166 The Final Blow

“Shari, don’t leave my side. If you’re alone, Lilith will definitely come for you.”

“Understood. But what’s the plan?”

Shari shifted her gaze toward my rapier. Yeah, I know. Its durability is a disaster waiting to happen. But to win, I’d use anything at my disposal—even people.

I could have summoned Debi, but that would’ve chewed through way too much Mana. Plus, considering Duke and Lilith’s current speed, wasting Mana on a summon felt like a losing gamble.

“I have a plan. There’s no time to explain, so just do exactly what I said earlier—”

In that instant, I felt Duke and Lilith moving through the forest. My eyes could barely track them. Activating my Magic Eye now would probably be pointless. They must have sensed it instinctively—they knew I’d gained some new, troublesome ability.

And they had already devised a countermeasure: high-speed feints.

I could see roughly one second into the future, but by layering multiple feints, they made it impossible to tell if a move was a mere distraction or a full-power swing.

Hah, that bastard Duke. Was he actually raised by wolves in the wild or something?

“—They’re coming!”

“Haa!”

“Here I gooo!”

Lilith and Duke launched a pincer attack at close range. I didn’t activate the Magic Eye yet. I didn't need to. I’d already read their opening moves.

“Shari, now!”

“—Bound!”

I had already laid down an Unnatural wall on the ground, and Shari had been busy reinforcing it. The massive, transparent wall suddenly surged upward via her Spirit, acting exactly like a high-tension trampoline.

“What the hell is this?!”

“—!!?”

Funny, right?

Without missing a beat, I kicked the two of them with everything I had and fired a Mana Cannon. Their trajectory was set perfectly toward Allen and Cynthia.

I’d just heard the announcement. It was time to smash my two sets of rivals together and turn this into a chaotic free-for-all. My original plan was to take them out immediately, but as long as they ended up crushed, I wasn't going to be picky about the process.

As the two went sailing through the air, Ice Lances streaked toward them like counter-missiles. Cynthia’s long-range precision was as terrifying as ever; she had clearly evolved during her time partnered with Allen.

Duke tried to shift his posture mid-air, but with no ground beneath him, he was a sitting duck. Against that kind of power, a Defense Formula would be about as useful as a paper shield.

Now—what are you going to do?

“—Duke-san!”

“Sorry! I don’t swing that way, but forgive me!”

To my utter shock, Lilith held out her palms. Using her hands as a makeshift platform, Duke kicked off her with all his might. Both of them managed to spiral away from the incoming lances.

Interesting. I guess you guys aren't going to make this easy for me.

“Let’s go.”

I barked the order to Shari, and we tore through the forest. When we broke into the clearing, Allen was already in the thick of it. He held his shield forward, reinforced by a Defense Formula, parrying Duke’s heavy blows rather than trying to take them head-on. Beside them, Lilith and Cynthia were locked in a tense standoff.

A second later, countless ice arrows materialized and rained down on Lilith. She didn't even flinch, charging straight through the barrage. That girl had a level of grit that was freaky even by Noblesse standards. It was like watching someone sprint into a wall of needles without blinking. Even if your brain knows you have to do it, the body usually screams in protest.

She’s incredible. But for me, this is the perfect setup.

“I’ll take you all down at once!”

Shari and I deployed the massive magic circle we’d perfected during the Partner Exam. Blessing of Healing and Impulse of Destruction—and that was just the base. We layered on a Spirit enchantment that fused our Mana together.

A deep darkness began to swallow the area. This was it—Gravity manipulation.

“What?!”

“—The hell?!”

The four of them slowed to a crawl before their knees buckled under the sudden atmospheric weight. They were barely hanging on, but the pressure had to be agonizing. Gravity exists in this world too, obviously; I just manipulated the magnetic field while Shari pumped it full of power. It was a feat I could never have pulled off alone. Thanks to the Blessing of Healing, we were the only ones unaffected by the crushing force.

I sprinted forward. My first targets were the heavy hitters: Allen and Duke. I wasn't going to be careless, though. These guys were monsters.

I activated my Magic Eye. Sure enough, I saw the paths they were taking to resist the gravity.

[Allen: Applying all attributes to shield. Using Flight Magic to retreat.] [Duke: Using arms to shield vitals—neck, heart.]

In that case—you’re first, Allen.

“—Kuh!”

“Sorry, but you’re the most annoying one to leave on the board!”

