Bear in mind that I wasn’t using magic to attack. I used wind magic to create a shock wave and move at a high speed while manipulating my sense of gravity to supplement my sword work. This was my own special technique, one that I had developed after studying Lucie. I’d turned it into my own fighting style. Unlike Lucie, I rarely ever attacked with magic. Instead, I used it to step closer to my opponents and smoothly dodge their attacks.
Of course, using that technique while in close-range combat also impacted my opponent. I was using a shock wave to correct my own stance, but I wasn’t using it exclusively on myself; my opponent felt it as well. It caused them to lose their stance, which created a massive opening for me to strike. When I realized that, I became unbeatable amongst my peers.
Then again, I was dealing with Red Mama now. She had a very strong core, and the shock wave I used to correct my own posture had no effect on her. Actually, it was worse: She used the burst to her advantage. She swooped in toward me, using the shock wave to strengthen her movements.
Looking back on it, it was a godlike move. I think the only other person who could’ve done something like that was Sir Orsted. She had to predict whether or not I’d fire off a shock wave, then step close enough that she’d be within range of it. If she messed up, her fighting stance would collapse. It wasn’t like she had done it before! I’d sparred with her, yes, and I’d even used the same move, but this was the only time she’d ever responded in that way. That’s right. The only time. In one attempt, she’d executed the move with perfect timing. Suddenly, she was on the offensive, and I was on the defensive.
But I didn’t panic. I never imagined I’d be able to win easily. I predicted that, even if I felt like I was doing well at first, she could easily flip the script on me. Dropping into a defensive stance, I carefully continued the fight.
I parried her attacks, dodged, occasionally stepped in, and sometimes used a shock wave to adjust my position. I couldn’t completely go on the offensive, but I still managed to attack now and then.
Red Mama was the type of woman to always follow through on an attack, but I’d learned how to protect myself from the North God Style and the Water God Style. I didn’t hesitate to use all of those techniques to fend off her onslaught.
One step forward, one step backward. Neither of us could get a decisive attack in, which meant that we were both trying to find an opening.
Red Mama wouldn’t try to brute-force her way in with an opponent she couldn’t overwhelm. Maybe there were times when she did that sort of thing, but I was confident she wouldn’t try it with me. Knowing this, I predicted she would try to use my shock wave against me again. Though it was a challenging move on her end, if I tried to pull the same trick twice, she would repeat her actions and crush me. So, being careful not to alert her, I patiently waited to spring my trap.
The moment arrived without warning, but I knew this was it.
Red Mama dived in with a little more power than before. I sidestepped her and slashed. I dipped low, making it look like I was leaping at the perfect chance to hit her. She corrected her posture like it was the obvious move to make and dodged my sword.
That was it.
I activated my shock wave with more power than usual. It was so strong that it would break my stance rather than support it. You could just barely withstand the blast if you knew it was coming, but if you didn’t? Your balance was done for. Most people would either be sent to the ground or to their knees. Even Red Mama wasn’t able to plant her feet completely on the ground. I heard her feet shift as she readjusted her stance twice to stay standing.
She was open.
My Sword of Light swept straight toward the nape of Red Mama’s neck. The fact that I had the time to think Oh shit! spoke to my growth. I just barely changed the trajectory of my sword. While I did that, Red Mama corrected her posture and swung her Sword of Light at my neck.
I was going to lose.
Then, Red Mama’s sword faltered. Her blade began to swing for my wrist instead.
My brain couldn’t keep up with my body.
My sword sliced Red Mama’s hand off before her weapon could reach me. It was the Reflection Blade. Her hand tumbled through the air as I pointed my sword at her.
“It’s over!”
Who had said that? White Mama?
I saw Father running toward us from behind Red Mama, his face deathly pale. I saw White Mama picking up Red Mama’s hand. And I saw Blue Mama wearing a relieved look. Lara went back into the house, and Sieg and my little sisters cheered.
In retrospect, I had just managed to squeeze in a victory. It wasn’t the kind of strategy I could repeat on her. In terms of raw strength, she was still several leagues above me. However, that I held my ground against her when it counted was more than good enough.
“Arus,” she said.
After we gazed at one another for a few seconds, we embraced each other. Despite her missing hand, she held me tight in her arms. She was truly strong. She squeezed me so hard that I thought she was going to strangle me, but I didn’t mind.
She’d always been with me. She had never once abandoned me.
She didn’t say anything to me in that moment, nothing like Well done. But I could feel her praising me without words.
I hugged her back. I’m sure I cried.
And so, I became a man.