Chapter 48 - Show of Abilities and Slight Hesitation

▪️×▪️×▪️×▪️

▪️

▪️

▪️

"«Accel»!"

I used the acceleration rune again and charged forward.

But this time it's not just that.

"«Strength»!"

I also used body strengthening runes.

I charge forward by holding my spear straight towards Dragulia-san.

"Hah!"

I attacked with a stab straight towards her chest.

But,

*ding*

Dragulia-san blocked my stab using the blade of her greatsword.

"Not enough...."

She said with a slight grin.

"Haha. I know."

I chuckled.

"But,"

«Barrier»

I created a barrier using runes.

And then, I grinned back at Dragulia-san.

"How about this!?"

Then, I called out to Kulshedra-san.

"«Cannon-mode»!"

"Yes, My Master."

Kulshedra-san answered and then in an instant the black spear in my hand transformed into a «Hand-Cannon»!

And Dragulia-san's eyes seemed to widen a little at the sudden change.

"«Flame Blast»!"

With a grin, I pulled the trigger!

*click*

Dragulia-san's eyes seemed to widen even more.

But,

Too late.

*bang!!!*

«Flame Blast» was fired and exploded right in front of her.

And Dragulia-san was blown backwards because she didn't have time to react to my surprise attack.

▪️

▪️

▪️

Meanwhile, in the VIP hall....

"What is...."

"The weapon changes shape?"

"How could that be?"

People were shocked again and wondered what they had just seen.

While Mephisto Pheles held his chin and smiled slightly.

"Looks like Rey is really making use of his advantage. Mahahahaha!"

Mephisto chuckled while looking a little proud.

Sakuya who was standing diagonally behind him also smiled slightly.

Then,

"Mephisto-jiichan! What was that!?"

Serafall called out to Mephisto Pheles with eyes that seemed to sparkle.

And several others also looked at Mephisto Pheles as if asking questions.

"Ah. That is one of the abilities of Rey's weapon. Or rather it is the ability and characteristics of Lady Kulshedra."

Mephisto Pheles answered and explained briefly.

"Characteristics?"

Serafall asked while tilting her head slightly.

Mephisto then nodded slightly and added an explanation.

"Yeah. Lady Kulshedra can shapeshift into several types of weapons and she also has the power of several elements."

"Hoho~... What forms she can change into and the elements she have?"

Serafall asked again with sparkling eyes.

"Oh. About that. Her weapon forms and powers are.... Do you think I'll just reveal it like that? Mahahahaha!"

Mephisto actually laughed and disappointed the expectations of Serafall and the others who were curious.

"Kiihhh!!! Mephisto-jiichan stingggyyyy!!!!"

Serafall exclaimed in disappointment and her cheeks pouted.

Meanwhile, the three heiress girls were also discussing what they had just witnessed in the arena.

"So that's what Sairaorg meant."

Rias said while looking seriously at the hand cannon held by Rey.

"Seems like."

Seekvaira nodded slightly with an equally serious look.

"«Staff», «Spear», and just now «Cannon». Those three are what we know of at the moment. I wonder what other forms it has."

Sona said while adjusting her glasses.

"You guys know about just now?"

Latia, who was also with them, looked a little surprised after realizing that her friends seemed to have known beforehand about what they had just witnessed.

"Yes and no... The three of us do know that the weapon can change form. But we only know about two forms it can change into, namely Staff and Spear. We don't know about the other forms and how many... We'll tell you how could the three of us know about those later."

Seekvaira answered Latia.

"I see... I understand. I'll look forward to it."

Latia gave a small nod and smiled slightly.

Meanwhile, their other friend, Wennyxa, even though she was also listening to her friends' conversation, she didn't join in the conversation and instead just stared at Rey, or more precisely at the cannon in Rey's hand with sparkling eyes.

"So cool...."

▪️

▪️

▪️

Dragulia-san who was hit by a cannon shot from zero distance was blown backwards.

But then, she stab her greatsword into the ground to reduce the momentum of the impact and finally she managed to stop after appears a line as if the ground had been plowed for several meters.

"...."

With both hands still gripping the hilt of her greatsword, Dragulia-san then slowly raised her head to look at me.

"It was quite surprising. Honestly."

She said her impression of the attack I just launched.

"If I didn't stabbed my sword into the ground, it's likely that I would have stopped only a few meters from the arena line."

