[351] A Swordsman's Conviction (3)
"Just because you pinned on a rank badge, you think that makes you something? Grades aside, I haven't been idle. When it comes to the sword, I won't lose to anyone."
"You really think divine transcendence is some great thing?"
Rena looked at Rai with a hint of surprise.
She had once mentioned Rian's divine transcendence in passing. For her to remember that—given how self-absorbed she usually was—felt odd.
"Transcending the body? How impressive. Want a round of applause?"
Spark flared in Rian's eyes.
"What did you just say? You—!"
"If you rely on a thing like that, your body'll break first."
Rian shut his mouth.
"Right, divine transcendence is certainly hard to achieve. But that doesn't mean it's all that. There are plenty of difficult things that are pointless. It might be harder to move a mountain with a shovel. But nobody does that. What do you expect to accomplish by transcending your body? You're flesh and blood. Divine transcendence? Maybe you'll be a little stronger than others, but that's it."
Harsh words, but true.
Even Shirone, who had reached a similar level as Rian, couldn't refute him this time. Psychic transcendence—using the avatar's power to surpass magic's limits—was real. But if you go beyond the feedback threshold, the mind eventually collapses.
Rian gritted his teeth and forced out a reply.
"Shut up. What would you know? You've never experienced it."
"Right, I haven't. How noble. I'll root for you."
Rai turned away again. Before leaving the room he added,
"Congrats. For the first time, there's something I can't do."
Rian felt his last thread of reason snap. His heart hammered beyond his control and his body trembled.
How useful divine transcendence would be in actual combat was uncertain. But after ten-plus years of training, it was the only miracle of hope that had appeared.
"...Wait."
Rai moved as if ignoring him.
"I'm busy. Mind your own affairs."
"I said wait!"
Rian's shout echoed through the room. No one was surprised; everyone had expected this outburst sooner or later.
Rai made a show of annoyance and turned. Rian strode forward and faced him.
"Ozent Rai, I challenge you to a duel. With real blades."
Rena rubbed her brow as if she'd seen this coming.
"Rian, you keep—"
"No, I'm serious. If I lose to Rai, I'll go back to the school. Is that enough for terms? Ready to fight?"
Rai snorted.
"I don't care whether you go back to school. Quit if you want. Don't bother me."
"Haha! Is that it? Running away because you're scared?"
Rai's face twisted slightly.
"You're scared of me? That's ridiculous."
"Ah-ha. So you're busy? Acting so proud but your excuses are pathetic. You always bragged you could end me in one strike, didn't you? Or when you say 'swordsman,' do you mean some mouthy rank-wearer who never lifts a blade?"
"Sigh."
Rai wiped his face as if tired, then nodded as if in pity.
"Fine. I'll duel you. Wait for me at the training ground. Get ready and come out."
He turned coldly toward the door, then, as if remembering something, glanced back at Rian.
"And you—stop the provocations from now on. You're terrible at that, too."
"Is that for real—!"
Rian was about to bolt out when Shirone grabbed his arm and held him back.
"Calm down, Rian. You fell right into a provocation."
"Oh."
Rian realized belatedly and forced himself to calm down.
That didn't erase his anger. Rai had flipped the situation with a single sickening line; the arrogance made Rian boil. Shirone, of course, just thought Rian naïve.
Tess, who had been listening at the door, edged in.
"Rian, are you really going to do this? If you lose, you'll have to re-enter the sword school."
"Hmph. Have you ever heard me go back on my word?"
"That's not what I mean—"
Tess glanced toward Kuan. Since Rian's withdrawal had already been refused, even if he changed his mind now it would cause more complications.
Rian didn't care.
If he lost to Rai, he'd kneel and beg his way back into the school. If they refused, he'd stand in front of the gates and refuse to leave.
"I'll do it. It's a promise. But I'm not going back. I'm challenging him to win."
Rian looked at Clump.
"Grandfather, you permit this, right?"
Clump folded his arms and fell into serious thought. At last his eyes opened wide.
"Let's go to the training ground."
* * *
The training ground was behind Rena's mansion. Rena wasn't the only resident—Clump and Rai lived there too—but Rai was often away on dispatch, and Clump stayed mostly at the general's barracks, so upkeep was minimal.
Rai stood in the center of the small clearing, sword at his hip, waiting. While Rian prepared, Rena approached him with a worried look.
"Hey, are you really doing this? I don't like it. Brothers don't need to fight with real blades."
"Let him do as he wants. Do you think that fool would have accepted if I'd stopped him?"
"What if an accident happens?"
"We'll deal with it then. Anyway, isn't it good from your perspective? That fool will return to school."
If the duel ended safely with Rian accepting defeat, Rena could breathe easier. But given how unlike water and oil the two were, her worry didn't ease.
"Alright, anyway. Take it easy and finish quickly."
"I'm busy too. You don't have to tell me."
