The Inevitable Strike

The battle kicked off with me getting blasted across the room.

I slammed into the stone wall with enough force to make me cough up a satisfying amount of blood. Olivier wasn’t about to give me a breather, though. She swung her Holy Sword in a vicious horizontal arc, aiming straight for my jugular.

It was such a high-speed exchange that for a split second, I actually had the illusion that my head had been lopped off.

I dropped my center of gravity, barely ducking under the swing. Behind me, a deep, clean horizontal line was carved into the stone. I knew a follow-up was coming instantly, so I stepped forward, trying to jam her range.

My resistance was futile, of course.

Olivier was way faster at backing up half a step than I was at moving forward a full one. She caught me mid-transition while I was completely defenseless and sent me flying with another strike.

A high-pitched cling echoed through the ruins as my sword snapped.

I’d managed to get my guard up in time, but the cheap academy sword couldn't handle the pressure. It broke right in the middle, and I went bouncing and rolling across the stone pavement. This wasn't even a fight anymore. It was a total one-sided beatdown.

But hey, that was the point.

This wasn’t about "technique" or whatever. Our raw stats—strength, speed, stamina—were in completely different dimensions. It’s like an adult fighting an infant. When you pit a boy who can’t use Magic Power against a legendary hero who can, the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Honestly, it was a miracle I’d even survived the first hit.

"Olivier, don't waste your time with a brat like that," Nelson spat, looking thoroughly annoyed.

While Olivier paused, I dragged myself back up. My face was a mess of blood from a broken nose, and I spat out a red glob of phlegm. I stared at the stump of my broken sword and gave it a test swing. I had to make sure it looked like I still had a plan—like I actually had a reason to keep holding onto it.

"What are you doing?" Nelson asked.

"Hm?" I tilted my head.

"Do you honestly think you can do anything with that broken piece of junk?"

"Who knows? But my options are definitely limited now."

"What’s with that look on your face?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you smiling, you insect?"

I touched my cheek. Oh, I guess I was smiling. There’s just something so fun about playing the underdog who refuses to give up.

"Nothing is more irritating than a man who doesn't know his place," Nelson said, dismissively waving a hand. "You’re only alive because you’re lucky."

On his signal, Olivier moved.

She slipped behind me with terrifying ease and brought the Holy Sword down. Countering, defending, dodging—none of it was an option anymore. All I could do was throw my weight forward.

A spray of blood erupted from my back.

The skin tore and the muscle was sliced deep, but I’d managed to avoid a clean bisection. I was basically just clinging to life at this point. Olivier pressed her advantage, launching a merciless assault that didn't give me a single opening to breathe, let alone strike back.

Blood kept flying. Deep scars were being carved all over my body. And yet, I was still standing.

"How?" Nelson demanded, his voice finally tinged with surprise. "Why are you still alive?"

I waited for the follow-up to stop before forcing my blood-soaked body upright.

"A battle without dialogue is just monotonous," I said. "That’s why I’m still alive."

"What are you babbling about?"

"She doesn’t have a heart. She won't answer any of my questions."

I gave him a slightly disappointed smile, my teeth stained crimson.

"Enough. Kill him," Nelson ordered. He was looking at me like I was some kind of freak.

Just as Olivier was about to move, a shadow blurred into the fray.

"Stop it!"

It was Aurora. The black-haired, violet-eyed beauty moved in to support my weight, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Let’s just stop this," she said, her voice soft and pleading.

She’d known it would end like this from the start. The second she saw Olivier, she understood the gap in power. Aurora’s memories were a mess—she only remembered bits and pieces of her life—and while Olivier wasn't in them, her soul recognized the danger. Her heart was terrified of this woman, even if her mind didn't know why.

That’s why she’d tried so hard to stop me.

But I’d resisted. Maybe she’d held out a faint hope that I could actually pull it off, which is why she’d waited this long to intervene. But for her, this was enough. In a life where she had always been looked down upon, no one had ever risked their life for her like this. She had her "unforgettable memory" now. She was satisfied.

"You don't need to die," she whispered. "I'll handle the rest."

"And what exactly can a magicless witch do?" Nelson sneered.

"I can at least help him escape." Aurora stepped in front of me, acting as a shield.

"A witch protecting a human? I’ve never heard a funnier joke. But... fine. If you cooperate, I’ll spare the brat’s life."

"Cooperate?"

"Yes. You’ve been stubborn, and it’s put us way behind schedule."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hmph. Incomplete memories, I see. All you have to do is swear to help us. If you keep being difficult, I’ll kill the boy."

Aurora glanced back at me for a second. "I understand..."

"Hey, could you guys not move the plot along without me?"

My voice, completely devoid of any tension, cut through their dramatic moment. Aurora whipped around to glare at me.

"Wait! I'm doing this for your—"

"Not necessary." I stepped past her. "I’ve been listening to you guys for a while now, and I’d really appreciate it if you stopped talking like I’ve already lost. It’s super annoying."

"You really are a pitiful brat," Nelson said. "You don't understand the situation at all. I was literally just about to let you go."

"Like I said. Not necessary." I looked back at Aurora. "Just stay there and watch."

"Enough already. Kill him!"

"Wait!"

Aurora reached out, but I was already gone. I lunged forward, clashing with Olivier once again. She met my straightforward charge with a simple, honest thrust.

It was her fastest strike yet. It tore through the air and buried itself deep in my abdomen. A clean, ruthless perforation.

"Gotcha."

I grinned at her, my face masked in blood. I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me with everything I had. My muscles screamed as I pushed them past their breaking point, forcing her to stay put.

For a single heartbeat, Olivier froze.

