Chapter 60

A loud cheer rang out as I walked through the passage from the waiting room to the arena .

Do your best Arnos-chan!

If youve come this far youve won this Arnos! Get fired up!

My parents voices ring out .

Youre looking cool today Arnos-sama!

Instant death as usual please!

But if its instant death we wont see Arnos-samas gallant figure which we havent seen in ages!

Then please take your time Arnos-sama!

The voices of my fan union ring out like always .

Next to appear is a member of the Lognos Demon Sword Association! The player who attained perfect victories without getting hurt! Ray Grandori!

Ray appears out of the other passage .

Cheers ring out from the seats .

Hes here! Ive been waiting! The demonic sword saint!

Show that mixed-race brat the order of things!

Yeah! Show those unification faction idiots who are getting all excited how it is!

The royal faction is rooting for Ray .

Its turned into a proxy war between the unification faction and the royalist faction .

Fumu . Sure is noisy .

Isnt it just .

Ray smiles his usual refreshing smile .

It was a natural smile that was full of eagerness . Has he made a breakthrough of some sort?

Before the match starts the tournament organisers have something to inform you .

I thought they would use some petty tricks and here it comes .

The finals will be performed under special rules . Firstly, each player must wear a bracelet .

While the owl is talking guards come over to me and Ray .

Left hand .

I hold out my hand and Im given a glittering bracelet .

Not only the sword but if the bracelet is destroyed you lose .

Fumu . It doesnt seem like it cuts off your magic .

I take a closer look .

The <Demonic Imbibing Bracelet> . A tool from the age of myths .

It continuously absorbs the magic power of the person wearing it . For a normal person, this would make using magic almost impossible .

Id have to break it to stop it but then Id lose .

They are trying to chip away at my power I see .

That bracelet isnt a poor copy Arnos Voldigod .

A voice addressed only to me echoes directly in my head via Thought Transmission <Liikus> .

Following the magic trail, I look up and see it coming from the owl .

That <Demonic Imbibing Bracelet> will continuously absorb your power and send it to another location .

Its telling the truth . After activating my demon eyes I can see a magic line sending the magic somewhere .

If you cut off your magic power Sheilas spirit disease will worsen and shell die .

I see . Are you ready to wipe out the rumours that give Sheila life?

And if you win Ray Grandori will have his origin erased .

Fumu . I have no doubt the contracted demon sword will work if its activated .

Well then .

Did you say what you wanted to say? The owl cuts off <Liikus> .

We wear the bracelets under the eyes of the guards . Looking over at Rays bracelet I can see that its a fake . Its not a magic tool .

We can now begin the final match of the Deiruheido demon sword tournament! Begin!!

Ray unsheathes Initeio and raises the pure white sword towards me . Drawing my sword a light metal sound rings out as I place it on Initeio in place of a greeting .

I would have been so happy if I could have just swung my sword around without thinking .

Fumu . I wouldnt say its totally impossible though .

Ray lets out a vague smile .

Can you fight with your magic being drained?

Dont be reserved . If you go easy on me youll die .

I thought so .

Ray sets up his sword an I lower mine like usual .

We are already in each others strike zone but neither of us could move .

Theres no gap in Rays defence . No matter where I strike Ill be countered by that pure white sword .

Its my style to break open any defence no matter how robust by sheer force but this time that wont work since Initeio will cancel Hiding Magic <Najira> and Arms Strengthening <Adeshin> .

I have no choice but to avoid direct attacks and I cant win anyway since Ray will disappear if I do .

What can I do?

Im not in a deadlock but its still a very troublesome situation .

I was waiting to see how Ray would move but he also was standing still .

Several minutes pass as we stare at each other but Ray suddenly relaxes .

I was told to play for time in the finals . Ray mutters .

Im a little surprised hes exposed that .

Its more advantageous the longer I wait .

<Najira> and <Adeshin> consume a lot of magic power plus my magic is also being drained by that bracelet .