I reached out and touched Allen’s shield. I didn't attack it; I deactivated the magic holding it together. Because I knew exactly what he was doing a second before he did it, I didn't waste a single movement.

An instant later, I lunged, my rapier driving toward Allen’s heart. It was a speed only possible through the foresight of the Magic Eye. In any other circumstance, it would have been an impossible strike.

Is seeing the future really this much of a cheat code?

However, Allen threw his shield aside and grabbed my blade with his bare hands. Blood sprayed, but he didn't let go. My rapier began to freeze over instantly.

Ice Mimicry? A Copy?

“—I’ve... got you.”

I tried to yank the blade back, but the ice was already climbing toward my grip. Seeing the opening, Duke lunged for my throat. Allen had realized he couldn't escape, so he’d chosen to sacrifice himself to pin me down, entrusting the rest to Cynthia.

To think you’d actually trust someone else to finish the job instead of doing it yourself. You’ve changed, Allen.

“But you know... I’m not alone either!”

“—Weiss!!!”

Shari appeared from my flank and intentionally shattered my frozen rapier. Duke’s fist, deprived of its original target, slammed into Shari instead. Her Defense Formula was perfect, but she couldn't negate the physical Bound. She was sent flying in my stead.

Allen collapsed, his Mana reserves utterly drained from the Ice Mimicry. It was a desperate, uncharacteristic blunder. But just before he vanished—

[Announcement: Allen, second elimination. Nameplate transfers to Weiss Fancent.]

That little... he deactivated our gravity magic on his way out! Did he copy the deactivation spell I just used on his shield?

I clicked my tongue. Showing him that trick might have been a mistake. There was no announcement for Shari, so she was still in the game, but she wasn't coming to help me yet. She knew her role.

Duke stood before me once more. We were both down to our bare hands now.

“Yo, Weiss. I think this is the first time we’ve ever really thrown down like this.”

“Maybe it is.”

Duke grinned at my provocation and charged. No tricks, no magic—just a straight-up brawl.

For a second, my vision blurred. I’d been redlining the Magic Eye for three days straight. Between the Mana consumption, the mental strain, and the back-to-back high-tier spells, I was running on fumes.

But I’m not about to start whining now!

“—Oraa!”

“Hah! Is that all you’ve got?!”

He threw a haymaker with everything he had. I ducked at the last possible millisecond, the wind pressure stinging my cheek like a blade. I countered, aiming for his chin, but Duke snapped his head back to dodge.

The guy was a freak of nature. His reflexes weren't even Mana-boosted; his eyes and ears were just that sharp. As expected of a top-tier character from the original story!

We traded blows, neither of us gaining an inch. Then—

[Announcement: Cynthia Violetta, second elimination. Nameplate transfers to Lilith Scarlet.]

I was stunned. Lilith had done it. She’d actually overcome the strongest heroine of the Original Story, even though Cynthia had Glacies at her disposal.

But Shari wasn't the type to let an opening like that slide.

[Announcement: Lilith Scarlet, first elimination. Nameplate transfers to Shari Elias.]

The notifications came back-to-back. We’d anticipated this scenario, though we’d expected Lilith to be the one eliminated second. Shari must have poured every last drop of her Mana into crushing Lilith. With the girls out of the picture, no one else was coming.

It was just me and Duke.

“—Lilith.”

Duke whispered her name, and then he exploded forward with terrifying speed and Mana.

“What—?!”

I pushed my Magic Eye and Time Lapse to the limit, but I could barely keep up.

[Future: Fists approaching from every direction simultaneously.]

The future was flickering. It was uncertain. Why? How?

“Kuh!”

I threw up my right arm to block. The impact was massive, a numbing throb of a Bound racing through my bones. Duke was reacting to my movements in real-time. His reaction speed was so high that he was literally changing the future as I was seeing it.

What kind of monster is this guy?

Duke unleashed a Shockwave from a distance, using the distraction to close the gap and strike again. Speed, power—even with my eyes, the future refused to settle.

“You—why go this far?!”

“Because I can’t afford to lose! Not today!”

...I know.

I knew Duke had resigned his candidacy. I’d pulled strings to make sure he wouldn't be blamed for the Sophia incident, but he’d quit anyway. No one knew why.

The Duke from the Original Story was a straight-laced guy who couldn't stand dishonesty. Yet, he’d believed my crazy story and followed my lead. He probably couldn't forgive himself for what happened. He was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, all alone, without saying a word.

