"—Impulse."
What I unleashed was my newly acquired Origin Magic.
Violet-black lightning wreathed my frame.
It was a magic that blended my internal bio-electric currents with Prima Materia, converting them into Inside Code.
I had gained the ability to manipulate those converted currents at will. I could accelerate the reaction speed of the electrical signals within my nervous system, or freely command the violet-black bolts that shrouded me.
This was the fruit of my training with Ray. Originally, I had longed for the kind of magic that seemed more typical of a proper sorcerer, like the spells Amelia used.
I had even wondered if I might one day manifest something like the Butterfly Effect...
However, when I had consulted Ray about it, he simply asked:
"Magic that's 'typical of a sorcerer,' you say?"
"Yes... Is it out of my reach?"
"It likely is. Ariane, you are a sorcerer suited for Inside Code. At some point, you simply have to accept that as your talent."
"I see..."
"But don't you think the expression 'typical of a sorcerer' is a bit odd?"
"...Eh?"
As I let myself sink into a brief moment of dejection, Ray’s steady gaze pierced my own.
I saw the reflection of his pure, honest eyes.
"Whether it’s Inside Code or Outside Code, magic is magic. There is no fundamental difference. Besides, I like your magic, Ariane. Your skill in handling Inside Code is magnificent—it's as if it reflects your straightforward personality."
"D-Do you truly think so?"
"I do. That's why I believe you should have more confidence in yourself."
"You’re right! It’s exactly as you say, Ray!"
He had truly given me so much.
And this moment was the culmination of it all.
"Now, please, dance with me."
Clad in violet-black lightning, I faced Lucas Forst. I had witnessed his prowess since the Magics Chevalier. His exquisite swordsmanship and his overwhelming combat power at cross-range were undeniable. In every aspect, his ability was top-tier.
His true identity was one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers—the Absolute Blade Sorcerer.
Having spent so much time with Ray, I understood all too well that the Seven Grand Sorcerers occupied a completely different realm than I did. Ray himself had said that the Absolute Blade Sorcerer was a match even for him.
Currently, Amelia’s Butterfly Effect was ensuring that his attacks would never find their mark.
However, even Amelia’s Butterfly Effect was not omnipotent.
"If it comes down to just the two of us facing Lucas Forst, I will prioritize protecting you, Ariane."
"But then you’ll be the one in danger, Amelia...!"
I recalled our conversation before the match. It was a topic we had discussed many times, Ray included. Even knowing the strategy, my heart couldn't easily bear the thought of placing her in peril to keep myself safe.
But Amelia had remained calm, speaking with a level-headedness intended to settle my nerves.
"The Butterfly Effect can still only manipulate one causality at a time. In that case, I should protect you. Unlike you, I'm not suited for combat at cross-range. I wouldn't stand a chance against Lucas Forst on my own."
"That’s..."
I knew she was right. Amelia was certainly approaching completion as a sorcerer. However, she also understood that she would struggle in a high-speed magic battle at such close quarters.
Because I couldn't deny her logic, I had faltered.
"That's why, Ariane."
Her expression and her eyes had been as clear as the vast sky on the day of the match. Amelia was no longer the girl she used to be. The girl who had spent so long worrying, struggling, and wandering had been transformed by her encounter with Ray.
Then, with a dignified and beautiful voice, Amelia had told me:
"—Ariane, you protect me, okay?"
I had been captivated by her gentle smile.
Those words were proof of her absolute trust. She believed that I could protect her while simultaneously securing our victory... those words were born of that faith.
In that moment, my heart had swelled with an emotion I couldn't put into words.
Ah. Truly, I felt it from the bottom of my soul.
I was so glad I could come this far with my precious friends.
"...Very well. I shall dance with you."
The moment he responded to my words, the battle finally began in earnest. In this confrontation, we held an overwhelming advantage.
The opponent’s every attack was being nullified.
My duty was to render Lucas Forst incapacitated while ensuring that not a single blow reached Amelia.
A vast number of crimson butterflies danced in the space between us. Scraps of Prima Materia fluttered down like burning red embers, filling the air with a crimson phosphorescence.
When every one of those butterflies vanished, our time would be up.
I had to settle this before then.
This battle was a race against the clock.
Either I would defeat him while Amelia’s Butterfly Effect held...
