The third arena was shaped less like a colosseum and more like a traditional dojo.
Gathering ten stamps to earn the right to challenge a general seemed to be a time-consuming task for most, as no other challengers were in sight. The air was thick with silence as I stepped into the arena with Anima, my eyes falling upon a figure sitting in formal seiza at the center of the room.
Though she remained seated, I could tell she stood about two meters tall. She was a woman with blue hair, dressed in attire that closely resembled a kimono.
"……You have done well to come, Miyama-dono."
Her voice was quiet and carried a distinct chill—the complete opposite of the boisterous Kong from the previous arena. The woman rose slowly to her feet and turned toward Anima and me.
"My name is Epsilon…… I am known as ‘Absolute Ice’ Epsilon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Ah, I’m Kaito Miyama. This is Anima; she’s serving as my proxy."
"I see. I have been informed. I am not one for idle gossip, so let us move straight to the heart of the matter. Anima-dono, pray touch this."
Epsilon-san produced a crystal ball identical to the one I had seen at Bacchus-san’s station. Anima stepped forward and placed her hand upon its surface.
"……Hmm. A value of eight hundred thousand, I see. Most impressive. You are evidently at the Viscount-class level."
Wait, Anima is that strong!? Let’s see… my magic power was measured at a mere '3', so that means she’s over two hundred thousand times stronger than I am. Well, I suppose this world is full of irrational monsters who can shatter those crystal balls entirely, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
"Now, let us establish the rules. If you can land even a single blow upon me, you shall clear the trial. As a handicap, I shall restrict myself to using only one arm and one leg, and I shall forgo all offensive magic. However, do take note that I will still utilize magic power for defense. I shall also restrict my own movement… though as I have no intention of moving from this spot to begin with, that should not prove an issue."
Anima listened to Epsilon-san’s explanation in silence. It was a substantial handicap, yet she didn't seem inclined to complain. Once the explanation was over, Anima returned to my side for a moment and whispered.
"……I am no fool. I understand that outside the narrow forest where I once lived, this world is teeming with those far stronger than myself. Even compared to me, she is in a different league entirely…… I truly despise my own weakness."
"You shouldn't belittle yourself. You're still one of the elite, even on a global scale."
In many ways, Epsilon-san was the polar opposite of Kong. She showed no signs of mocking Anima for being lower-ranked. From thin air, she produced a naginata, gripping it in one hand as she took a ready stance.
"Master, I'm going. I will bring you victory, without fail……"
"Good luck, Anima. But please, don't overdo it……"
"Yes!"
With a voice full of resolve, Anima faced Epsilon-san and raised her hands. Once she confirmed I had moved to a safe distance, the battle began.
To be honest, I might have been underestimating the Five War Generals just a little.
The previous two matches had been overwhelming victories only because Eden-san—the pinnacle of an entire world—and Pandora-san—the strongest of the Count-class—had been the ones fighting. I thought I understood that intellectually, but the sight before me was staggering.
"……Guh…… Haa…… Haa……"
Anima was down on one knee, gasping for breath. Standing before her was Epsilon-san, who hadn't moved an inch from her starting position. The difference in their abilities was so vast that even I could see it was overwhelming.
No matter how Anima attacked, Epsilon-san parried every strike with a single hand and her naginata. She had mentioned she would use defensive magic, but she hadn't even needed it yet. Their skill and magic power were simply on different levels; every time Anima charged, she was swatted away, sent tumbling across the floor again and again.
Viscount-class and Count-class…… There was supposed to be only one rank between them, but was the gap truly this insurmountable?
"Anima! That’s enough, stop! Any more and—"
"I-I’m fine! I can still……"
Epsilon-san wasn't even counter-attacking. Even so, Anima was already in a terrible state. She had been sent flying and slammed into the ground so many times that blood was now trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Winning or losing no longer mattered to me; I couldn't stand to see Anima getting hurt. I tried to tell her that I didn't mind losing and to stop the fight, but Anima’s forceful voice cut me off.
Epsilon-san looked down at Anima, her expression as cold as ice.
