‘Keita. I’ve heard your resolve.’

Alone, Kurato steps forward toward the center of the field.

Of the two girls who had been standing by the wall, one of them approaches him.

She is a girl with long flaxen hair tied back in a single ponytail. Rather than elegance or the beauty of her straight posture, her bearing gives off the fierce valor of a warrior.

The other girl remains where she is, her back pressed flat against the wall without even a hint of movement. It seems they intend to fight one-on-one.

[Kannagi Shiraha steps forward. Motoyama shows no sign of moving. It appears to be a one-on-one duel between Shiraha and Ebisu.]

“I watched your match with my younger sister. It was truly splendid.”

Shiraha says this as she stops in front of Kurato.

The distance between them is about five meters. She doesn’t touch the sheath at her waist and faces Kurato naturally. From her demeanor, there’s no sign of a sneak attack. It’s likely genuine praise.

She lifts the corners of her lips slightly and offers a faint smile.

“Next, I’ll be your opponent. Kannagi Shiraha. I’m the older sister of the one you fought earlier.”

“My name is Ebisu. I’d be honored to face you. I look forward to it."

“Eh? …Yes. Likewise.”

Kurato bends at the waist in a perfect forty-five-degree bow and Shiraha returns it awkwardly.

She’s probably wondering if this kid is really a kindergartener.

But she quickly switches gears, turns around, takes a few steps, then stops. Just like her younger sister, she draws a blunted competition sword and assumes a stance.

‘Come at me from anywhere.’

That’s what her posture seems to say.

“Well then!”

Kurato lowers his stance deeply and—

[Both fighters take their stances at the center of the field. A moment of tension. Who makes the first move—Ebisu! He’s so fast! He closes a ten-meter gap in an instant!]

[Covering that distance in a flash… He’s likely attaching a created shield to the soles of his feet and moving it at high speed. But…]

[Is there something wrong?]

[Even just floating it requires tremendous training. Moving it at high speed and on top of that placing one’s body weight on it, isn’t something you can master overnight. It’s a technique that takes decades to acquire.]

[Th-that much…]

The commentator may be right. But Kurato had trained since infancy, when his magic-circulation organs were extremely flexible, allowing him to develop skills at an efficiency incomparable to adult training.

On top of that, the knowledge and techniques he carried from a world where he once used magic were a huge advantage.

That advantage compressed decades into just a few years.

And that advantage would continue to grow.

[Ebisu’s left jab! Fast! Shiraha barely dodges! Another left! A right one-two! A sweep into a back kick! But Shiraha blocks it with her sword! The grating discord of metal scrapes across the field!]

[He must be attaching shields to parts of his legs as well. By manipulating them, he achieves inhuman speed and even clashes blades directly.]

[Shiraha swings her sword in a wide arc! Ebisu can’t fully block and is blown back! The difference in physique can’t be overcome after all! Shiraha takes distance with a backstep—ah! Ebisu rushes in, refusing to let her escape! In an instant, he’s inside her range! And without pause, his fists rain down on Shiraha!]

Shiraha is a mid-range fighter. Kurato is a close-range fighter. If he’s forced away, the disadvantage is overwhelming.

That’s why he has to stick to her no matter what. If she keeps swinging like before, his shields will break first. That is the gap in strength standing between Kurato and Shiraha.

[Fast, so fast! Ebisu’s attacks are coming out at a speed my eyes can’t follow! Even Shiraha is forced on the defensive! She can’t break free!]

[That distance is Ebisu’s domain. Against a swordswoman like Shiraha, her options are limited. She needs to create distance somehow.]

[Then is this going to be Ebisu’s victory?]

If only it were that simple.

[No. Her offensive options are limited, that’s all. Dodging alone isn’t difficult for Shiraha. In fact, she’s avoiding nearly all of Ebisu’s attacks by a hair’s breadth.]

That’s right. It only looks like Kurato is pressing the attack.

In reality, he can’t finish it, while his stamina and magical power are slowly being shaved away as Shiraha waits for her opening.

[His use of abilities is impressive, but it’s still just creating a shield. His attacks don’t surpass those of a normal martial artist. Against Shiraha, who has survived countless ability-based battles, it’s not enough.]

[I-I see. As expected of a B-rank, then.]

‘Not enough, huh.’

As his fists cut only air, Kurato thinks.

They’re being dodged because the attacks are predictable. He’s just throwing standard karate, boxing and Muay Thai techniques as-is.

‘Then what about this?’

Kurato swings his right arm wide and throws it.

Naturally, Shiraha easily dodges the exaggerated attack, again by a hair.

But—

[Ebisu’s right! Dodged—or so it seemed, but the right fist slams straight into Shiraha’s face! What!? What happened!? She definitely dodged!]