Or the effect would expire, and I would fall alongside Amelia, helpless on the spot.
In the end, I would have to trust Ray, who had gone to seize the flag, to finish things—but I would absolutely hold this ground with Amelia!
Through Impulse, my reaction speed had likely surpassed human limits, if only for this fleeting moment.
This wasn't because my brain was sending signals to my muscles, but because I was directly manipulating my bio-electric currents with Prima Materia.
Furthermore, the fact that I could freely command this overflowing violet-black lightning meant that the effective reach of my strikes was twice what it appeared to be.
This Origin Magic, which could strike the opponent with lightning upon the slightest contact, exhibited its maximum lethality at cross-range.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
I lunged.
Naturally, he easily evaded my fist. Even with my reaction speed pushed to the limit, I could only marvel at the sheer skill he displayed in dodging.
However, the lightning I wore entangled him as if it possessed a will of its own.
Unaccustomed to this ever-shifting range, even he was caught off guard, taking a direct hit.
"Guh...!"
Hearing him grunt, I knew I couldn't let up.
My attacks were definitely having an effect. With a grimace, he tried to steady his numbing arms while putting distance between us.
"I won't let you get away!"
This was my chance. I couldn't let it slip by. And yet... the fear still haunted me.
To be honest... facing him like this was terrifying.
My body trembled; my heart wanted to shrink back.
He was shrouded in such an overwhelming Material Field.
Ray had warned me that I should assume Lucas's skill at cross-range was equal to or even greater than his own.
Even when I faced Ray during training, I had been paralyzed with fear before his strength. It was impossible to stand before the Absolute Blade Sorcerer—who potentially surpassed Ray—without feeling that same terror.
But Ray had told me: "You shouldn't try to erase your fear; you should accept it."
Those words echoed in my mind now.
Yes. It's alright. I am fighting properly. The support Amelia provides and the lessons Ray taught me are etched into my heart.
The butterflies manifested by Amelia’s Butterfly Effect were steadily dwindling.
As she had explained, the greater the target's Prima Materia and Material Field, the harder it was to control their causality.
Causality manipulation was not an all-powerful tool.
Amelia had warned me that the more powerful a sorcerer was, the more difficult it became to overwrite the causality involving their existence.
Therefore, she couldn't maintain the defense against Lucas Forst for long.
Despite that, Amelia was pushing herself to the absolute limit to keep me safe.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
I roared, rilling my spirit.
I couldn't stop now. Everything rested on this fist.
Ray had given me so much. Amelia had given me so much.
To repay them, and more than anything, for my own sake... I could not lose here!
"I will absolutely not lose!!"
Even though I knew his sharp blade would be diverted, I was still afraid. The closer I saw those exquisite sword strikes, the more I understood the gap in our skill.
If I faced him fairly, I would undoubtedly be the one to fall.
—Which was why I had no choice but to go on the offensive!
I increased the output of my lightning and released it all at once. I commanded the remaining violet-black bolts to swarm him. As the dark arcs raced across the floor, I dropped my center of gravity and sprinted through the field.
Even the Absolute Blade Sorcerer seemed unable to fully counter this speed combined with the erratic movements of the lightning, and my blows began to connect.
Yet, he was a member of the Seven Grand Sorcerers for a reason. Though his body was undoubtedly racked with numbness, his performance showed no sign of faltering.
He gathered the lightning onto his blade and dispersed it with a perfect, circular swing. He was beginning to adapt... I could feel it.
If that was the case—I had no choice but to play my final card.
"—Impulse: Meteor."
Instead of my entire body, I concentrated the lightning into my four limbs. It was a strike intended to end it all in one blow. I released every scrap of Prima Materia remaining in my body, converting it entirely into Origin Magic.
There was no longer any need to hold back.
The only thing that mattered was bringing him down with this single strike.
That was the purpose of Impulse: Meteor.
In an instant, my body began to scream. Blood gushed from my nose. My skin cracked and bled. My vision turned crimson as the capillaries in my eyes began to rupture.
"Ugh... gu... uuugh...!"
From behind, I heard Amelia’s pained voice. She was in a dire state. Even more than me, Amelia was at her breaking point. I could tell by the few butterflies left in the air.
By manipulating causality, she had shielded me from every one of Lucas Forst’s lethal attacks.
Exhaustion was inevitable.
