificing all those useless skills for him to obtain that ability…" Arthur murmured quietly.
Ever since awakening as a true chosen hero, he had gained an absurdly easy time acquiring skills.
The problem was that many of them were completely useless.
He had gained dozens of those skills just by performing simple tasks.
For example…
He had acquired a Clairvoyance skill simply by using his own clairvoyance.
Up to that point, everything seemed fine.
The problem was that the skill didn't improve the clairvoyance he already possessed in the slightest.
On the contrary.
It actually restricted its true effect, making it far more direct and limited.
Arthur still remembered clearly how he reacted when that happened.
Why would he need a skill that limited his own power?
It was ridiculous.
Since he needed a right-hand man…
Someone who could take care of everything in Nova Uruk when he eventually left…
He made a decision.
He would sacrifice all those useless skills.
In exchange for just two abilities.
One skill capable of helping Benimaru grow stronger.
And another that would allow him to grant that skill to Benimaru.
He wasn't worried about the possibility of Benimaru dying in battle.
After all…
He had already taken countermeasures for that.
At that moment, Arthur realized that the speed of the battle between the two was increasing more and more.
Their movements were becoming difficult even for trained eyes to follow.
"I suppose it really was a good idea to pass my style on to Benimaru…" Arthur murmured.
His eyes shone slightly when he saw Benimaru execute a Ryūshōsen with absolute mastery.
"Maybe he really is a genius…" Arthur smiled.
The sound of swords clashing grew more and more intense.
Each collision echoed across the battlefield.
Benimaru did not hold back.
He delivered blow after blow with all his strength and speed.
At the same time, Hinata did exactly the same.
She responded to every attack with surgical precision.
A few seconds later…
Both of them finally stopped attacking.
The battlefield fell into momentary silence.
A cheerful smile appeared on both of their faces.
Who won?
That was the question that arose in everyone's minds.
Except in the minds of Arthur and Angélica, who was now sitting on the back of the now-unconscious Bacchus.
However, the Holy Knights were even more tense.
Not even Saare wanted Hinata to lose.
After all…
The final boss had not yet been defeated.
Arthur was still there.
If Hinata lost…
They would be completely annihilated.
If someone were to ask who regretted everything the most…
Without a doubt, it would be Glenda Attley.
Why had everything gone so wrong during what was supposed to be nothing more than a simple exchange of information and easy profit?
If even one of that man's subordinates possessed such overwhelming power…
Just how powerful must Arthur himself be?
If she died there…
Where would all the money she had accumulated go?
By Goddess Luminous…
Hinata, you cannot lose!
Hinata spoke calmly:
"It's truly hard to imagine that someone as powerful as you would submit to another person."
Benimaru replied without hesitation:
"As I said before… I'm still far from reaching my master."
Hinata smiled faintly.
"It seems I was far too naïve…"
Crack!
Crack!
A series of sharp cracking sounds echoed through the air.
The sword Moonlight, which had accompanied Hinata for so many years…
Began to shatter.
Fragments of the blade broke apart and slowly fell to the ground.
At the same time, a series of tears appeared in Hinata's armor.
One wound after another emerged across her body.
Her blood began to flow.
Within seconds, her body was completely stained red.
With a heavy thud, the powerful Hinata Sakaguchi collapsed directly onto the ground.
In an instant, the place where she fell was stained with crimson blood.
At the same time…
Benimaru coughed up a mouthful of blood as he looked down at the hole in his chest.
His eyes trembled for a moment.
"It seems… I still have a long way to go…" he said as he fell to the ground.
He could hear the screams of Shion, Shuna, and the others.
But there was no resentment in his heart.
He had complete faith in Arthur.
He knew.
He knew that Arthur had already planned something when he sent him to fight Hinata.
At that moment…
Shion's mind was completely consumed by hatred.
Her thirst for blood burned intensely.
As for Hakurou, Souei, and even Shuna—who had always maintained the elegant composure of a princess—
All of them were utterly enraged.
---
(End of Chapter)