Back at the Vander Dojo inside the capital, a smile appeared on my face the moment I saw four particular dots on my Gamer System's minimap vanish. Renne's group vanished from the capital altogether, and I knew I could leave them in her care. Renne knew what she was doing. She strove hard to become Enforcer No. XV. It doesn't exactly state when she gets the position. By the time Estelle encounters Renne in Sky, Renne is already an Enforcer. Still, it was one less thing to worry about.
Sherryl saw the smile on my face seeing the Thunder God begin our duel.
"Is me fighting you something to be happy about, Naoto?", Sherryl asked, obviously interested.
"Haha. Not quite.", I said. "The last thing to weigh me down is no longer a concern. I can now fully devote my attention and win this.", I said, and grinned. My attack stance held steady, and when Sherryl heard that, she grinned back at me.
"Is that right? I do hope you bring out more of that "Magic" of yours that you constantly praise. I can only hold onto this for eight to ten minutes at most, but you better not blink. Or else it'll cost you!", Sherryl roared, letting her Battle Aura flourish. At the same time, more intense steam hissed from her mouth.
The moment I blinked my eyes once, everyone raised their eyebrows, me included. She entirely vanished from her position, almost as if she wasn't there to begin with...
"Shit.", I cursed, realizing what had just happened. With my quick reaction speed, my body began to move on its own. And yet, even that didn't seem to be enough.
"Too late. Shattering Fist!", Sherryl roared. At that moment, I saw Sherryl appear behind me, only to strike out with one of her fists at an insane pace. I quickly raised World Eater in an attempt to block Sherryl's fist, twisting it diagonally in front of me.
If one didn't receive enough training, this movement would have just been a blur to others. Thankfully, my reaction time was swift enough to intercept. The moment Sherryl's Shattering Fist connected with World Eater, I felt a heavy impact strike against my entire body. Sure enough, a rather big damage number appeared above my head. BANG!
[-10,300!]
[Ding! Current HP: 45,179/55,480.]
'Holy...', I inwardly cursed. Ten thousand damage with a single fist? And what is that insane HP stat!? I had glanced at Sherryl's Status Window during the exchange and I kind of regretted doing so. Still, her information displayed before me, and she sure is a monster alright. I say that as a good thing. She's looking pretty strong, and her Attack Damage is comparable to mine! It just goes to show that I need to beef up my defenses.
[Sherryl's Status]
Name: Sherryl Sky
LV: 100
Origin: Remiferia
Class: Taito Practitioner
Title: Unshaken Fist
HP: 5,000,000 (Up)
STR: 5,000 (Up)
DEF: 3,000 (Up)
ATS: 1,000 ((Up)
ADF: 1,000 (Up)
DEX: 500 (Up)
SPD: 500 (Up)
Unique Skill: Doping
Crafts: Shattering Fist, Earthen Wall, Thunderclap Cleave, Aura Blast
S-Craft: Genbu's Toll
Attack Damage: 10,000 (Up)
Arts Damage: 1,000 (Up)
And with the sheer force of Sherryl's Shattering Fist alone nearly tore World Eater straight out of my hands. My arms buckled despite the grip I had around the pole, and the impact traveled through the weapon like a violent shockwave, only to slam into my shoulders before spreading throughout the rest of my body. It was enough to make my shoes scrape against the fighting platform, and sent me backward. I had to regain my footing to come to a stop. And now, we were on opposite ends where we once began.
"That was a heavy punch.", I murmured, but smiled. I couldn't be anymore happy feeling such power. Sherryl really hadn't slacked off these last couple of years. But that alone brought a wave of surprise to everyone.
"Naoto...was pushed back?", Princess Alfin uttered. She even saw some blood trickle from my lips, not expecting to see me bleed.
"It does look that way. I don't even know if I could have blocked that. Just how is Sherryl moving like this?", Kurt said with a frown. "What did you call this, Father? Is this some form of forbidden technique?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes.", Matteus said, nodding. "It is astounding. This lass has the physique to negate any bad effects of what she is currently doing. It is drastically increasing her fighting strength. Perhaps tenfold...No, a hundred?"
"A-A hundred fold!?", Kurt exclaimed, and was taken aback.
