"Whoa!! Einhart isn't moving forward! Is she taking a defensive stance here?!"
"Then I'll come to you! Nephilim Fist, activate! Close-quarters combat rush mode!"
Just like at the end of round 1, the two engaged in a fierce infight.
"Amazing, amazing...! With that technique, she can fight in close-quarters, right?"
"..."
Nove couldn't reply to Otto's words.
Body manipulation and automatic counterattacks. These functions "seem" to be very advantageous in close-quarters combat. However, very few fighters use these functions in a real match.
The reason is...
"(A series of attacks from a sharp lunge... this is exactly Vivio-san's movement!)"
Corona's left hand crackled with electricity.
"(From this movement, she'll connect to a Stun Knuckle—)"
Nove's Stun Knuckle was defended against.
The series of attacks ended, and now it was Einhart's turn to attack.
"(A counterattack is coming. I'll switch to automatic defense here—!)"
Corona's movements changed drastically.
"(Rio-san's Harukou-ken. A 'deflection' movement. From here, an automatic counterattack will—)"
"Yaa!! !?"
Corona's face contorted in surprise as her counterattack was avoided.
"(Just as I thought...!)"
She quickly flew back, putting distance between them. The Nephilim Fist in automatic defense mode didn't pursue her further.
"Corona-san. You've reached that point, haven't you? You've reached it, after all."
"...Yes. I really, really wanted to win. I wanted to win this time, no matter what it took."
Corona knew it was a reckless method.
While it might seem normal in manga and anime, a technique that could potentially destroy her own body shouldn't be used in the first place.
It's one thing to face a backlash as a result of pushing one's limits, but few fighters would use a technique that is inherently burdensome from the start.
Nove, as a coach, should have stopped her without a doubt. From a professional standpoint, prioritizing Corona's feelings over the rules would be a disqualification.
But it also showed how strong Corona's feelings were.
If that was the case, she had to answer it. With Einhart's full power.
"Tio, bring it out."
"Nya!!"
She called out to Tio, who was inside her.
One after another, pieces of armor materialized.
"W-What is this? Einhart-senpai is getting armor attached one after another!! I've never seen this before! Could this be Einhart-senpai's trump card!!"
The main colors were red and white. No weapons were materialized, and there were clear blue parts in some places.
The name of this 'machine' was...
"Build Burning Gundam...!"
Build Burning Gundam
A Gunpla from Gundam Build Fighters Try. It's piloted by the protagonist, Kamiki Sekai. It's a special unit that doesn't even have traditional Gundam fixed armaments like a beam rifle, shield, head vulcan, or beam saber. However, it specializes in close-quarters combat, fighting with bare-handed martial arts like a Mobile Fighter. Since Kamiki Sekai is a user of Jigen Haoh Style Kenpo, he can demonstrate explosive close-quarters abilities. This was a creation from a shared action between Einhart and a person named Sho, and due to the commonality of Jigen Haoh Style Kenpo, it was transferred to Einhart.
"W-What is this? An unknown energy is being observed on the ring!! Could Einhart-san have a rare skill!?"
A faint blue light leaked from the blue clear parts—the parts for releasing Plavsky particles.
"Einhart-san...!"
Anxiety welled up in Corona at the sight of the armament that she had never seen during practice.
It was quite an imposing set of armor. She didn't have much of an image of Einhart in armor, but the fact that she brought it out in this situation meant it was a secret trump card.
"(Even so...) Nephilim Fist, rush mode!"
Einhart would never choose an option other than martial arts. That much was clear. In that case, the Nephilim Fist, which balanced both defense and counterattack, was the best option.
Thinking so, she stepped forward. But...
"(Einhart-san's reaction speed has increased, is it because of that armor? I can't break through...! Even my coordinated rush isn't effective anymore...!)"
Originally, body manipulation had a time lag.
The subtle delay from judgment to initial movement. This was fatal in close-quarters combat where split-second decisions were crucial.
"(In that case, I'll use a major My Arts technique...!)"
Realizing that she couldn't win with simple consecutive attacks, Corona created distance and leaped up.
"Nephilim Fist, My Arts Arm!!"
Debris gathered in her right hand, and the fist of a Goliath was created.
"(My countermeasure against body automatic manipulation and sturdy armaments like that...)"
Both of these were techniques used by the ancient Saint King, Olivie, and were a wall that Einhart's ancestor, the First Haoh, could not overcome.
"(This has been a challenge I've been working on for a long time!!)"
The wall of rock approached. It was exactly the same as the surprise attack at the beginning of the match.
In response, she clenched her fist.
"Shooting Star Spiral Fist!!"
Originally, it was a technique that was released by high-speed rotation of the wrist manipulators. In this world, however, the rotational energy was generated by magic.
The rock fist was completely overpowered and shattered.
"A-ah...!"
