After being challenge by the current strongest soldier of [Katzenschatz] in a battle in order to know if we won’t hold back his mission, we went to a [private arena] near the bar. After Cyann paid the owner, he led us to a battle field, similar as the one at Sagiru’s Castle.

“Raiki, just like I said earlier, you can use all of your [weapons] in this battle. It will be unfair if it’s just a one-on-one showdown after all,” Cyann said after both of us stepped inside the battle field.

Even I know that winning against him in a one-on-one battle is next to impossible.

“Sure,” I replied and faced the three girls behind me.

“All I can say now is I…we will do our best as your [weapons],” Ciana said with a serious look and smiled at me.

“Th-that’s right. I’ll do my best!” Iwa said with a slight nervous yet determined expression.

“We’ll win this, Raiki,” Honoka added with a smile and made a thumb up.

*ruu-ruu!* Ruby encouraged us while on Iwa’s left shoulder.

“Thanks, everyone. Let’s win this!” I announced with serious eyes.

After that, Ellen, Ciana, Iwa, Ruby and Honoka went to their respective stand-by area. After the judge asked if both Cyann and I are now ready, he announced, “The battle between [Cyan Knight] and Raiki will now commence. The [Cyan Knight] can only use one [weapon] while Raiki can use all of his [weapons] in his party. The one who will make all of the opponent’s [weapons] unable to battle, make the opponent lose consciousness or make the opponent admit defeat will be announced as the winner. Battle…commence!”

“[Honoka]!” I shouted and drew out my left hand.

“I’ll definitely win!” she replied and transformed into a red light. After circling on my left hand, she became a black katana.

With a collected expression, Cyann then called the name of his [weapon].

“[Ellen],” he said and Ellen transformed into a yellow light. In an instant, she became a bastard sword on his right hand.

A level 85 bastard sword, huh. Ciana is currently level 48 and Iwa is 44. Honoka is really the only one who can defeat his [weapon] right now.

“Come!” Cyann said with a smile.

I then sprinted towards him and swung my sword towards the blade of his [weapon].

*clang*

“[Flame Burst]!” I shouted.

“[Zap Counter],” Cyann whispered and before I even delivered the attack, I got electrocuted. I somehow maintain my footing by piercing [Honoka]’s blade on the ground as a support.

“There’s no time to rest in a battle! [Electro Slash]!” Cyann shouted and swung his electrified big sword. I somehow dodged it by jumping up.

“Naïve, [Lightning Steps]!” he followed and disappeared in an instant.

After I landed on the ground, he immediately appeared behind me in a swinging position.

“[Electro Slash]!”

“[Flame Burst]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

The explosion made from our sudden clash created a strong gust of wind, enough to make everyone cover their eyes.

“I’m just starting! [Electro Slash]!”

“Shoot! [Flame Burst]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

The clash of [Electro Slash] and [Flame Burst] got repeated multiple of times, enough to make the field form cracks.

(Raiki, this strategy…)

I know. [Flame Burst] is our only [special attack] that can equal [Electro Slash] and he knows that. That is why he is deliberately using only [Electro Slash] in order for me to use it continuously.

(But [Flame Burst] recoils on the user’s stamina so…)

Yeah. Soon, all of my stamina to fight will be gone!

“[Electro Slash]!”

“[Flame Burst]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

(Then, what should we do?)

We need to change the flow of the battle. Switch with Iwa.

(I got it!)

“[Iwa]!” I shouted and Honoka transformed back in the standby-area.

“At your service!” Iwa replied and transformed into a kite shield on my left arm.

I need to make him fall back first!

“Long-range mode: Blaster!” I said and a cannon appeared on top of the shield.

“[Clay Morph]?” Cyann reacted with a surprised expression.

“[Earth Blast]!” I yelled.

“Oh no!” Cyann panicked.

*ka-boooooooooom*

Just before the attack hit him, he managed to jump backwards.

“[Shadow of Flames] and now even the rare [Clay Morph]. You’ve got two amazing [weapons] there,” he said and pointed the tip of his sword towards me. “But…”

Suddenly, a ball of electricity, one meter in diameter appeared on the tip of his blade.

“[Plasma Cannon]!” Cyann shouted and it flew towards me in an instant.

“Shield mode: Protector!” I said and Iwa transformed back into a kite shield. The ball then hit [Iwa] and tried to push us.

(Raiki! Sorry!)

“Iwa?” I reacted with widened eyes.

