There was no signal for the start of combat. Lilia and Noin simply moved.
Boasting a density dozens of times that of a normal human, Lilia’s High-density Magic Power Constitution allowed her to achieve far more devastating effects than any ordinary person with the same amount of magic power.
With physical strength that transcended human limits thanks to her full-power Physical Enhancement Magic, Lilia closed in on Noin at top speed from her very first step.
Her magic power surged like lightning as she delivered a crushing downward swing from an overhead position, putting every ounce of her body's tension into the blow. Noin reacted instantly and evaded.
When the greatsword cleaved through the empty air and struck the earth, a roar erupted as if a cannonball had landed, and the ground itself fractured.
However, Noin was a veteran of countless battles. Rather than just evading, she simultaneously manifested a flurry of swords and spears from her magic power, launching them at Lilia in a coordinated strike.
Lilia didn't say a word.
With a single sweep of her massive blade, she batted the projectiles away, several of the magic swords snapping under the sheer force of her swing.
Lilia was an undeniable genius. It wasn't merely because of her unique High-density Magic Power Constitution. That was only a fraction of her strength. When it came to combat, it was as if she had been born with every possible talent.
A magic capacity far exceeding that of an ordinary person, dynamic vision capable of tracking a rain of twenty-eight separate blades, reflexes with almost zero delay between perception and action, and instantaneous situational judgment—her talent was bottomless.
Laguna, the King of the Hydra Kingdom and the man hailed as the strongest in the Human Realm, had evaluated Lilia in her teens with a single sentence:
"Had she been born in a different era, she might have unified the entire human world under her rule."
Just as Zex had warned Noin, it was foolish to evaluate Lilia within the standard framework of a human.
Among the Human Race—who were naturally inferior in combat potential to Demons, Gods, Elves, and Mermaids—she was a sudden, complete mutation. She was the monster known as Lilia Albert.
That she had grown up kind-hearted and gentle despite possessing such formidable power was likely thanks to the unconditional love of her family and the friends who supported her.
The talent that might have otherwise been used to conquer the world was now bearing down on Noin without mercy.
Maintaining her momentum after striking down the projectiles, Lilia closed the distance and swung her greatsword again.
Lilia’s combat style could be described quite simply: it was fast and it was heavy.
"Guh, uugh...!"
Noin caught the strike with her katana, but the weight was so crushing that the ground beneath her buckled. Realizing she couldn't block it entirely, she immediately parried the impact to the side.
Lilia wielded a greatsword while Noin held a katana; Noin had the advantage in maneuverability. Seizing that opening, Noin used the momentum of her parry to slide her blade toward Lilia in a fluid counter.
However...
"Gah!? Ah!"
The armor over Noin's chest shattered, and she was sent tumbling back.
Lilia’s reflexes were beyond the norm. The moment Noin had transitioned into a counterattack, Lilia had already released one hand from her greatsword and driven a fist into her opponent’s chest.
Noin was punched away with overwhelming power. She bounced off the ground twice before regaining her footing mid-air and landing squarely on both feet. Her shattered armor was instantly repaired by her magic, and she raised her katana again, appearing as if she hadn't sustained a single scratch.
"...This is more than I imagined."
Lilia remained silent.
She was not a knight. Or rather, despite having the spirit of chivalry from her time in the Order of Knights, she was stronger when she discarded it. Fighting not as a knight but as a warrior, she would throw away her sword and use her fists if that was what it took to win. It was in this brutal, efficient style that her talent truly shone.
She recognized that her opponent wasn't someone she could hold back against. From the beginning, Lilia attacked with everything she had.
She pressed her assault, refusing to give Noin even a second to catch her breath.
However, Noin had learned enough about Lilia’s strength from that first exchange. She had no intention of letting her get close so easily again.
She filled the air with countless magic blades to slow Lilia down while she sheathed her katana, lowered her center of gravity, and took an Iai stance.
It was a god-speed slash that would rend anything within range. Normally, one would hesitate to cross that line of certain death, but Lilia stepped forward without a hint of hesitation.
Naturally, Noin didn't miss her chance. She unleashed the drawing strike with perfectly refined movement—and then her eyes widened in shock.
"What!?"
Lilia had blocked the horizontal blade by striking it with the pommel of her greatsword, allowing her to close the distance without losing a fraction of her speed.
It was a divine technique—an incredibly high-risk maneuver—but the concept of risk didn't seem to apply to Lilia.
Normally, techniques were mastered through endless repetition to drill them into the muscle memory. Lilia skipped that entire process. Her body moved exactly as she envisioned it, flawlessly executing the most complex maneuvers.
If that was talent, then Lilia Albert was its ultimate expression. Even with movements as precise as threading a needle, her body followed the image in her mind without the slightest deviation.
She was, unmistakably, a genius beloved by all forms of talent.
"Haaaaah!"
"Ngh...!"
Noin defended against Lilia’s next blow, but she was blown back by the force of it.
Lilia pursued her, swinging her greatsword again and again to keep Noin from escaping. As their exchange passed ten blows, Lilia began to feel a sense of unease.
Her physical abilities were superior. She had even managed to land direct hits several times. By all accounts, she should have been dominating the fight—yet Noin showed no signs of collapsing.
Even under Lilia’s relentless assault, Noin hadn't even dropped to one knee.
She was shifting the impact of the greatsword through her blade and letting it flow through her body to dissipate the force.
Lilia was a genius, but she was still only twenty-three. Her combat experience was nothing compared to Noin’s. Lilia understood that, but the lack of progress was still unexpected.
Noin—Kujo Hikari—was the Hero who had defeated the Demon King.
She hadn't been called the "Hero" because she was the strongest. Even in her own party, Laguna had been superior in terms of raw martial force.
However, she had never fallen. No matter how powerful the enemy or how desperate the situation, she remained standing with unwavering strength until she finally seized victory.
The power that truly made her a Hero was her Battle Continuation—a level of indomitable spirit that made the word itself seem inadequate.
The way she braced against attacks, her technique for redirecting impact, and the insight to find openings while on the defensive... her combat style was perfectly balanced and utterly without openings.
She was not someone who could be broken simply by being "slightly superior in physical ability."
"Hah!"
"Ngh...!"
A counterstrike flashed toward Lilia through a gap in her offense. She immediately used a backstep to disengage.
Even with her reflexes, she couldn't avoid it entirely; the blade grazed her cheek. Lilia touched the wound to check its depth, then let out a breath of genuine admiration.
"...As expected of the First Hero. A counterattack at the only possible moment."
"No, Duchess Lilia, you are truly magnificent. In terms of pure combat ability, you are likely superior to me. But... yes, that alone will not be enough to defeat me."
"I appreciate the advice. If possible, I would like to hear those words again... once the fight is over."
"I see... forgive me. It was rude to talk about superiority in the middle of a battle. I will say it again after I have won."
"And I," Lilia replied, "shall thank you after my victory, and tell you that I became stronger because of your advice."
No more words were needed. The two clashed once again.
On one side, the Hero who had defeated Count-class demons as a mere human. On the other, the mutant genius born into the human race.
The battle only continued to intensify.