[Infinity Arena Final – Match 5]
[Battlefield: Bamboo Forest]
[vs AT Cerberus (Dark Knight)]
I thought that by momentarily setting down my sword, things would improve.
But the discomfort remained, showing no signs of easing.
The distinct sensation rising from the sword’s hilt.
Simultaneously, an unpleasant feeling spreading over my arm as if covering it completely.
With every breath I took, while walking through the tranquil bamboo forest, a sense of melancholy lingered.
At least, it was fortunate that the convulsions weren’t as severe as before.
Perhaps the weight of this final match in the championship is tempering my sanity.
Well, as long as it doesn’t hinder the fight, my current state can be of little concern for now.
But somehow, an oppressive feeling wells up in my chest.
Even deep breaths fail to calm me, leaving me almost tempted to cut my forearm.
Yet, I decided against it.
From the depths of the quiet bamboo forest, a commotion arose.
The thunderous sounds of hooves striking the ground.
Faster and stronger than before, the vibrations reverberated.
[‘Burning Malevolence’ effect has been activated.]
[Deals 10% increased damage, receives 15% more damage.]
[This effect does not stack.]
The knight atop a massive armored steed—Cerberus—charged without any prelude.
The attack, amplified by speed and mass, was not just powerful but utterly destructive.
Even without making direct contact, the sheer force from the wind it created was palpable.
It seems the dark steed, which until now served merely as transportation, now dons full battle armor.
A considerable amount of magic power radiates from it, and its endurance for prolonged battles has been sacrificed.
With its weapon now a halberd, suitable for mounted combat, this must be Cerberus’ last stand.
An excellent display of focus.
A raw fury clings to the halberd, its temperature chilling, spreading coldness around.
It resembled the low growl of a wounded beast, its pride wounded.
‘Good. Unpredictable, and you’ve chosen a foe who would pose a challenge for a swordsman.’
I couldn’t have been happier with this.
At least when weapons clash, it provides slight relief.
I sincerely hope for a powerful attack from my opponent.
If I can barely restrain the blow, causing excruciating pain in my arms, that’d feel even better.
But… No matter how strong an attack might be, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t hit the mark.
Without fine control, the power dissipates.
There’s no need to directly withstand the attack.
As long as my opponent’s weapon doesn’t touch my body, that’s all that matters.
Powerful strikes are difficult to alter mid-motion, which is why deflecting them to the side often works.
Or… maybe we should just meet each other’s blades head-on.
A bit of pain wouldn’t be so bad right now.
“Hmmmm…”
For some reason, my mouth tingled with a faint sweetness.
I also felt a gentle warmth, as if something were caught in my throat.
The instincts ingrained within me swat the halberd away.
My attempt to skewer his horse failed; killing an armored horseman in melee is no easy feat.
Before Cerberus could charge again, I tapped my sword hilt against my ear.
Shh, mom. My match is on right now.
I’ll cry and bang my head on the ground later. Could you please be quiet now?
Yes, I love you too.
In the midst of my melancholic emotions gnawing away at me, Cerberus renewed the assault, venting fury.
A clean, straightforward downward strike.
I thought I had blocked it well, but the force carried far beyond my expectations.
The back of the sword pressed into my shoulder, nearly injuring me.
“Ah.”
“Focus! Since I’ve shown you respect, shouldn’t you pay the proper courtesy in return?”
“That… is correct.”
A stern command urging me to focus solely on the match.
In all this time, my mental instability has never been tempered by words from others.
But today, it felt as though cold water had been poured over me.
Even the unknown discomfort that had cloaked my skin seemed to wash away.
In truth, it hadn’t fully disappeared, but my sanity has been fractured for so long that I’ve grown accustomed to it.
Where there’s room for rationality, proper thought becomes possible.
When I think about it, I’ve done something I should apologize for.
This young man is giving everything to put on the best show, yet here I am, distracted, unable to focus completely.
It’s precisely the kind of behavior I detest.
On reflection, he has spoken rather gently.
I used to be far ruder.
– Damn you! Were you lost in thought just now? Do I look so easy to you?
– Hmm… No, I’m sorry.
– Let’s do it again. It’ll be different this time; this is pathetic for real.
– Hey! Who curses during practice?
– My apologies!
Not long after I had been confined by a wall.
Despite my devastating loss, I clung to my pride obstinately.