The force not only destroyed the My Arts Arm but also reached Corona's arm.
Corona, who had not expected to take damage even in a mutual exchange, was momentarily distracted by the unexpected pain.
Einhart didn't miss that opening.
"Jigen Haoh Style, Holy Spear Kick—!!"
"Ka, ha...!?"
She leaped high and drove a kick, with her fall speed added, into Corona's body. The moment of impact, blue Plavsky particles scattered.
"Corona-san's life was drastically reduced! She also has crashes in various parts! But she's still standing! The down count won't start!"
Corona clenched her fist, gritting her teeth, but the more she tried to exert force, the worse the pain became.
"(It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!! But I can still go!! Combination of Spikes from my left Revolver Cannon!)"
Sensing Corona's will to charge, Einhart stayed in place and took a stance.
"Haoh Style, Steel Body Form. 'Gazan'."
"Corona-san charges towards Einhart-san, who is in a defensive stance!!"
Following the Nephilim Fist program, she started with her left Revolver Cannon.
A terrible sound echoed from where the attack landed.
It came from Corona's attacking fist.
"A-aah...!!"
It was an offensive defense that received the attack without killing its power.
Corona's fist, which should have been attacking, suffered a bone fracture. However, even with the injury, the Nephilim Fist did not stop. She couldn't stop the magic in the blink of an eye. Even if it meant attacking a wall of needles.
Another terrible sound echoed, and a crash judgment was made on her leg.
Her movements became sluggish as the automatic manipulation ended due to the backlash and pain from moving her body by force.
"Jigen Haoh Style, Holy Fist Thrust—!!"
A straight punch was delivered to her torso.
The force of the punch made Corona's body float and sent her flying 10 meters away.
With that, the offensive and defensive roles were swapped.
"(Ugh...! An attack is coming. Automatic counterattack mode—)"
She didn't have time to recover her stance on her own. She had no choice but to rely on the Nephilim Fist.
Einhart closed the distance at the shortest possible speed and threw a punch. She was within range, and it was about to hit—but Einhart's punch stopped a few moments before impact.
"(I knew it—)"
That was all Corona could think. Her body was already moving; she couldn't do anything in that instant.
Einhart took half a step back.
The automatic counterattack completely missed. The upward punch was fully extended, making her an easy target. As if to smash it, Einhart's fist plunged in.
"A counter!! It's a direct hit! A fierce counter as if to return the favor from before!! Corona-san is down!!"
Nove, her second, gritted her teeth.
It was an absolutely perfect counter.
Einhart had completely read her distance and timing. At the same time, it showed that the Nephilim Fist's automatic body movements were no longer effective.
"(Her arms and legs are already crushed from that offensive defense. It wouldn't be strange if her spirit was broken—!) Corona...!!"
As if in response to his words, Corona got up.
"I'm alright."
Magic wrapped around her body more than ever before.
Einhart, who had not expected her to get up, hurriedly took a stance.
"My Arts and the Nephilim Fist, this is where their true essence lies...!!"
As if the damage were a lie, she stood firmly on two feet. Even though the damage hadn't disappeared.
"Nephilim Fist, Full Control Mode...!!"
"Complete external control of the body..."
The memory of the First Haoh flickered in Einhart's mind.
"As I thought, that technique is dangerous. I'll end this before it's too late!"
"Not yet, I'm not done yet!!"
Corona's life was about 20%, but Einhart didn't rush in. She couldn't tell what kind of counterattack would fly from the automatic manipulation that moved by ignoring the body's limits.
"(Complete external control of the body, at this distance. Most likely, Corona-san's maximum attack is...)"
"Geist Dive—"
Corona's body swayed and then accelerated.
It was a speed that even Einhart had trouble reacting to, but...
"!? (Blocked!?)"
"(As I thought, a high-speed charge! If I hadn't read it, I would've been hit directly!!)"
"Then I'll do it until it hits...!!"
Excruciating pain shot through her feet as she applied the brakes. She endured it and continued her charge.
"(Complete external control of the body that can fight even if bones are broken or limbs are torn off. The trade-off is an enormous magical resource and the damage to the body from being pushed past its limits)."
Even the non-lethal setting was meaningless if she broke her own body.
"(This isn't a technique that a competitive fighter in a peaceful era should use...!)"
Einhart's punch was avoided by flying backward at the same speed as the charge.
She had decided that she couldn't win a proper close-quarters fight now that the Nephilim Fist had been broken.
"Haa, haa... (My breathing is labored, my hands, my feet, my entire body hurts. My last trump card isn't a decisive blow either. I have little magic left)."
She understood from this exchange.
Geist Dive was only close at first. After that, it was easily dodged and didn't become an effective attack.
"(Is it really impossible after all? No matter how hard I try, against Einhart-san...)"
Just as her spirit was about to break, a person from outside the ring raised his voice.
