Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume7 Chapter10 (section)

===Part 3===

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Panting, Claire pushed with her shoulders to lift her body.

Before her, crimson flames roared as they swirled.

Flames that incinerated other flames -- these were the same ones she had released against Ren Ashbell back in the forest last time.

Even Claire did not understand how she did it.

Just like that time.

The instant Sjora stepped on Rinslet's head, Claire felt something snap in her mind.

She did not even have any recollection of chanting spirit magic -- the flames had been released involuntarily without conscious intent.

(To think that I actually had this kind of power...)

--Was this the blood inherited from the Elstein family who ruled over flames?

"...Did we win?"

Just as Claire's heavy breathing gradually calmed down and she prepared to stand up, in that very instant.

"...Owww!?"

From the flames came an attack of dark lightning, blowing Claire away.

Stepping upon the intensely burning flames, the witch stood up, still in the guise of the Strongest Blade Dancer.

Apparently she had evaded a direct hit.

(...Is everything hopeless now?)

Collapsed on the ground, Claire moved her fingers slightly.

She did not even have the strength left to stand up. Her divine power for using her contracted spirit was also completely depleted.

"Foolish little hell cat, I really hate resistance--"

Ren Ashbell's face showed a sadistic smile.

"I must make you suffer completely. After all, there's plenty of time here."

"...Guh...!"

Claire clenched her trembling fingertips.

...Such chagrin. She could not accept this.

Claire could not accept how weak she was, unable to defeat even a fake like this witch.

She felt as though her admiration and precious memories from that day had all been trampled.

(I know very well, the blade dance of the true Strongest Blade Dancer, Ren Ashbell--)

The scene she had witnessed three years ago.

To this day, it remained vividly carved in her memories.

(The true Ren Ashbell's blade dance is not something like this--)

Faster, stronger, more magnificent -- A blade dance that inspired courage in others.

Her facial profile showed such dignified beauty.

For some reason, the face in her memories began to superimpose with that of a certain youth familiar to Claire.

(Kamito...)

Footsteps could be heard approaching.

Claire's vision dimmed progressively as her consciousness faded.

She did not want to lose. Most absolutely, definitively, she did not want to lose--

The jet black blade of the demon sword flashed above her head.

In that instant--

"--Take your hand away from my comrades, Sjora Kahn!"

With an explosion of dazzling light, the hall was filled with pure white radiance.

"...Wha... Hmm...!?"

Blinded, Sjora covered her eyes.

(...This dazzling brightness comes from a spirit of light!?)

Crink -- Tumbling before Claire was a tiny fragment of spirit crystal.

(The one who uses these kinds of items is...)

Rubbing her eyes, Claire looked up.

Opening the door at the depths of the hall and appearing was--

"...Fianna!"

The princess glared at Sjora with her dusk-colored eyes.

Standing leisurely with arms akimbo, the imperial princess' dignified airs were grandly displayed.

"Lost Queen, how did you escape from those shackles!?"

Ignoring Sjora who had recovered her vision, Fianna rushed over to Claire's side.

"Sorry, Claire, I--"

"Oh, there's no need to apologize. Teammates are supposed to help one another."

Claire averted eye contact as if a bit embarrassed.

Fianna clenched her fists tightly before her chest--

"...Thank you."

Softly, she murmured.

"Fools. Even if the fodder increases by one, it won't make any difference."

Sjora's mocking laugh resounded in the great hall.

"Guh..."

...Lamentably, Sjora's words could not be refuted.

Ellis and Rinslet were still unconscious.

Although Fianna's Georgios was a powerful spirit, it could only be used in coordination with the team. They currently lacked a power to singlehandedly overcome the unfavorable battle situation.

However.

"--Not necessarily."

Fianna stood up quietly.

"Thou, servant of the king of the child of man, knight and master swordsman—"

Immediately, she began to chant the releasing incantation for summoning her knight spirit.

"Thou shalt be my sword, thou shalt be my shield, with unlimited towering light, purify and exorcise those belonging to darkness--"

(...!?)

Claire forcefully looked up.

(No wait, this isn't a summoning... Could it be...!)

Centered around Fianna's right hand, strong gales began to swirl around.

On her head of dense black hair, a tiara manifested, shining with dazzling silver-white light.

Radiating glittering brilliance, a splendorous veil covered Fianna's entire body, giving off clear pure light.

Then--

"--Its appellation reads thus<!--其の銘は-->, Save the Queen!"

Appearing in Fianna's right hand was--

An intricate and finely crafted rapier.

Rather than a knight's sword for combat, this was a ceremonial sword for performing ritual offerings.

"Elemental waffe..."

Claire stared with her ruby red eyes wide open.

"Claire, this is the form given to my thoughts and feelings."

Fianna turned around and smiled proudly.

"B-But, you using a sword..."

"Yes, indeed, I do not know how to wield a sword in combat."

Fianna nodded.

"This sword is used in this manner!"

The shining blade of the rapier was stabbed into the ground.

Instantly, light radiated from the tip of the rapier, tracing out a circular design akin to a magic circle.

"...This is?"

"The area within the circle is my Territory. An absolutely impregnable castle, you see."

"...Hmph, and I thought it was going to be something special. How ridiculous."

Sjora Kahn jeered.

"Even if you can finally release your elemental waffe, do you really think you are able to defeat this Strongest Blade Dancer?"