If Ray goes on the defensive then beating him with my sword will be difficult .

Me not moving is certainly disadvantageous .

But Im bored with that now .

At the same time as his words Initeios tip blurred and grazes my cheek at a speed that cannot be followed with your eyes .

In order to separate us I swing my sword at Rays left hand .

I had thought that Ray would avoid it but he steps forward and our bodies come into contact forcefully stopping my arm .

At this range its impossible to swing my sword .

Fuu . . !

What kind of technique is this? In the small area that impossible for a sword to strike a fist approaches my chin .

Pulling back to dodge it, the snow-white blade approaches my face as Im off balance .

If I receive that Ill be torn up .

In that case

. !?

Rays sword cuts into my left arm . My flesh tears and the blade reaches my bone where it stops .

Im sorry to say but my bones are very hard .

Your body is as random as usual Arnos .

Ray pulls Initieo out and retreats setting up his stance again .

Looking at him his left arm is hanging unnaturally .

Thinking about it Ray was also slower than usual and he only used one hand . If hes used both he would have severed my arm .

Whats with your arm?

Ray smiles .

I want our match to be as equal as possible .

Did you cut the tendons yourself?

Yeah . Its pretty painful though .

Ray holds Initeio in his right hand like its nothing .

Is that okay?

Giving up on playing for time and cutting his own arm are both acts of betrayal against the royal faction . The contract to treat his mother will be broken .

Arnos . In the group competition I thought Id finally met you . The opponent I cannot beat even if I stake my all on this sword . I wanted to clash against you with everything I had .

He keeps his guard up as he continues talking quietly .

However, as long as me and my mom are held hostage you cant give it your all .

Ray is surely being watched . The mazoku who implanted the contacted demon sword is surely aware of what hes saying .

I thought a lot but all I have is the sword .

Ray speaks in a determined tone .

I betrayed the contract and now the contract sword is cutting into my origin .

As expected, however, an ordinary person would have already been destroyed at this point after having their origin cut . Its still only a matter of time for Ray though .

Ill be dead soon and my mother cant be saved either . You dont have to worry anymore .

Ray points his sword tip at my left arm .

I will win to protect my friendship with you .

If Ray destroys the bracelet he wins and if the owl was telling the truth then the loss of magic will kill Sheila .

If I dont break it it will continue to absorb my magic forever .

He must have judged that I wouldnt abandon Sheila so he will end his own mothers life himself .

To protect me you offer your own life then?

Wont you ask for my help? (A)

You might die . (R)

I wont die . (A)

Maybe, but maybe not . No matter how much of a transcended being you are, what type of friend would I be if I keep putting you in danger? (R)

Ray laughs .

This is the best solution for me as well . I get to finally beat you and protect you . (R)

So that it . Its a story based on me losing on purpose though .

If this bracelet is destroyed then Sheilas safety cannot be assured, however, the owl said nothing about my sword getting broken .

In other words their purpose is my magic power . They dont care about who wins this tournament .

I could lose on purpose, pull out the contracted demon sword from Ray and fight again after crushing this plot by Avos Dillheavia .

A smart person would do this .

But I cant do it .

Even in this situation where his origin is being cut Ray wants to fight me .

He wants neither fame nor status he only wants the sword . In his last moments Ray is giving his all to the sword .

You might think him a stupid person but its what he wants .

If I put it off then Im not qualified to be this mans friend .

Dont surrender to the enemy and dont rely on me, just stick to your beliefs . Thats what my friend does .

I take one step forward .

You dont have to think about anything anymore Ray . Unification faction or the royalists . Forget about your mother even . Theres only me and you now .

Ray smiles a genuine smile .

Now come . Lets play .

Ill get in the way of whatever Avos Dillheavia is planning later .

My parents are supporting me, I promised Misha Id win and Ray is challenging me to a fight .

This has nothing to do with the reborn demon king of tyranny . This is the final match between us two .