"That...seems unnecessary.", Prince Cedric said, unsure of how to respond to that.
"Perhaps to others. Nonetheless, it is a special Skill the brat has developed. I don't think it is something that I can replicate.", Roselia added. "Now, show me how you will respond, Naoto. Let me see your Magic flourish."
"Haha. Already on it, Rose.", I happily said. Wooosh!
[Ding! You have spent 10,000 EP!]
[Ding! Current EP: 75,715/85,715.]
[Ding! You have successfully cast Blood Spheres!]
[Ding! Greater Regeneration has begun healing your body!]
Sherryl already did the hard work for me. By causing that injury, it spilled some blood. I didn't have to puncture my skin this time around. Instead, I let my Mana flourish. A sudden bluish glow appeared around me. At the same time, I felt a soothing sensation spread across. It was just visible to me, but a green plus mark began to constantly appear, healing the HP I lost from Sherryl. It didn't heal ten thousand damage in one instance. No, that would be way too broken. Still, Greater Regeneration is seriously broken. It was rapidly healing my health back up to full!
Pretty much, unless someone deals a fatal blow, I don't see myself ever dying. I will not be complacent with that, because there are many powers out there who are capable of performing such feats. This is Trails after all. There's the existence of Sept-Terrions, and they can influence various aspects of existence, like Time, Space, and Reality. They're almost equivalent to the MCU's Infinity Stones, but I feel they are much more powerful compared to them. It's a good Skill to have, and I will make the most use of it. Besides, I haven't even had a battle that has triggered Phoenix Robe's Support Craft, a full revive while boosting my Stats even further afterward. Hopefully I never do, but you can never be too careful.
"Naoto is glowing...", Princess Alfin uttered again. Yet this time, her eyes lit up, becoming excited. She had seen Magic cast the night before back in the depths of the Infernal Palace. "Is this really Magic?"
"Umu.", Roselia nodded. "I had touched upon it before this, but Naoto has not slacked off on his Mana. If you really are that interested princess, absorb every second of this moment. Do not let it flee your grasp."
"Right!", Princess Alfin responded.
As Princess Alfin watched on without batting a single eye, the blue Mana swirling around me finally coalesced into something different. Wooosh! Wooosh! Wooosh! It didn't take long for Sherryl's gaze to turn serious. It wasn't just three or five this time. She had seen this Incantation before, but not this many all at once. A bloody, crimson aura soon appeared. It looked quite fierce, and then it spawned in several magical spheres that appeared around me. Out of my own blood.
"You said you wanted to see my Magic. Honestly, I could create a lot more, but let's deal with ten for now.", I said, and grinned. At the same time, the heaviness from the impact faded, and I could stand my ground again. The taste of iron still lingered, despite forming ten Blood Spheres now. I readied my stance again and pointed World Eater at Sherryl.
"I've seen this before. Do you really use your own blood? You called this an Incantation, right?", Sherryl asked, letting more steam escape from her mouth. Hisss...
"Yeah. I know quite a few, and a couple require much more intricate use than what I just did. It depends on what you want to do.", I explained, still grinning at Sherryl. "Think fast. You've seen this before as well, but they're quite deadly!"
[Ding! Two of your ten Blood Spheres have begun to change!]
Before Sherryl could move, two of the Blood Spheres began to take shape. They cut down, becoming smaller and thinner. I also applied some rotational force onto each one, making them spin.
[Ding! You have created twenty Bloody Needles!]
"Needles...", Sherryl murmured, only to take up a defensive stance. "I've seen you use these against Monsters before too. They're rather sharp and accurate. Nonetheless, I told you once already, and I'll tell you it again, Naoto. I am not the same person I was a couple years ago. I'll crush them all!"
"This is just the opening act, Sherryl. Your resolve is clear. That much I can see.", I said, remaining serious. With but a single thought, my Mana flourished even more. I was ready to strike now that the twenty Bloody Needles were ready. They varied from Incantation Rank B to S, each one unique to their own. "Fire!"
WOOOOOOSH!
"I won't let you. Earthen Wall!", Sherryl exclaimed. Her Battle Aura flew out once again. This time, Sherryl roared, and slammed her fist down into the ground before her. The ground itself sundered, and tore up, only to make it rise high up.
