The finals had finally begun.
From here on out, for better or worse, I didn't need to worry about what came next. In other words, I could finally face my opponents with everything I had.
I had already told Amelia and Ariane that we would likely be forced to use our Origin Magic in this final match.
That was because our opponent was the team led by none other than Lucas Forst. Of course, we had to be wary of Evi and Albert as well... but a member of the Seven Grand Sorcerers was an extraordinary existence by their mere presence alone.
If those two were to have any hope of competing, they would have no choice but to rely on their Origin Magic.
With that understanding, the curtain finally rose on the finals.
"Now then, where should we go?"
The three of us dashed forward, reaching the Great Hall of the Ancient Castle for the time being. From this point, we needed to decide on our route.
Where should we head? Should we split up and search, or should we stay together as a group of three?
I considered Team Forst's past tendencies, but their flag placement was completely random. They likely didn't decide on a location until the very start.
Rather, it seemed they developed their match strategy using the placement itself as a starting point. That was surely a setup specifically for these finals.
If a pattern emerged, it would be easily countered.
On the other hand, the ability to take such a strategy was proof of their strength. It only worked because they had the skill to compete no matter where they set the flag.
I deployed my Perception Field right there. Within its range, I could detect the Prima Materia in the surrounding area.
The flag had been modified to prevent Prima Materia from leaking, so I couldn't find it that way, but I could immediately understand the opponent's formation.
"Two people on the third floor. And... one person further down this first floor."
"Logically speaking, that would mean the two are Evi and Albert. Is the lone person Forst-senpai?"
"It would seem so. I believe the same, but what do you think, Ray?"
"...It seems I'm being invited."
The single individual waiting ahead.
The slight bloodlust and Prima Materia leaking from that point—this extraordinary pressure undoubtedly belonged to Lucas Forst.
I knew immediately that he was baiting me.
"It looks like I have no choice but to go alone."
"Ray, will you be all right?"
Amelia spoke up in a worried voice, but I had anticipated this development. That said, I thought the one-on-one confrontation between Lucas Forst and me would happen much later... but it seemed he had some sort of personal fixation on me.
Or perhaps it was another strategy entirely.
Regardless, since he was waiting, someone had to face him.
"Yeah. The flag is highly likely to be on the third floor. You two head there."
"Understood. Ray, I wish you luck in battle."
"Ray. Don't lose, okay?"
"Of course."
With that, Amelia and Ariane gallantly dashed up the stairs.
Left alone, I continued straight down the path. Then... the one who appeared ahead was, as expected, him.
With his long black hair tied back in a single tail, he directed his beautiful face toward me while wrapped in a serene atmosphere.
He didn't seem as devoid of humanity as Lise-san, but he still gave off the impression of an exquisitely crafted doll.
Clad in an otherworldly aura, he looked somewhat detached as he reached for his katana.
"Hi. It seems you noticed."
"...To be honest, it was unexpected. I didn't think you'd want a one-on-one here."
"Hm? Well, it's only the first round. I don't think it's that surprising."
"If you were going for a steady approach from the start, I think you should have pitted Evi and Albert against me."
"That wouldn't be very interesting, would it? It would be far too predictable."
As he stated this calmly and matter-of-factly, I realized once again that he was indeed one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
His atmosphere, his words, and the Prima Materia he wore gave off a prickling sensation.
I found the feeling nostalgic, but at the same time, I felt a sense of danger.
"I also had the desire to play it steady. But after all, it's better to liven things up at the start, don't you think? I'm sure the audience is ecstatic right now."
"...I suppose so."
"However, I should probably say... that I'm interested in you. Watching your matches until now made me think. Your skill, Ray White, is extraordinary. Besides, it seems your Overheat is also getting better."
"..."
From that point on, words were no longer necessary.
He slowly drew the katana hanging at his waist and took a deep breath.
In an instant.
Just as I thought his body blurred, his sharp blade was already closing in before my eyes.
"Now then, let me see it. The power of the current Ice Sword."
I immediately ran the Code.
<<Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code>> <<Material Code = Decoding>> <<Material Code = Processing = Deceleration = Lock>> <<Embodiment = Material>>
What I manifested was the Ice Sword. However, considering the mass of the opponent's katana, I had increased its density considerably this time.
A sharp, metallic ring echoed through the space.
As the katana and sword crossed, the high-pitched sound resonated.
"Hahaha! You made it in time for that?! Interesting!"
What followed was a relentless exchange of blows. Both our characteristics as sorcerers specialized in combat at cross-range.
That said, as the Ice Sword, I possessed enough magic to handle other ranges perfectly well.
On the other hand, the Absolute Blade was different.
Originally, while he held the title of the Absolute Blade Sorcerer, his essence was closer to a swordsman than a sorcerer.
No, if I recalled correctly, the root of his style was the Samurai. It was a story I heard from Master long ago, but the foundation of the Absolute Blade Sorcerer was his overwhelming swordsmanship.
Magic was merely something used to support Physical Reinforcement.
His swordsmanship approached the truth so closely that it eventually surpassed magic, and what he reached at the end of those techniques were the Secret Swords.
Apparently, there were ten Secret Swords in total. Furthermore, each and every one of them was equivalent to Origin Magic. Strictly speaking, it was safe to assume they exceeded Origin Magic.
The Origin Magic held by the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
Moreover, ten of them existed. That alone made him an excessively troublesome opponent.
"...Kh!!"
"...Haaaaaaaaaaah!"
We both became so immersed in the combat that we didn't have time to breathe. As if sinking my consciousness into the duel, I lost myself in the swordplay, simply focusing on not letting my concentration break.
This sensation was a long time coming. I sharpened my senses.
Right now, I was a swordsman as well as a sorcerer. Magic was merely a supplementary tool. Trading blows with our lives on the line—that was the essence of this fight.
However, perhaps having lost his patience, he temporarily retreated a great distance.
"...Ssssssh, haaaaaaaaah."
Sheathing.
Another deep breath.
It looked like an opening, but that was an illusion. The fact that he sheathed his sword meant he had switched to Battoujutsu.
A single-strike-kill Battoujutsu. It reminded me of the Secret Sword he used against Rebecca-senpai in the finals of the Magics Chevalier.
I also transformed the Ice Sword in my hand into something new. I understood from the general exchange that the density of the Ice Sword didn't have to be that high.
Apparently, that katana was light and seemed to be specialized for speed above all else.
We glared at each other.
Maintaining the proper distance, we circled one another, gauging each other's state.
Every movement, every twitch. I concentrated my nerves so as not to miss a single action. While lightly adjusting my grip on the Ice Sword, I sharpened my senses even further.
And, the moment he muttered softly.
My vision—went pitch black.
"Eighth Secret Sword—Afterglow Gloom."