We were now at the perfect distance for a broken sword. I swung the stump of my blade at her carotid artery, but she leaned her upper body back at a sharp angle to dodge. Her balance was shot.

I dropped the broken sword, tackled her, and pinned her to the ground. Then, I went for the throat.

I sank my teeth into her slender neck and bit down, ripping through the artery. I held her tight, pinning her thrashing arms as I chewed. Every time my teeth sank deeper, her body convulsed.

And then, finally, Olivier shattered. Like a mirror being smashed to pieces, she disintegrated and vanished.

I was the only one left, kneeling there soaked in blood.

"N-no way... Olivier... What the hell are you?! How are you even moving after being run through the gut?!"

Nelson's confusion was fair. The wound in my stomach was definitely fatal by any normal standard. Surviving was one thing, but using that opening to take down Olivier was beyond human.

"Humans are fragile," I said, standing up and poking at my wound to check the damage. "People die from bumping their heads all the time. I’m no different. One good bonk and it’s game over."

I stroked the edge of the hole in my torso.

"But as long as you protect the vitals, humans are surprisingly sturdy. Even if you get a hole in your stomach, you won't die as long as the major arteries and organs are intact. Don't you think that’s wonderful?"

"Wonderful...?"

"Yeah. It means you don't have to waste time dodging. You can let them punch you in the face just so you can punch them back. You can let them stab you in the stomach just so you can bite their throat out. When attack and defense become one, your counterattack speed hits the absolute limit. It becomes an inevitable strike."

"You... you're insane."

"Are you... okay?" Aurora asked, looking horrified.

I gave her a nod. "Anyway, the Elf-san is gone. Is the old man next?"

Nelson flinched, reeling back.

"I-I see. I never imagined Olivier could be defeated! It seems I underestimated you. I was wrong! I apologize!" Nelson bowed his head, but then he started chuckling. "...Is that what you thought I’d say? I’ll admit, I’m impressed a magicless brat managed to kill her. You’ve got guts, even if it was just a fluke. But a win is a win. Congratulations."

Nelson looked up and started clapping slowly.

"However, don't get cocky just because you beat one low-quality copy. The Sanctuary sits on a well of immeasurable Magic Power. Which means... I can do this."

Nelson swung his arm, and the area was flooded with blinding light. When it faded, Olivier was back.

But she wasn't alone. Countless Oliviers had appeared, filling the ruins as far as the eye could see.

"No... it can't be..." Aurora whispered, trembling.

I might not have been dead yet, but I was heavily wounded. There was no way I had enough left in the tank to fight an army.

"This is the Power of the Sanctuary!" Nelson screamed.

The horde of Oliviers surged toward me. I let out a thin smile.

"I’ll admit, I’m surprised. But... you're out of time."

As they closed in from every direction, I mowed them down in a single sweep.

"What?!"

Before anyone could see me move, the Jet-black Blade was in my hand.

"Where did that sword come from? Wait... don't tell me you can use Magic Power?!"

Bluish-purple Magic Power was overflowing from my body. It was so dense it had become visible to the naked eye—a sharp, refined aura that glowed with a beautiful, terrifying light.

"If the Sanctuary sucks up mana as soon as you knead it, you just have to knead it so tight it can't be pulled away," I explained. "Took me a while to get the hang of it, but it’s a pretty simple concept."

It wasn't simple at all. It was a feat that even Aurora, the legendary witch, couldn't pull off.

"T-that’s impossible! No one can do that! Hurry! Kill him now!" Nelson screamed, his face contorted with pure terror.

The army of Oliviers charged again. I extended the Jet-black Blade, turning it into a long whip of shadow that wiped out the first wave.

"This is a lie! That’s Olivier! The Olivier!"

"Like I said. Time's up."

They kept coming, wave after wave. My horizontal sweeps kept blowing them back, but since they were in the Sanctuary, they didn't disappear. They just blocked with their Holy Swords and charged again.

"They’re definitely tough. This could go on forever."

The Oliviers swarmed, and I repelled them. The cycle repeated in the blink of an eye. Each time I moved, blood dripped from my wounds, and I couldn't help but grimace. This stalemate wasn't going to last. Everyone could see that.

"Haha! Yes! That’s it! Keep going!" Nelson laughed, though he still looked like a cornered rat.

Aurora watched me, tears welling in her eyes. Maybe she’d held a faint hope that I was her savior. But more than that...

"Please... just stay safe..." she prayed.

In the middle of that desperate, bloody struggle, I looked over at her.

"Hey, remind me. I’m supposed to pull the Holy Sword, cut the chains, and then smash the core, right?"

"Huh? I mean... yes..." she stammered.

"Seems like a lot of work. If I just blow everything up, that should solve the problem too, right?"

"I mean, technically... but you can't be serious, right?"

I just laughed and unleashed a massive sweep that cleared a circular path around me. I flipped my blade into a reverse grip and raised it high. Bluish-purple Magic Power began to spiral, condensing into the jet-black edge.

"I am..."

"W-what is that mana?! S-stop! Stop it right nowwwwww!"

The Oliviers sprinted toward me. The one in the lead lunged, her Holy Sword driving into my defenseless chest with everything she had. She pierced my heart perfectly. The blood-slicked tip of her blade poked out through my back.

Aurora screamed and reached out.

But I just looked down.

"...All-Range Atomic."

With the sword still buried in my chest, I slammed my blade into the ground.

Bluish-purple Magic Power dyed the world in an instant.

The Oliviers vanished. Nelson evaporated. The Holy Sword melted into nothingness. The light swallowed every single thing in the vicinity.

The move I’d unleashed was my short-range, omnidirectional annihilation-type Secret Technique: I Am All-Range Atomic.

And just like that, the Sanctuary was no more.