Before anyone could react, apart from the Thunder God who had a serious look remaining in his eyes, a part of the fighting platform tore into pieces, making an amber-colored wall rise up out of nowhere. It now directly blocked me from seeing Sherryl, partly, anyway. It was weird, and fully crystallized. I could see Sherryl's figure behind it, but her view was obscured. It was almost as if I was seeing a reflection of mirrors, trying to distort my vision. Clever. But did you forget what I possess, Sherryl?
"That's a nice trick, sadly it won't work. I can see everything.", I said.
"I know you can.", Sherryl's voice escaped from behind the Earthen Wall. Tink! Tink! Tink!
One after another the Bloody Needles met their target. I was going to pierce the Earthen Wall.
"I did not know you could use Magic like this and manipulate even your blood.", Aurelia said, taking the moment in.
"Heh.", I replied, chuckling. "I will not give you the details, but you can keep this to yourself, Aurelia. Not everyone has the affinity for it. It would be up to your own Skills whether or not you can."
"Is that a challenge?", Aurelia mused, and smiled back at me.
"It matters not. It is as His Royal Highness states, no matter the Skill or Technique. Some simply have affinity while others do not. Do not dwell on it.", Matteus said.
"True. Some best others on the battlefield simply because they have the Skill to do so. Pedigree can take one far.", Aurelia said. "But it isn't just that which defines your strength. You put in plenty of effort, did you not, Lord Vander?"
"Mmm.", Matteus replied with a simple nod. "One's path cannot be so easily defined. These two still have many hardships ahead."
"Haha.", I laughed in response to that. "We'll see who stands out on top. I'll pierce this wall!"
TINKKK!
The earlier piercing noises intensified. One after another, the Bloody Needles struck against the Earthen Wall.
[Ding! You have applied a steady pressure. You have successfully impeded Sherryl's Earthen Wall!]
BREAKKK!
"Tch. It only lasted a couple moments at most, huh? That's all I need.", Sherryl's voice said, only to vanish once again. Looks like it turned out to be a decoy after all.
Still, the moment Sherryl reappeared, I was ready for her. The remaining Bloody Needles changed their direction midair. At the same time, Sherryl triggered Shattering Fist once again, but this time, I wasn't alone.
[Ding! You have generated a new Incantation, Bloody Mat!]
Just like that, Sherryl struck out hard, but was soon greeted with a sensation of striking hardened liquid. BANG!
"Not this time.", I replied, and met Sherryl head-on with the remaining Bloody Needles. There were only a few left, but they found their target, successfully striking Sherryl's body one after another.
"Ugh...", Sherryl uttered, feeling her body get struck by the Bloody Needles. At the same time, I saw some damage numbers appear.
[Ding! Sherryl's Doping has successfully blocked some of your damage!]
[-75,000][-80,000][-100,000][-125,000][-200,000!]
[Ding! You have inflicted 580,000 damage!]
[Ding! Sherryl's HP: 4,420,500/5,000,000.]
Hisss...
Just as the last of the Bloody Needles landed, Sherryl's injuries began to automatically close just as quickly as Greater Regeneration healed mine. This...
"Sherryl's wounds are rapidly healing?", Prince Cedric asked, and frowned. "Seriously, who are you?"
"Hehe.", Sherryl laughed, feeling the pain quickly subside. "I am but a simple service maid, currently training to serve Liberl's future king. It would be terribly unbecoming of me to fall behind when Naoto continues to grow stronger by the day, wouldn't it? It's not like the world revolves around you."
"Well spoken.", Matteus said with an agreeing nod. "And it looks like you have long since tread on this path. Training you seems to hold little purpose now. What you require isn't someone to teach you how to fight, but opponents capable of forcing you beyond what you have already achieved. His Royal Highness fits that description."
"If you want me to fall into that role, then I shall do so. Let us see who comes out on top!", I exclaimed, brandishing World Eater as my newest Incantation successfully absorbed Sherryl's blow.
[Ding! You have consumed three Blood Spheres to cast Bloody Mat!]
[Ding! You have successfully blocked Sherryl's attack!]
[Ding! Current Blood Spheres: 5.]
"With pleasure. It's on!", Sherryl responded, ready to strike again. The battle raged on...!