Rena shrugged. Self-centered but sensible, Rai had never needed nagging—unlike Rian.
'Actually, the person who should really be worried is someone else.'
Rian stood at the edge of the training ground and took a deep breath, staring at Rai.
Tess came up and rubbed Rian's shoulders and arms with force. His muscles were knotted; even bold Rian felt the weight of this match.
"Come on! Fight! Relax!"
Tess tried to boost his morale. She hated the idea of Rian quitting, but she hated seeing him humiliated more.
Rian stayed silent, focused on steadying his mind. With family, Instructor Kuan, and even Shirone watching, he could not afford to lose.
Rena placed a hand on Rian's shoulder.
"For today I'm neutral. So don't be stubborn. Don't let pride get in the way."
"Hmph. Rena should worry about herself. I'm not who I used to be."
Rena said nothing.
Rai hadn't considered the possibility of losing, and neither had Rena. Having once swung a sword herself, she knew the gap in skill better than anyone.
'Rian has almost no chance. Rai won't go easy on him just out of pity.'
When Clump and Kuan entered the training ground, Rian hefted the greatsword his grandfather had given him.
As Rian walked onto the arena, Shirone spoke from behind.
"Rian, make sure you win."
Rian turned and smiled. The tension was gone.
"No problem. Leave it to me."
When Rian reached the center, Rai drew his black blade from his hip. Longer and thinner than a typical longsword, it was a straight blade shaped for Ozent swordsmanship, forged of black iron and impressively rigid.
Rai flicked the black blade into an X, set the point upward, and inspected him.
"Let's start. I want to rest."
"You'll be resting in pain. Whatever dispatch you've got, cancel it."
"Whatever. Hurry up and come at me."
Rai sounded like he didn't even want to answer.
Rian didn't like that. One who could absorb techniques instantly could not be expected to see Rian as family when Rian had no such talent.
A memory of Rian's sneer from their childhood duel flashed through his head.
"Anyway, thanks for accepting the match. Our bad history ends today."
Rian shouldered the greatsword with one hand. The precarious center of gravity—beyond human limits—pressed down with a menacing presence.
Rai angled the black blade downward. Even so, it looked like a pole touching the ground.
The reach between the greatsword and the black blade was nearly even. But the black blade's lightness meant speed would be its advantage.
'I'll lose in technique anyway.'
Rian's plan was simple, like his nature.
'Overwhelm him with strength!'
He clenched his teeth and flared his eyes. A powerful shove from his legs slammed his body forward.
"Going in!"
Rian lifted the greatsword and charged. The force of a greatsword descending from three meters was terrifying even in imagination.
Black flashes streamed from Rai's body and pierced the gaps in Rian's guard. Rian hadn't even swung the sword halfway before he had to switch to defense.
Rai's fast, razor-sharp strikes battered the greatsword like a blacksmith's hammer.
"Guh!"
The unexpectedly heavy impacts jolted Rian.
It felt different from Tess's technique—swift and precise, yet carrying the distinctive force of the Ozent family's style.
Once initiative slipped away, Rian was pushed back relentlessly. The one-sided momentum made retaking control seem impossible.
Rai moved like a lone sword dancer in the clearing.
Before long, Rian had been driven to the edge of the training ground; the onlookers gasped. Even Tess, who was cheering him on, was stunned.
"Yaaaaah!"
Rian's blade slashed horizontally. The air shrieked as if on fire.
He barely carved out space and stepped forward. But Rai's lightning-fast counter struck before he could act, forcing him back again.
Rai didn't stop. It was like trapping prey and beating it.
Rian's counters dwindled until defending itself looked overwhelming.
'Tch, no progress, no progress.'
Bored with the shallow back-and-forth, Rai no longer wished to waste time.
He hammered Rian's blade to sap his spirit, then reversed the black blade and drove it into the ground. With a thud the blade lodged, and a vibration ran up through Rian's soles.
"What—!"
Rian looked down in surprise as the earth swelled as if filled with wind, then exploded with a boom.
"Ugh!"
The shockwave of the ground blast struck his soles, making his calf muscles spasm.
The technique was called Ji-pok.
Rai had driven into the ground a sword move he'd perfected at twelve.
Rian's knees trembled and he couldn't keep his balance. He sank down and held the greatsword up with upper-body strength alone.
When Rai's black blade thudded into the ground, a tremor shook up through the greatsword.
Rian bit down and suppressed a scream.
It felt as if his arm muscles were being split in half. The shockwave that had coursed through him radiated outward; his jacket flapped and tore. His clothes hung in tatters as if pierced by dozens of blades.
Rian scowled and glared at Rai. Rai's expression, still leveled with the black blade, was indifferent.
Those watching could sense the duel was over. Though he might look intact on the outside, the shockwaves had shredded his body—his muscles were effectively useless.
The Ozent family's second son, Ozent Rai.
His skill was real.