*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Before I know it, Iwa transformed back because of receiving lots of damage from that single attack.

“Are you…kidding me?” I whispered with a surprised face.

Iwa’s monstrous defense…got beaten by just one attack?

“[Lightning Steps],” Cyann whispered and appeared before me in a flash.

“You’re defenseless now, you know,” he said and made a swinging position.

“[Honoka]!” I shouted and a katana appeared on my left hand.

“[Electro Slash]!”

“[Flame Burst]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

(Raiki, just a little more and my magic power will run out.)

“[Electro Slash]!”

“[Flame Burst]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

If I don’t do something, I will lose without even inflicting damage to them. But what should I do?

“Raikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!” Ciana suddenly shouted loudly, enough for both Cyann and I to stop fighting.

“C-Ciana?” I reacted with a surprised expression.

“Don’t just rely on Honoka’s [ability]! Even if you’re much inexperienced compared to Cyann, don’t forget the fact that you’ve defeated lots of strong opponent’s before! Believe in your skills as a [wielder]!!!” Ciana followed, trying to convey everything she wants to say.

“Ciana…” I whispered with a slight surprised look.

“You’re really blessed with good [weapons],” Cyann said with a smile.

“I know. That is why I’ll win this!!!”

“Let’s see what you can do then. [Electro Slash]!”

“[Counter Kick]!” I shouted and kicked his leg, strong enough to make him stop the attack.

Honoka uses [fire magic]. Meaning the stronger the [attack] I make, the lesser its [accuracy] will become. But with this point-blank range, it’s impossible to miss!

“Oh no!” Cyann reacted and made a defensive stance with his big sword.

“[Switch]!!!” I shouted and swung my sword to his [weapon].

*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Did I…win?

(I can’t see through the smoke but I’m sure that it’s over. If they are still fine after that, they are really monsters).

“What a strong [physical attack]. How did you learn that one?” Cyann reacted while cracking his neck.

“!”

(!)

When the smoke lifted, we saw Cyann perfectly fine with his bastard sword on his right shoulder.

They are really monsters!

I immediately jumped up and shouted, “[Wheel Blade]!!!”

“You really exceeded my expectations but…” Cyann muttered and held his bastard sword at waist height. Afterwards, his sword got enveloped by lightning sparks.

I then rotated as fast as I can and went towards him like a rotating saw.

“[Thor Slash],” he whispered and slashed through me.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” I shouted as I got electrocuted in mid-air.

“With this, there’s only one [weapon] left,” Cyann said and placed his [weapon] on his right shoulder.

After I landed on the ground, Honoka transformed back to the standby-area.

“Raiki!!!!” Ciana, Iwa and Honoka called with worried expressions.

“Or…are you saying that you can’t stand up anymore?” Cyann continued with serious eyes.

I can’t stand up anymore? That’s not even an option. I will stand up no matter how many times I need…until we win this!!!

I immediately stood up with shaking legs and replied, “I can still…fight.”

“…”

“…”

“Sorry, Ellen but this is a fight between men. We can’t afford to back out now, right Raiki?” Cyann asked with a smile.

So even Ellen is worried about me. I think I look really beat up now.

“That’s…right,” I said weakly and shouted, “[Ciana]!!!”

“Leave it to me!” she replied with a serious expression and became a sickle on my left hand.

“Is that…a [beast weapon] that uses [lightning magic]?” he asked with a sudden puzzled face.

“That’s right,” I said and bended both of my knees.

“Come!”

“[Steel Thrust]!” I shouted and delivered a swift attack on his [weapon].

“What speed!” Cyann reacted and stepped back after my attack.

It’s working!

“But…my [weapon]’s level is twice compared to yours! [Thor Slash]!”

If that attack hit us, this battle is over! The only thing I can do to win is…

(Raiki, don’t tell me--)

“[Teleport]!” I shouted and disappeared without a trace.

“What the—” Cyann reacted with a surprised face.

I then re-appeared behind him and shouted, “[Steel Thrust]!”

*crack*

After delivering my attack, I managed to leave a crack on his armor but it wasn’t enough to pierce through him.

What a tough armor!

He then faced me and shouted, “[Electro Slash]!”

I then jumped backwards to dodge the attack. After landing, I immediately made a defensive stance with [Ciana].

“…”

“Cyann?” I called because of his sudden motionlessness. Right now, Cyann is just standing there while staring at me.