Because of how brash I became, I was often scolded by my Master.
There was a clear gap in skill.
I knew I had no hope of winning against my opponent, but how much more so would it have been from their perspective?
Though recognizing that gap belongs to another story.
Even so, I persisted, challenging this young man repeatedly with determination.
And now, Cerberus is charging towards me like that younger version of myself.
That sense of inferiority—or maybe just competitiveness—is deeply familiar and warmly welcomed.
It even feels like I’ve time-traveled back to that era.
Indeed, it was the first time, since my leg injury, that I’ve truly focused while wielding a sword.
‘Here he comes. Let’s parry and strike at his waist.’
This was a motion I had practiced countless times.
When an attack comes down, deflect it to the side and, simultaneously, redirect the sword’s trajectory during the clash.
Cerberus is mounted, so the height is a bit higher than usual.
Target the leg resting on the stirrup.
A horizontal slash left faint traces in the air.
The blow connected cleanly.
As the sword withdrew, blood splattered onto the muddy ground.
The follow-up attempt to sever the horse’s leg narrowly missed, but I had not expected much anyway.
“Better than before.”
“Is that so? I’m glad.”
Even though I’m being pushed back, arrogance still clings to my stance.
That part of me, identical to my former self, made me feel nostalgic.
Our roles may seem reversed, but does it really matter?
Choosing mounted combat as a strategy wasn’t an error on Cerberus’s part.
It may never have been shown in the league, but it seemed honed through long practice.
This must have been a hidden weapon prepared for the perfect moment.
But I’m your opponent.
The first wall I had to surpass in my swordsmanship wasn’t my friend.
Back then, my Master was the insurmountable wall.
Surely, I wasn’t one to give in to physical disadvantages easily.
At that time, the Master was still in a period where fragments of his prime remained intact, while I was just entering middle school.
Swordsmanship has no weight class, but his brute power was truly a shocking experience.
– Sir, you just crushed me with brute force!
– That’s right.
– Isn’t that a foul move?
– If you thought it was impossible to block, you should’ve found another way. Consider this valuable experience when you face such power.
I never would have imagined this experience would come in handy here, but my journey in swordsmanship began with learning how to handle such strength.
Deflect the halberd’s attack once.
The crucial moment lies in the brief instance when the weapon blades slide past each other.
Force my sword into the bowed halberd’s curve, and as the weapons interlock, my body is roughly pulled.
I lack the raw strength to withstand it.
In a real-life situation, I would have given up, but this is a game.
So I’ll bridge the gap by generating more power.
[The power to uproot mountains and the spirit to cover the world—]
[‘Strength Surpassing Mountains and Spirit Covering the World’ effect has been activated.]
[Until all stamina is depleted, receive fixed damage while all stats are… ]
A common last-ditch effort for Warriors.
Burning life force for power—gripping the back of the sword with my hand to hold it steady.
If I cannot resist, I’ll get dragged along by the horse.
However, Cerberus atop the steed is a different story.
The moment the strengths reversed, Cerberus was pulled towards me and fell off the horse.
“Let’s end it here!”
“Ha…!”
As expected, the recovery was fast.
But it doesn’t matter. I’m not the kind of person who can be blocked even in impeccable conditions.
Sparks flew as my sword collided with his shield.
Breaking the halberd mid-motion, I twisted it and pushed inward, breaking through his armor.
The outstretched shield was grabbed and forcibly flung open with my hands.
With no defense left, I thrust my sword with all my might, aiming for the gaps in his armor.
Before my mind completes the process, my body reacts.
Instinctively, my sword first hits the waist and head.
Then, the neck, heart, and vital organs are targeted one after another.
Taking an exact step forward.
Closing that distance, Cerberus’ halberd strikes down on my shoulder.
“See you again… next time. And it won’t be like this then.”
“Sure.”
A strike filled with full effort.
Clutching the last remnants of strength and magic – even though the halberd struck me, my right shoulder shattered.
But that’s all.
The point of impact, which should have been the halberd’s blade, only carved air.
The dispersed magic turned into wind and dissipated.
The bamboo forest trembled briefly, but my sword remained steady.
Shoving Cerberus away with my left hand.
The body leaning against a sturdy bamboo tree. The sword, piercing precisely through the waist, left a crimson trail.
[Victory achieved.]
[All matches have now ended.]