"Miss Corona!!"
"Otto..."
"It's not over yet! It's not over! Show me the fight of a Golem Master that we practiced together! Don't give up!"
Corona forgot it was a match and looked at Otto, but Einhart also released her stance.
"You don't need a secret trump card! Miss Corona is strong even without something like that!!"
"Ah..."
The strength drained from Corona's arms.
"I'm sorry. Thank you, Otto."
The magic that had been moving her body dissipated.
"That's right. I'm a martial arts fighter, but more than that..."
"(She released the automatic manipulation? Is she switching to a magic fight?) Tio, full alert!!"
She returned Blancelle to its tact mode and aimed it at Einhart.
"Caging Spears."
A cage of rock, made from the ring itself, wrapped around Einhart.
"In the name of the Creator Corona and the magical device Blancelle... be resurrected, Giant!!"
The scattered parts gathered into one again. This was Corona's original trump card.
"Hit and shatter, Goliath!!"
"The reconstruction is fast! But with the battering ram, a single blow will... !?"
Distracted by the large threat of the Goliath that appeared before her, her reaction to Corona, who had circled around, was a moment too late.
A rotating giant's arm was attached to her right hand.
"My Arts Arm, Spiral Finger!!"
"Shooting Star Spiral Fist!!"
The two rotations collided and canceled each other out.
In Corona's mind, the words that Nove had said to her on a day when practice became difficult flashed back.
---------
"Is practice really that tough? Do you ever wonder why you're going through all this?"
"Well, practice and sparring can hurt sometimes, but they're all just build-ups for the best moments."
"When a technique you've practiced lands perfectly. When you land a decisive blow. When you can feel that you've gotten stronger than before. I want you to experience countless moments like that, so sometimes I have to make you go through tough training."
"I want you to know the joy that comes after overcoming hardship."
---------
"That's right—"
Just a moment ago, she would have closed in, but Corona was different now.
"Comet Blast, shoot!!"
A mixed blast of magic bullets and sharp rock bullets.
The barrage of bullets filled her vision, stopping Einhart's feet.
Even so, Einhart tried to get closer, but the Goliath wouldn't easily let her get within arm's reach.
It was two against one in this final phase. The sturdy vanguard, Goliath, couldn't be broken through so easily.
"Rock Bind!!"
"Again—!!"
Her ankle was grabbed by a rock, slowing her movements for a moment.
The Goliath aimed at that spot.
"Golem Punch from a bind! Will this be the decisive blow—!!"
"Azure Crimson Fist—!!"
A twisting uppercut tore the bind and also pulverized the descending fist. Blue particles rode the wind and scattered.
"What an impressive durability!! Despite the difference in mass, she still has life remaining!!"
This was largely due to the support from her device, Tio. Its performance was specialized in damage reduction and recovery.
Even so, both of their lives were at 5%.
"Goliath, I'll end this with this...!!"
The other arm, which hadn't been pulverized, rotated at high speed.
"Parti Blast... Drill Crusher Punch!!"
It was shot out at high speed.
Einhart received the approaching Goliath's fist...
"Haoh Style—"
...and then,
"—Sen-shou-ha!!"
She threw it back. A hole was punched through the Goliath's body, which stood still after losing both arms.
"This is really my last attack!!"
Corona had circled around behind her. Goliath's feet were attached to hers.
This time Einhart reacted, and she also took a stance to use her strongest technique.
"My Arts, Gigantic Drop!!"
"Haoh Style... —Haoh!! Danku-ken!!"
Two techniques. The one who won was Einhart.
Einhart's finishing move completely depleted Corona's life, deciding the match.
"The match is over!! The winner is Einhart-senpai, who showed us a magnificent technique!!"
As soon as the match ended, a stretcher was brought out immediately.
"Corona-san...! Corona-san!!"
"Ah...!"
Understanding that she was being held by Einhart, Corona realized how the match had ended and teared up.
"Thank you very much."
"Yes. Thank you very much, as well."
Corona was placed on the stretcher and carried away, with Einhart walking alongside her.
"You're not fair. I've never seen that armor before. Where did you get it?"
"Ah, well, I got it from Sho-san..."
She couldn't think of a good way to cover it up and just answered honestly.
"Eh!? Is that so!? That's nice, I wonder if I can get one too..."
"Hahe!? Th-That's...!!"
Einhart, who thought of the Build Burning as a product of her love with Sho, let out a strange sound.
For Corona to want one meant that she would have to do "that" with Sho.
Corona wasn't being completely serious, but it wasn't a laughing matter for Einhart.
"(No, no, no, no!! There's no way! There's no way, right!?)
"Einhart-san?"
"The fellow student match ends with the senior's victory! However, the winner and the loser are both given endless applause!!"
And so, the battle between Einhart and Corona came to an end.
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