“That [weapon]…doesn’t use [lightning magic],” he muttered with a serious expression.

“Th-that’s…” I reacted nervously.

“[Lightning magic] is my most favorite magic among all. Even though it can’t learn a damaging attack in early levels, I still love how it boosts your speed, making it the perfect [attribute] if you want to surprise the opponent with your strategy. But that attack…didn’t increase your speed but rather enabled you to travel through light,” he said with a serious expression.

“…”

“That’s a [deity weapon]…I know it,” Cyann continued, not changing his expression.

(Raiki, this is bad. We’ve been discovered!)

Wh-wh-what should we do?

“Where did you meet Goddess [Virgo]?” he asked.

“If I answered that question, what are you gonna do to her? Will you tell it to the [Royal Family] or the other Deities?” I asked with a serious face.

“Jeez, I can at least see that you didn’t force her to become your [weapon]. Don’t worry, I won’t tell it to anyone, I promise,” he said with a smile and winked at me. “You can also trust the judge and the owner of this place. I know them personally after all.”

“Thank you very much,” I said happily and bowed.

“So let’s continue this battle and this time, I want to see what will happen if Goddess [Virgo] and you became serious.”

“Then, prepare yourself! [Teleport]!” I yelled.

“That again, huh,” Cyann whispered, amused.

I then re-appeared behind him in a swinging position and shouted, “[Light Slash]!”

Cyann immediately turned around and yelled, “[Electro Slash]!”

*KA-BOOOOOOOM*

What strength! Just one more of that attack and [Ciana] will be unable to battle!

“[Teleport]!” I said and re-appeared a couple of meters away from Cyann.

“What’s wrong? Giving up already?” he asked with a smile.

“Of course not,” I retorted.

What should I do now? Can we still win this battle?

(Raiki, because I levelled up in this battle…I learned a new [special attack].)

“R-really?” I reacted with a surprised face.

Ciana then told me about the attack.

“If you’re not planning to attack, I’ll be the one who’ll do it!” he said and sprinted towards me. Before I know it, he is now before me, ready to swing his bastard sword.

(Raiki, we’ve got only one chance to do this. If you miss, we can’t win anymore.)

“Leave it to me!” I said and pointed [Ciana]’s blade to Cyann.

“[Electro—]”

“[White Out]!” I yelled and a very bright light blinded Cyann.

“My eyes!” Cyann reacted and covered his eyes with his free arm.

(Raiki, now!)

“[Holy Sword]!!!!!” I shouted and held my sickle to waist height. Suddenly, the C-shaped blade transformed into a sword-like blade made out of light.

(Do it!)

“Haaaahhhh!!!” I shouted and swung my newly transformed sword-like weapon to them.

*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

[Holy Sword] is a [special attack] that increases in power the stronger the opponent’s [weapon] is. That is why I managed to deliver a devastating damage. The impact was so strong that half of the field almost got destroyed after lots of cracks appeared on it.

Did we…get him this time?

(All I can say is our attack landed successfully.)

Then…

(Don’t rejoice yet. We still don’t know the outcome.)

“[Lightning Steps]…”

“!”

(!)

When the smoke lifted, Cyann is now before me, ready to swing his [weapon] towards [Ciana].

This guy…is really the strongest [wielder].

“[Thor Slash]!!!” Cyann shouted and landed a direct hit on [Ciana].

*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

When the smoke lifted, I’m now standing empty-handed while Ciana is now on the standby-area.

“W-With all of his [weapons] unable to battle, the winner of this battle is the [Cyan Knight]!” the judge announced, overwhelmed from the battle he just witnessed.

“I lost,” I said and fell on a sitting position while laughing weakly.

“That’s one close fight,” Cyann said and offered me a hand.

I then took it and stood up.

“Good luck to your mission…I guess,” I said with a sad smile.

“Let’s see…” Cyann suddenly said with a serious face.

“…”

“I take it back. You can now join me,” he continued with a smile.

“R-really?” I asked with widened eyes.

“Yeah. I know that you won’t become a burden. I mean, look how strong you are. Just one more hit and I’ll surely be the one lying on the floor,” he said and laughed.

“Thanks,” I relied with a big smile.

“Let’s catch the [Dark Ripper] together,” he said and offered a handshake.

“Yeah,” I replied and shook it.

After battling the strongest soldier, I learned that I still have a long way to go as a [wielder]. But that also made me want to become much stronger to the point that I won’t lose to anyone anymore.