[The trajectory changed mid-swing. It was as if the fist was pulled toward her face by a magnet.]

[Wha!? And now Ebisu’s kick! Miss—no, it didn’t! His leg zigzags through the air like lightning, striking her arm, shoulder and temple in succession! Another left! A right one-two! Shiraha staggers—clean hit!]

A solid impact.

Even a child’s blow, repeated to the head, will rattle an adult’s brain.

For an instant, Shiraha’s eyes stare into empty space.

Can he finish it now?

Kurato presses in further.

But then—

Her vacant gaze snaps back to him.

At the same time, something goes wrong.

His entire body goes numb.

His arms and legs scream in protest.

‘Tch… did I push too hard?’

He forced unnatural movement by dragging his body with shields. Pulling a muscle wouldn’t be surprising.

His body burns with pain. Burning… wait, burning?

His clothes are actually scorching!?

No—this is an ability.

Shiraha’s ability.

[There it is! Shiraha’s electromagnetic field!]

Sparks crackle. White streaks race across his skin.

Electromagnetism. Electricity. Electrokinesis.

[Shiraha’s electrokinesis erupts! A wide-area attack amplifying static electricity dozens of times over! Getting close means irreversible damage! Ebisu retreats!]

[Instinctively so. Creatures flee pain. Distance weakens the electromagnetic force, but…]

Shiraha raises her pale arm.

Something’s coming.

Kurato raises a shield—

It shatters instantly.

An attack.

Unseen.

But unmistakable.

Lightning.

[Shiraha’s Spark!]

“Uoooooh!”

‘Spark… She has a move like that?’

As if answering him, Ranbu speaks.

[The farther you are, the more this becomes Shiraha’s domain. Her lightning can’t be dodged by distance alone.]

Its activation and speed far surpass Raito’s cryokinesis. That, combined with her mastery.

There’s no way to react after seeing the firing motion.

But standing guard won’t work either. At best, he can cancel it out.

Which means only one future—Kurato’s magical power runs dry and defeat follows.

[Ebisu charges forward again—but retreats at the shallow edge of the field!]

[The closer you get to the center, where Shiraha stands, the stronger it becomes. Even trained soldiers couldn’t push in a meter unprotected.]

[Another Spark! Ebisu barely deflects it with a shield, but he’s on the defensive! Does he have an answer!?]

[It’s tough. Spark can be dodged, but breaking through the electromagnetic field with Create Shield alone is near impossible.]

No way out from outside.

Then there’s only one option.

An unfinished technique.

But there’s no time left.

Another Spark blasts the top of his Iron Shield apart, fragments striking his mask.

‘No more hesitation.’

Kurato focuses.

Three layers of membrane.

Then shields—no, scales—covering every gap.

Arms, shoulders, torso, legs, face.

[Is that… armor? Ebisu’s entire body is covered in shields!]

In mere seconds, his body is clad in dull, gleaming iron scales.

The technique he used to save Raito.

“Dragon Scale.”

[I’ve never seen this…]

[Nor have I. This isn’t Create Armor. They’re shields forming armor… but why?]

Kurato moves.

Slower now, but that’s fine.

[Ebisu advances! Is he charging into the electromagnetic field!?]

Shiraha watches calmly.

Then—

[He entered the field! And he doesn’t stop! The electromagnetic waves should be hitting him, but he keeps going!]

[The shields are repelling the electricity! He can fight inside it!]

Halfway in.

Accelerating.

Spark hits—blocked with his arm.

Shiraha’s eyes widen.

‘Too slow. I’m first.’

[He’s in! Uppercut! Blocked! Roundhouse kick—lands! Her stance breaks! A backfist—blocked! The sword snaps! Another kick! She blocks—can’t hold! She’s blown away!]

“Uoooooh!”

Kurato chases her as she rolls across the ground.

Her arm hangs limp.

‘Broken?’

But her eyes burn sharper than ever.

Now she’s truly recognized him as an enemy.

She smiles.

“I never thought you’d break my electromagnetic field.”

Half frustration, half excitement.

“Even Spark blocked with just your arm. I’m impressed.”

“Shield? No. Absolutely not.”

Kurato points to himself.

“These are dragon scales. This body is a dragon.”

“Uoooooh…”

The crowd roars.

But the words were for himself.

To steel his own heart.

Shiraha laughs.

“A dragon, huh. Bold words.”

White lightning gathers.

“Then I’ll get serious too!”

A beautiful beast wreathed in white lightning bares its fangs.

Electricity really is troublesome…

* * *

Memo

Electricity really is troublesome. Still, it seems that electricity produced by abilities can be perceived visually… or so it appears.