66. Rational Limit Break!
"Those who are hiding there... it's a waste of time, come out quickly."
Is he talking to us? Even though we're far away, does it still feel like he knows we're here?
"...Let's go out."
Rikimaru-senpai stood up from the spot and began walking towards the direction of Shiranui, crossing over the bushes. We followed suit and moved in front of Shiranui.
"Hey, long time no see. Do you remember me?"
"Huh? I don't know your name."
I remember Rikimaru-senpai fought Shiranui during our first and second years, right? So, this attitude. Does it mean he doesn't even recognize him?
"Well, that's natural. I have been completely defeated by you in the past. It's a shameful story. However... I will settle it now!"
Rikimaru-senpai took out a spear from the empty space and grabbed it. It seems like what I'm doing, materializing... or storing weapons in space.
"I apologize to all three of you. This is purely my selfishness."
Rikimaru-senpai spun the spear around and aimed it at Shiranui right before him.
"With all the skills I possess, I challenge you!!"
In an instant, a gust of wind blew through the forest. Senpai Rikimaru forcefully stomped the ground, kicking it with such force that marks were left on the ground.
"Fuyuka-chan! Grab onto me!"
Hina and Fuyuka could barely stand where they were. Rikimaru-senpai approached Shiranui, creating cracks in the ground as he got closer.
A split-second exchange. As a result, Rikimaru-senpai sent Shiranui flying.
"We did it! The leader is pushing through!?"
"No, not really."
I casually denied Hina's cheer.
At that moment, Rikimaru-senpai thrust his spear at Shiranui. However, Shiranui effortlessly deflected the attack without moving an inch. Rikimaru-senpai regained his composure with determination and immediately launched three more attacks, all of which were evaded.
Now, it was Shiranui's turn to attack. He slashed at Rikimaru-senpai with a returning strike — surprisingly, Rikimaru-senpai took it without dodging.
Instead of avoiding the attack, Rikimaru-senpai countered immediately after receiving the blow. Fushinari seemed to have stepped back, but in reality, Rikimaru-senpai deflected it with his sword.
"Are you insane? Why aren't you dodging the attacks?"
"I couldn't imagine winning against you with straightforward tactics."
There were diagonal slash marks on Rikimaru-senpai's body, and blood was oozing from there.
"And... your movements earlier, you've removed your limiter, haven't you?"
"...You seem to have figured it all out. As you say, I am intentionally surpassing my physical limits right now. My blessing, [Limit Break]."
"But blessings aren't omnipotent. It's either a trash ability that can be used without drawbacks or one that increases its effectiveness with risks — yours seems to be the latter type, right?"
"You're quite knowledgeable. That's right. If I exceed my physical limits, my body will deteriorate in proportion to the increase in my abilities."
Upon closer inspection, blood was also present in the calves of Senpai Rikimaru's pants. Since he hadn't taken any attacks — was it the recoil from breaking his limits?
"That's a completely useless blessing. Why go that far?"
"Indeed, it may seem that way to you. However, if I can endure the backlash of [Limit Break], I can effectively become stronger without any real risks!"
"Even if you do that, you're weak, so it's still useless, you scrub."
The second wave is coming!
Rikimaru-senpai closes in. With lightning-fast spear techniques, he overwhelms Shiranui. The echoing metallic sounds and occasional sparks between them.
"Hey, Fuyuka-chan... can you see their movements now?"
"I can't keep up at all... the sounds are delayed...!?"
Wait, can they really see each other clearly!? Their speed is on a different level!
Senpai Rikimaru, you called Fushinari a monster. But you're no less of one!
Speed and determination surpassing that of professional adventurers. Spear techniques risking everything he's ever been.
Sparks fly. Winds gust like a whirlwind. His expression. The silence around. All of it seems to narrate Senpai Rikimaru's story.
— But.
"...Senpai lost."
A few seconds after I muttered, Rikimaru-senpai dropped to his knees.
None of his attacks had reached Shiranui. Instead of just deflecting attacks, Fushinari was countering them effortlessly.
The difference in strength was too great.
"What's happening? You should have activated your watch by now."
Shiranui and I were surprised, our eyes wide open, looking at Rikimaru-senpai's arm.
"You... did you remove your Watch!?"
By removing the watch, the safety measures wouldn't activate. No matter how much Rikimaru-senpai pushed himself, there would be nothing to stop it.
But that act was dangerously close to death.
"If I didn't do this, I couldn't defeat you, right?"
"Why... why would a scrub like you go that far?"
"Even in my weakness, I wanted to prove something. That I can do it if I try."
Rikimaru-senpai's eyes were filled with determination. Even Shiranui, who should have been superior, seemed impressed by his resolve.
In the next moment, the strength drained from Rikimaru-senpai's body. His unconscious form rapidly descended to the ground —
"This is so unlike me."
— and I pulled him up by his hand.
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