I had people to rely on. I had Cynthia, Lilith, Shari. But Duke? He was just one guy, struggling and fighting in the dark. Allen’s Copy, Lilith’s awakening, Cynthia’s Glass Sword—those were all irregularities. And yet, Duke didn't envy them. He just kept moving forward.

You really are something, Duke. I acknowledge you more than anyone else in this world.

But I’m still not giving you this win.

I reactivated the Magic Eye, pouring every last scrap of my will into it. I used Scale Up to force my reflexes to match his, refusing to let the future remain uncertain. The flickering afterimages vanished one by one until only a single path remained.

“This is it!”

I gathered dark Mana in my palm. It wasn't as dense as a Glacies blade, but it was more than enough.

“I’m going to—Weiss, I’m going to beat you!”

“Duke... you did good.”

I slipped past his strike by a hair’s breadth. Even knowing it was coming, it was terrifyingly close. I slammed my palm against his chest, right over his heart.

Then, I let it all out.

A Mana Cannon point-blank, powerful enough to punch through a fortress wall.

“Kuaaaaghhhh—!”

Duke screamed as his Mana was forcibly snuffed out. If I hadn't had the Magic Eye, he would have taken my head off. I’d won, but it was by the narrowest of margins.

Sorry, Duke...

But just as I thought it was over, Duke’s fist kept coming. It was a straight line toward my face—clean, sharp, and beautiful.

Clang!

It slammed into my Inviolable Area. A thunderous roar echoed through the forest, followed by the final announcement.

[Announcement: Duke Billian, first elimination. Nameplate transfers to Weiss Fancent.]

The fist didn't drop. Duke was standing there, his hand pressed against my barrier, completely unconscious. He’d passed out on his feet, but the sheer force of his final, unpowered strike was actually spider-webbing my barrier.

“No way...”

His Mana was gone. He was running on nothing but pure, unadulterated grit. What a guy. Seriously, what a guy.

The teleportation effect began to swirl around him. In a few seconds, he’d be whisked away to the recovery area. I drew a breath and used Time Lapse to slash through the teleportation light.

I deactivated my barrier, and Duke’s limp body fell forward against me.

“............”

Unlike me, this guy lived for self-improvement. He was kind, he loved his friends, and he worked harder than anyone. If he’d been in my shoes, he probably would’ve done a better job. He probably would’ve already found a way to kill the Demon King. That’s how much I respected him.

Shari hobbled toward me, looking like she’d gone ten rounds with a hurricane. Lilith must have really put her through the wringer at the end.

“Good work, Shari.”

The final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the exam.

“You actually did it, Weiss. You really won. But... why did you stop his teleportation?”

“...Because I didn't want him to leave like that.”

Shari blinked, looking confused.

“He worked harder than anyone. Leaving like a loser... it doesn't suit him.”

“...Pfft. He’d be so happy if he heard you say that.”

“Hah. Shari, I’m going to carry him out. Give me a weight-reduction enchantment?”

“With pleasure.”

“Let’s go, Shari.”

“I’ll catch up. You’re forgetting the Melo-Melon, aren't you?”

“...Are you a genius?”

“Try being a bit more grateful!”

I gave her a quick nod of thanks and used flight magic to float into the air, Duke slung over my shoulder. Halfway back, the guy finally groaned and opened his eyes. Fast recovery. Figures.

“...Nn. Where...?”

“The sky.”

“Hah... I lost, didn't I?”

“Yeah. You never had a chance against me.”

“Haha... yeah. I guess you’re right.”

“But,” I added, looking straight ahead, “that final blow was magnificent.”

“...I didn't think you were the type to actually give people credit.”

“What, are you blushing?”

“Maybe. So... why am I up here?”

“It’s a reward. I was thinking about dropping you.”

“Wait—what?! Hey, stop it! Don't!”

“Relax, I’m joking. Stop squirming.”

“Don't do that to someone who just woke up... But man... I didn't reach you. I tried... I really tried...”

I didn't answer him. There’s nothing a winner can say to a loser that doesn't sound like condescension. In a world where the tables can turn in an instant, there’s no point in getting hung up on it.

“Weiss.”

“What?”

“Next time... I’m the one who wins.”

“Yeah, keep dreaming. It's not happening.”

“Good grief... well, it was fun, I guess.”

“...Yeah. Me too.”

[Intermediate-year Students, Partner Exam.] [Winners: Weiss Fancent & Shari Elias.] [Total Nameplate Score: 45 points.] [—All-time record—Updated.]