Amelia had told me not to worry about her, no matter what happened. Honestly, I wanted her to stop. I didn't want her to break herself for me.
But that would make everything we'd done meaningless.
I couldn't let Amelia’s sacrifice go to waste.
—I ran.
—I lunged.
—I accelerated.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion.
This attack was a double-edged sword.
It was an Origin Magic that only existed beyond one's limits. If I could land this, I could win.
—Ah. Why was I thinking of this now?
I should have been focusing on the battle at hand... yet I found myself remembering the days of training with Ray.
He was always so calm and composed, but his heart was incredibly passionate. He was so naive about the world that I felt I couldn't take my eyes off him.
And his smile, though a bit awkward, was so charming. I loved the way he looked when he was truly happy. I found it so precious.
In this world where time seemed to have frozen, I finally realized it.
—Ah. So that was it.
I had been denying it this whole time. I had tried to push it aside to focus on the tournament.
I had feared that admitting it would make me waver. I thought it would make me weak.
But now that I accepted it, even more strength welled up inside me.
Yes. I had been in love with Ray for a long time. I loved him.
I had been a maiden in love all along. And since I was also a fighting maiden, I suppose that made me a "Love-Struck Fighting Maiden."
Hehe. Thinking that made everything click into place.
Ah, in this moment, I felt as if I could fly anywhere in the world.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart hammered as the scenery blurred past.
I see now.
The source of my growth had likely been my love for Ray all along.
In a split second, the world turned vivid and beautiful. The gray landscape was flooded with color. Was this a reflection of my own heart?
I could no longer hear any sound. I simply pushed my body to its limit and charged at the strongest of foes, the Absolute Blade Sorcerer.
His eyes were locked on me.
It was terrifying. It was terrifying, but Ray was in my heart. My love for him pushed me even faster.
He tried to bring his sword up to guard in a desperate reflex, but...
In the blink of an eye, I slipped past his defense and drove my certain-kill strike—a fist wreathed in violet-black lightning—straight into his chest.
Striking through his blade, I threw my entire weight into the punch.
He was sent flying back into the wall, collapsing in a heap without even the strength to break his fall.
"Ha... haa... ah... a... ha..."
As if my own strings had been cut, I slumped to the ground. The bleeding was severe; I slipped on my own blood and fell.
Unable to break my fall, I hit the floor face-down.
At the same moment, the crimson butterflies dancing around me vanished.
Amelia had reached her limit as well. It had been a battle on the thinnest of margins.
But I had done it. I had incapacitated the Absolute Blade Sorcerer.
Now, if Ray just... if Ray could handle the rest...!
As I lay there on the floor, the man who had been thrown back... used his sword like a cane, shakily pushing himself back up.
"Ha... ha... ha... That was close, but... it's my victory. Secret Swords aren't just for offense... you know..."
Blood dripped from his forehead, but his eyes still held the will to fight.
It wasn't over. In that case, I had to stand up too... I had to keep fighting...!
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
Forcing my broken body to move, I prepared to face him again.
Then, Amelia came staggering up from behind me.
"A-Ariane... can you still... move...?"
"Ha... ha... Of course I can!"
Amelia was also a mess, blood streaming from both of her eyes.
She had clearly pushed herself far beyond what was safe for my sake.
But my words were mere bravado.
Neither of us had anything left to stop him.
Just then, I heard the sound of someone sprinting down the stairs.
"—Both of you, I have the flag! All we have to do now is get out of here!!"
I had believed in him. I knew Ray would secure the flag and come back for us.
The moment she heard Ray's voice, Amelia collapsed. Whether it was the tension finally snapping or the relief of seeing him, she was truly at her end.
She had done so much for us.
"A... Ariane... You and Ray... finish it... I don't think... I can go on..."
Accepting her words, I roughly wiped the blood from my face and gently touched Amelia’s cheek.
"Amelia. Thank you... truly. Leave the rest to us."
"Yeah... Good luck... I know... you'll win... I believe in you...!"
With those final words, Amelia lost consciousness.
Carrying her will with me, I turned back to the fight. In truth, I was also at my limit. My body was screaming, and a sense of numbness was creeping in. I was already losing the sensation of pain.
But I couldn't stop.
Amelia had fought so hard to protect me.
And so, the final battle truly began—