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Chapter 124. The Impenetrable Shield

"You’re going to become an amazing Magic Knight! I’ve never seen a second-year with your level of skill before. I wasn’t nearly as strong… I just had enough power to protect others."

While speaking, Ars-senpai uses [Zaphkiel] to block my attacks. Every spell I cast to keep him in check, every feint for distraction, and even strikes meant to kill—all are absorbed as if sucked into his shield.

The ability of [Zaphkiel] is straightforward: an indestructible shield. Being a Grimoire, it can be summoned from within him, so it’s portable and convenient for expeditions, but it has no other special powers. That means the reason all my attacks are being blocked is purely due to Ars-senpai's own skill.

Unlike Ash's flexible swordsmanship, Ars-senpai's fighting style is specialized for defense. He calmly blocks all my attacks and then counters at his own pace. It's like a sumo match—an unshakable defense so frustratingly solid that it makes the attacker furious.

"What drove you to gain such strength? What do you aim to do in the future? I can tell you’re not aspiring to be a Magic Knight just from the way you wield your sword."

Fire, ice, lightning, water, earth, wind, darkness, light, explosions, enchanted blades—no matter the attack, he handles and deflects them all seamlessly. It’s not [Zaphkiel] that’s strong; it’s Ars-senpai.

This is the first time I’ve faced someone who feels like such a pain to deal with in every sense of the word.

"As a senior and former student council president of Chronos Magic Knight Academy, I’d like to help you with your troubles if I can. Even though my term is over, maybe that role suited me better than I thought."

Around us, everyone has stopped what they’re doing to watch our fight. Normally, this would result in a scolding, but even the instructors are standing frozen, their gazes locked on our match. With no one to enforce discipline, the entire crowd is motionless.

Even when I speed up to try and take his back, Ars-senpai effortlessly reacts and blocks me.

"I’ve faced plenty of people who thought increasing speed would overcome my defenses. But all that does is make their intentions more obvious."

Targeting the back of his neck—an obvious weak point for any creature—was far too blatant. But for him to react perfectly at such speed… it’s no wonder he was once the academy’s strongest. His method of fighting is like sumo: designed to break the opponent’s spirit. If this shield can’t be broken no matter how hard someone tries, I can imagine how many have had their will crushed.

"Still, you have quite the array of techniques. Your magic proficiency is beyond what words like ‘high-level’ can describe. Unlike you, I’m not very skilled with magic… Honestly, I envy your talent. A proper Magic Knight should master both, but I struggled so much that my instructors had to spend countless hours with me."

Even when I try some unorthodox magic, he blocks it on the first try without flinching. His battle style doesn’t overestimate or underestimate the absolute defensive power of the universal shield. If an attack can be blocked, he blocks it; if dodging is better, he dodges. His situational awareness is unparalleled.

"If you went all out, you could surpass Jeremias Frisberg and claim the number one rank. You could even defeat every third-year, become the strongest in the academy, and wield the authority of the student council president as you pleased. So why don’t you?"

That abnormal defensive ability… breaking through it with brute force is impossible. Using tricks won’t work either, as Ars-senpai sees through and counters them all. There’s no way to break the shield head-on, yet attacking from behind is also futile. So how do I win?

If I use [Yaldabaoth]… I might be able to pierce his defenses. That apocryphal blade, which absorbs magical power to sharpen its edge, might even cut through [Zaphkiel] itself by draining its energy. However, if I use it, I’m sure to kill him. That weapon is just that lethal.

"…You’re holding back, aren’t you?"

[Demiurge] and [Lucifer] are out of the question. A mock battle in a class setting is no place to show them off. Sure, I could produce a weapon capable of shattering the universal shield with its power or end the match in an instant with an omnipotent light. But doing so would expose my hand, and with so many onlookers here, that’s unacceptable.

"Well then, what’s your move, Theodore Anthem?"

"You know…"

"Hm?"

"You’ve been talking non-stop this whole time. Could you shut up for a bit? It’s really annoying."

Seriously.

"My apologies… I got a little excited to face you—"

"Or are you just preparing excuses for when you lose?"

"—Fair enough!"

Taking my taunt, Ars-senpai steps forward. The universal shield may be an invincible defense, but the one wielding it is not invincible.

I channel a massive amount of mana into my practice sword—its blade dulled for training purposes—and strike at the shield. Ars-senpai looked momentarily surprised that I aimed at the shield itself, but when he blocked it, his face contorted in pain.

"Urgh!?"

"Even if your shield is unharmed, that doesn’t mean you are."

My attack is simple: a strike heavy enough to pass through the shield and hit Ars-senpai himself.

His fighting style as a knight is far from standard. In the Kingdom of Curia, the ideal knight wields a sword in one hand while keeping the other free for magic. Ars-senpai, however, uses both hands—a sword in one and a shield in the other—an unconventional style. 

Despite this, his form is too flawless, and that’s his weakness. When he blocks an attack, he always brings the shield close to his body’s center, absorbing the blow with his whole frame. So, by delivering an immensely heavy strike, even if he blocks, the impact pierces through to him.

After seeing him block the same way several times, even a monkey could pick up on his habits.

Caught off guard, Ars-senpai is sent flying past the spectators, unable to fully absorb the force of my strike.