"……Further effort is futile. I have grasped the extent of your strength. You are too young, your technique too immature…… As you are now, your blade cannot reach me."
"Guh……"
"I am holding back, but damage is nevertheless accumulating, is it not? Indeed, you must find it difficult even to stand……"
Anima hung her head in frustration. Assuming that the gesture meant she had accepted defeat, Epsilon-san quietly lowered her naginata.
However, a voice suddenly rang out—quiet, yet saturated with a powerful will.
"……My days were once nothing but stealing, killing, and devouring……"
Epsilon-san, who had been about to turn away, stopped and shifted her gaze back to Anima.
"……Then, I fought a single human. Compared to me, his body was fragile beyond measure. Without claws, without fangs, with only a weak and brittle frame, that human challenged me."
"……Anima."
There was no need to wonder who she was talking about. My first encounter with Anima had been that very battle.
"With people to protect at his back, he challenged someone far beyond his league, and his eyes held such a powerful light…… I thought he was strong. I felt I couldn't win…… I came to admire those eyes…… and that heart!"
"……"
"I am weak. Even as I serve the man I admire, I do nothing but show my unworthiness. There are countless people stronger than me, and many who are wiser. Even so! Master told me that he needed me!"
With those words, Anima forced strength into her limbs and stood up, raising her hands once more.
"Serving Master, and carving out the path for him to walk…… that is my pride! To give up is unthinkable!!"
"……Oh?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know how to fight cleverly…… If I can't reach you now, I'll just keep trying until I do!!"
Infused with indomitable spirit, Anima took a heavy step forward. Epsilon-san let out a sound of genuine admiration, but she didn't raise her weapon. After a long moment, she made the naginata vanish from her hand.
"Splendid…… It is your victory. I shall grant you the stamp."
"……Huh?"
At Epsilon-san’s sudden declaration, Anima blinked, looking completely blindsided. It was only natural; the air had felt like the real fight was only just beginning.
"W-What are you saying!? I’m not finished……"
"……Your next strike would have reached me. Of that, I am certain."
"What!?"
"There is no doubt that your next attack would have landed a blow. However, it would have been a ‘self-sacrificing strike’…… Miyama-dono would not wish for you to suffer such a grievous injury. I do not have the confidence to parry such a blow without causing you harm. That is to say, it is a failure of my own skill…… It is as simple as that."
I-In any case, I suppose that means the fight is over.
"Anima!"
I rushed to the dazed Anima’s side and pulled every Fruit of the World Tree I had from my Magic Box.
"Anima, we have to heal those wounds!"
"Eh? M-Master!? I-It's just a few scratches……"
"Just eat them, please!!"
"Y-Yes!?"
Overwhelmed by my intensity, Anima hurriedly ate one of the fruits. I let out a breath of relief as I watched the various small wounds across her body vanish. As I continued to check her over to ensure she wasn't hiding any other injuries, Epsilon-san allowed a faint smile to cross her lips.
"It seems your master cherishes you deeply…… You are fortunate indeed."
"……Uh, ah……"
"Now then, Miyama-dono. Your stamp card, if you please."
"Ah, yes."
At Epsilon-san’s prompting, I produced the card and watched as she pressed the stamp onto it. Once finished, she turned back to Anima, who was staring at the floor with a beet-red face.
"……If you are unsatisfied with this conclusion, then let us have a rematch in a thousand years. You are young and brimming with talent. In a thousand years' time, we shall be able to fight as equals, without the need for handicaps."
"……I understand. Epsilon-dono, I will challenge you again in a thousand years."
"……I shall look forward to it, future powerhouse."
With a final bow to me, Epsilon-san returned to the center of the arena, sat back down in seiza, and closed her eyes exactly as she had when we first arrived.
She was truly a dignified person. A far cry from Kong.
Dear Mother, Father—
Watching Anima fight kept me on edge, and I realized I’ve done nothing but receive help this whole time. Eden-san, Pandora-san, Anima... I’ve left everything to my proxies. Is it really right to reach Megiddo-san like this? Anima gave everything she had, even while battered and bruised. If that’s the case, then as her master... I should stand up too. At least once—perhaps I should fight.