With a swing of the Vorpal Sword, a Vorpal Blast instantly shot towards Fianna.

"Fianna, dodge!"

However.

The jet black lightning was blocked by the defensive barrier of light as soon as it made contact with the Territory.

"...Wha!?"

The Strongest Blade Dancer's beautiful face was twisted with astonishment.

The Territory of light proceeded to expand, covering Ellis and Rinslet where they lay collapsed.

"...Y-Your Highness the imperial princess?"

"What on earth is this? What is going on...?"

Bathed in the gentle sacred light, the two girls awakened.

This light that filled the interior of the circle seemed to carry a holy attribute and healing effect.

Claire once again felt divine power coursing through her body.

When she summoned Scarlet, out appeared a hell cat enveloped in burning flames of conflagration that reached the ceiling.

"Amazing... This is Fianna's elemental waffe!"

Faced with Claire's exclamations of admiration, Fianna shook her head wryly.

"Unfortunately, this can't be maintained for long. So, you must take this opportunity now--"

"Understood -- Flametongue!"

Claire released Scarlet as her elemental waffe.

"W-We will also..."

"We can still fight!"

Ellis and Rinslet stood up and successively readied their respective elemental waffen.

"Ellis, you and I will act as the vanguard while Rinslet will provide cover support."

"Yes." "Fully understood!"

Nodding briefly in acknowledgement, the trio sprang into action at the same time.

"Freezing fangs of ice, go forth and pierce -- Freezing Arrow!"

Rinslet released an uncountable amount of arrows that were enough to cover the entire hall.

"Aha, you still don't realize this is futile?"

Sjora kicked a rock face and leaped, intending to sweep the arrows away with the demon sword of darkness.

"Too naive -- Blossoming without waiting for winter, Ice Break!"

In that instant, all the arrows shattered and scattered in front of Sjora.

"...A mere trick!"

The demon sword of darkness was frozen by the absolute zero temperature of the magical ice.

Taking advantage of the momentary delay in Sjora's movements--

"We're up, Ellis!"

Ellis and Claire instantly closed in.

Enveloped in wind at the same time, their movement speed was multiplied several fold.

"Absolute Blade Arts, Third Form--Shadowmoon Waltz!"

Sjora leaped and swiftly rebounded off a rock face, raising the demon sword to slash at her two prey--

However.

"--Sorry, but ''I've already seen through that move already''."

Claire struck her whip against the ground and used the resultant reaction force to jump backwards, evading the slash by the slimmest of margins. Missing its first attack, the sword's blade bounced off the stony ground. Seizing this opportunity, Ellis also retreated out of its attack range.

"What!?"

"After all, your swordsmanship--"

"I-Impossible. How could the Strongest Blade Dancer's swordsmanship be seen through so easily!?"

Sjora once again used the demon sword to perform Absolute Blade Arts, however--

"--I know that motion very well!"

Similarly, Ellis predicted the sword's trajectory and evaded the slash.

"Guh... W-Why...!?"

Unmistakable signs of wavering appeared all over Sjora's face.

"Indeed, your swordsmanship is identical to the Strongest Blade Dancer's. However--"

Claire infused Flametongue with maximum divine power.

Likewise, Ellis gathered a tempest at the spear tip of Ray Hawk.

"Your sword is far inferior to the sword of the one we admire!"

Indeed. Sjora's swordsmanship faithfully replicated that of the Strongest Blade Dancer.

Hence, it could be read and predicted.

For these two girls, Claire and Ellis, had always kept ''her'' blade dance firmly in memory.

Furthermore, Sjora's sword emulated Ren Ashbell's swordsmanship merely through the power of Baldanders.

Whether in speed or power, the true Ren Ashbell was far superior.

As soon as they realized this fact--

"Handling you is a simple matter!"

"Y-You bitches -- BE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!"

Abandoning the elegance of royalty, Sjora released a full-powered Vorpal Blast.

"...!?"

Her target was not Claire and Ellis in front but Fianna behind them.

By this point in time, Save the Queen's effects had ended.

Just as the attack was about to strike Fianna -- in that very instant, a figure rushed in front of her.

"Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!" "Kamito--!" "Kamito-san!"

Claire, Fianna, Ellis and Rinslet -- Everyone yelled out that name all at once.

Wielding the Demon Slayer, Kamito neutralized the jet black lightning attack with one hand.

"Hey there, Miss Imposter. Looks like you've been bullying these highborn ladies here."

Kamito's entire body emanated overwhelming wrath.

"Yah!"

This caused Sjora to involuntarily release a convulsive scream.

"You really must be paid back properly--"

His icy cold gaze focused firmly on Sjora.

"Let me demonstrate to you the swordsmanship of the Strongest Blade Dancer!"

Kamito took a great flying leap forward.

"...M-My Baldanders is the strongest spirit, I'm not going to lose to you!"

The witch in the guise of the Strongest Blade Dancer versus Kamito who wielded the Demon Slayer --

Began to clash in midair.

"Absolute Blade Arts, Destructive Form -- Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance - Four Consecutive Strikes!"

The witch unleashed the strongest anti-spirit sword technique against Kamito.

At the same time--

"Absolute Blade Arts, Destructive Form -- Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance - Fifteen Consecutive Strikes!"

''The true authentic Strongest Blade Dancer'' performed a raging tidal wave of slashes, exploding all over Sjora Kahn's body. 


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