“Listen up, Eugene. In a fight, don’t just keep your eyes on your opponent. Pay attention to the entire battlefield.”
“Uh, dad? I just wanted some advice on my next tournament. Why are we talking about battlefields?”
“Because our Enmei-ryu is a swordsmanship style that shines on the battlefield. Winning a duel is meaningless when you’re standing on the battlefield.”
“Sure, but...if I don’t win the tournament, my grades will slip.”
“Who gives a damn about grades? Survival and protecting your master are the only things that matter in life. On the battlefield, assassins might target you or send poisoned arrows your way. In situations like that, what will you do?”
“Did you hear me? Assassins using poisoned arrows aren’t going to show up at a swordsmanship tournament.”
“How can you say that for certain? Airi’s a princess, isn’t she? Some ruffian might try to kill her, and if that happens, it’ll be your job to protect her.”
“Okay, okay, I hear you, old man.”
Though his advice had been absolute rubbish, I’d ended up winning the tournament anyway.
The Troll’s gargantuan frame approached me fast. Sumire and the other explorers watched us from outside the Boss’s territory. Thanks to how open the 10th Level’s Field Area was, I could see everything, including some deer-like herbivorous animals watching us.
I guess I’m noticing everything so clearly because... I was calm, apparently. Even though this was my Boss battle, I wasn’t nervous at all. The Troll’s threatening growl reached my ears.
“Now then...” I lowered my stance and held the fire sword, its blade glowing bright crimson, at the ready.
As if wary of what I would do, the Troll also held itself at the ready. I thought it would charge me, but instead, it hefted a child-sized boulder and hurled it into the air. It flew straight at me, audibly cutting through the wind.
I didn’t panic and simply cast a spell. Barrier Magic: Lightshield. With a loud clang, the boulder hit the barrier and broke apart.
“Whoa!”
“Eek!”
Fragments of the boulder flew toward the explorers watching the fight from behind me. Was Sumire all right? I whirled around to check on her. Fortunately, the fragments of the boulder hadn’t been flung that far. She was still clasping her hands together, as if praying for my success.
Well, now I really can’t lose. I turned my attention back to the Troll and saw it preparing to launch more boulders at me. I’ll defeat it up close. That was the best way to prevent any injuries among the spectators. Niten Enmei-ryu Wind Stance: Skystep. This was a technique that closed the distance between my opponent and me with a single step. After I used it, I darted within arm’s reach of the Troll.
“GRAH?!” the Troll roared, surprised at my speed. It raised its fist and brought it down on me. With a resounding boom, it shook the entire floor and embedded its arm, as long and thick as a pillar, into the ground.
I took a sharp breath and swung my sword at the Troll’s arm in a horizontal slash. The blade cut through it without making a single noise or leaving any lingering sensation in my hand. The next moment, with a deep thud, the Troll’s arm fell limply to the ground.
“GRAAAHHH!” the Troll screamed. Enraged, it tried to grab me with its remaining arm.
As I dodged its swipes, I checked the remaining mana in Flameblade. I’d only swung it at the Troll once, but it had already lost half its glow. It has one more strike in it at most.
The Troll, face twisted in fury, raised its foot to crush me under it. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! It kept stomping, like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Niten Enmei-ryu Wood Stance: Willow Rose. I dodged each of the Troll’s attacks with ease. Blood was pouring from the stump of its arm. Perhaps it would be wiser to retreat to a safer distance and wait for it to run out of strength. I glanced over at Sumire. Every time the Troll brought its foot down, she would let out muffled little screams like “Ah!” and “Eek!”
Actually, I should end it now lest I cause her any more unnecessary worry. I lowered my stance and held up my sword, ready to counter the Troll’s next attack. Its foot, as large as a tree, bore down on me. I jumped away at the last second and attacked.
Niten Enmei-ryu Fire Stance: Lionsbane. I twisted my body and swung my sword as if performing a dance. The fiery blade sliced through the Troll, and its dying scream echoed through the entire 10th Level. It fell to the ground with a rumble and lay there unmoving. Rather than let my guard down immediately, I waited for it to get back up, but no matter how long I stood there, the Troll remained motionless. Did I win? But that was so easy... I was still unsure when a robotic announcement rang out.
“The winner is the explorer, Eugene. Congratulations.”
I was unable to speak. To my surprise, the joy of victory didn’t well up inside me. Instead, I was more perplexed than anything. Had I really won against a Boss? Only dregs of the red mana I’d taken from Sumire remained in the sword; it had lasted just two attacks.
I let out a quiet breath before saying, “Sumire—”
But before I could tell her I’d won, she rushed over to me and hugged me, jumping so high that she wrapped her arms around my head. I could hardly breathe with her around me, but I placed a hand on her back to steady her.
“Eugene! You won! Congratulations!” she exclaimed, giving me a sunny smile.
“Yeah, it was all thanks to you.”
That was when it finally set in for me, and I couldn’t stop the grin spreading over my face. I’d won. I’d won! When was the last time I’d been able to smile from the bottom of my heart? Before I realized what I was doing, I hugged Sumire back.
“Whoa, Eugene?!”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Ah, um, eh heh heh. It’s okay!” She blushed, but the smile on her face didn’t lose its radiance.
And that was how I succeeded in slaying the Boss of the 10th Level.