Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 4===

The demon sword that should have been swung---

Was stopped in midair.

"......Wh-What the!?"

Leonora's red eyes widened in shock.

While looking at the face of the violent but still-beautiful girl, Kamito murmured.

"This was originally a technique for hiding while crawling."

Held against the wrist of Leonora's hand gripping the demon sword was Kamito's arm.

He couldn't stop her demon sword's attack.

But it was different for the arm wielding the attack.

He had pressed his arm to her wrist just as she exhaled before the attack.

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If he drew in when Leonora pulled back her sword and instead pushed with all his strength, it would create a lethal opening --- a simple yet effective unarmed combat skill.

Logically, it was simple, but the timing required was fatal. It was not something an amateur could copy.

It was only because Kamito had undergone the harsh training of the Instructional School that he could carry it out in real combat.

Leonora's body froze into the position of swinging her sword.

"The technique of a knight without a sword --- alias Sword Break. A heretical skill. To begin with though, this was the old hag Greyworth's and not the Instructional School's."

"---I see. So this was the technique of the strongest spirit knight in the continent, Lady Greyworth."

The red eyes looked down at Kamito.

Eyes of a dragon that were painted with the joy of battle --- completely battle-crazy eyes.

"But clever tricks are nothing before absolute power......!"

Leonora's divine power rose explosively.

With an inhuman roar that shook the atmosphere, she pushed as if to crush him to death---

"---That's reckless, Leonora!"

At the moment the power balance broke, Kamito sent a palm strike to her solar plexus --- but,

Just before that, she jumped to the side --- it wasn't reactionary, just instinct.

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Attacking Kamito's flank, a flash of light gouged out the ground.

The one that had sent out the attack was the ornament on the Dragon Slayer's hilt. If he hadn't dodged, it would have pierced his heart without a doubt.

He jumped while spraying blood from his flank. Because he was dodging purely on instinct, he couldn't soften the landings.

Leonora was swinging the sword in every other direction.

The dividing horizontal slices of the blade. The shockwaves that seemed like they could crush all the bones in one's body.

Kamito's body was blown to the side and smashed into a rock.

(......The bone in my arm......!)

Leonora didn't stop. She charged with increasing roars.

Kamito readied his spirit magic blade at his waist. He would match his opponent's timing and deliver a counter --- it was a dangerous gamble, but there was no alternative.

(If I don't beat her quickly, Claire and the others will---)

Leonora charged like a dragon, causing tremors as she approached.

He would have no mercy on her who was under the influence of the Dragon Blood.

If he messed up the timing even slightly --- what awaited him was death.

The moment the clade of the sword entered his vision.

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Kamito jumped off the rock behind him.

(---I've got you!)

Dodging by a hair's breadth, the perfect distance.

He didn't think a blade of this caliber would be able to pierce the magic strengthened Leonora, but there were other ways to fight. If he broke her stance and used several strikes, he should be able to affect even this tough dragon knight---

However.

"I said it, didn't I, that clever tricks won't work on me!"

Leonora Lancaster---

Aimed at Kamito standing before her and threw the Dragon Slayer.

Wrapped in spiraling air currents, the large sword flew in a straight line.

"......!?"

Kamito had not anticipated this.

Kamito clicked his tongue and dodged but Leonora had already closed in---

"Damn......!"

Kamito instantly used a spirit magic sword to guard. But the magically strengthened Leonora's fist went right through the sword and into Kamito's jaw.

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His vision shook. As soon as he realized he was flying in the air, he smacked into the ground.

(Goddamn......throwing that huge sword one-handedly? It's too unreasonable......)

The point he had been wounded at. He cursed while confirming what parts could still move.

His ribs were broken and a few internal organs were damaged.

His fingers had gone numb and couldn't move. It was already a condition unfit to fight.

"---More, make my blood boil more, Kazehaya Kamito. The dragon sleeping within me wants to go crazy with you."

Leonora picked up the demon sword she had thrown and slowly walked towards him.

Like a dragon enjoying the hunt.

"---If not, you'll die."

"......Don't just say whatever you want."

While groaning from the pain, Kamito pushed off the ground and stood up.

More than before, the flames from the riverside had grown more vicious and black smoke rose from it.

(Claire, Ellis, Fianna, Rinslet......)

He gripped his numbed fingers at the regret of not being able to protect them.

(I can't win against Leonora Lancaster at this rate---)

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Kamito affirmed that calmly.

---That's right, if it stayed like this.

The spirit seal on his left hand ached. No, he had already noticed. Since not too long ago, the seal had been burning with feverish heat.

The Gate had never opened since that day three years ago.

But now he could feel her calling out to him.

He just had to call her name. With just that, he would regain the strongest demon sword.

The power to defeat Leonora and save his female comrades.

The highest ranked darkness elemental waffe --- Vorpal Sword.

He could return in an instant. To the Ren Ashbell of three years ago.

But that was under the condition that he severed the contract on his other hand.

The sword spirit girl that had closed her heart off in sadness and was alone in the darkness.

(I---)

Kamito's voice shook like a groan.

That was a momentary conflict. A loss of direction.

But he quickly raised his head and shook it.

He had already resolved it from the beginning.

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(I am Est's master!)

Leonora's red eyes glared viciously as she approached---

"Kazehaya Kamito, I am disappointed in you."

The Dragon Slayer pierced Kamito's chest.