She then pulled out her greatsword which was stabbed in the ground.

And I responded by asking Kulshedra-san to return to «Spear» mode and take a stance again.

"...."

I looked back at Dragulia-san with sharp eyes.

"It seems like you really can't be underestimated, Young Master Rofocale. You are indeed worthy of being considered Ultimate-class."

Dragulia-san said while adjusting the position of her glasses.

"And now I'm interested in taking this fight seriously and really intend to beat you."

She then seemed to wave one hand and then several mini magic circles appeared which then seemed to stick to her entire body.

And I stared sharply after seeing what she did.

Because it was the «Self-Enhancement Magic» which was her specialty.

"So, don't blame me if you can't survive and getting lose!"

With those words, she then raised her greatsword with one hand and then swung it vertically with a slight half-twisting motion.

"«Moon Divider»!"

Dragulia-san swings her greatsword in a downward-vertical slashing motion at me!

"!!!???"

Seeing the long-range slash attack aimed at me, I didn't stay still.

"«Strength»! «Barrier»!"

I immediately used my Rune Magic to defend against the powerful-looking slash and gripped my spear with both hands in a horizontal position.

"Guh!"

I felt the pressure of the powerful slash hitting the barrier I created and I even felt it on my body even though I had strengthened it!

'Master, are you okay?'

Kulshedra-san calmly asked me using telepathy.

'Yeah.'

Even though I answered fine, to be honest, this attack made me quite tense.

'But it seems like this isn't enough.'

'Yeah. I noticed it too... My Barrier is about to break. Her attack is too strong.'

'Yeah. It is quite strong for you indeed.'

I then saw that the barrier I had made seemed to start to shake and slowly crack.

'....'

I was silent and frowned in hesitation.

But then I heard Kulshedra-san talking again.

'My Master, I am your weapon. And weapons are created to be used in combat.'

'....'

'And we are bound by the contract. So we are one and same.'

'....'

'You understand what I mean, right?'

'....'

I was a little speechless hearing Kulshedra-san's words.

But then I chuckled.

'Haha... Looks like you really understand me, Kulshedra-san.'

'Kukuku... Of course. Because we are partners of one mind and heart, right~?'

I smiled a little wryly because Kulshedra-san still had time to joke and tease me at times like this.

But then I smiled because Kulshedra-san realized that I was starting to hesitate to use her abilities too often because I didn't feel like relying on her too much and she made me realize that I shouldn't be too naive and hesitant in fighting. And moreover my opponent also not a weakling whose I should restraint myself to fight!

'Then... «Shield» mode!'

'Yes, My Master!'

The black spear in my hand quickly turned into a black long shield.

And at the same time the barrier I made also cracked more and more until it finally broke!

So I raised my «Shield» to defend.

"Haaahhh!!!!"

Guh!

Even so, I still felt the pressure from the slash even though it was much less than before.

Then I took the initiative and tried to counter to neutralize the pressure I receive.

"«Quake»!"

'Yes, My Master!'

I asked Kulshedra-san to use the «Quake» element to create vibrations to break the pressure of Dragulia-san's slash.

And then I did a push and hit motion with my shield.

"«Shield Bash»! Haaahhh!!!!"

*crack!!!*

*bang!!!*

With a blow from my shield accompanied by a strong earthquake-like vibration from «Quake», I managed to eliminate Dragulia-san's attack.

"Hahh.... Hah.... Hah.... Hah...."

With gasping breath and sweat dripping down my forehead, I then stuck my shield into the ground to keep me standing.

"...."

I then slightly raised my head and looked at Dragulia-san.

And I saw her once again seem a little wide-eyed even though just for a moment and then back to her serious expression.

"...."

And after we were both silent for a moment, one of us finally spoke.

"You surprised us again, Young Master Rofocale."

Dragulia-san said while adjusting the position of her glasses.

"That one just now was one of my strongest attacks, you know?"

"Haha. I believe so."

I laughed a little wryly in response.

"Even though I did it just for a bit to try to see how durable you were, I honestly didn't expect that you wouldn't even be knocked away and could defend and even counter such a powerful attack. Truly Marvelous."

Dragulia-san nodded and smiled slightly and then raised her greatsword again with both hands.

I also asked Kulshedra-san to return to «Spear» mode and I also controlled my breathing and took a stance.

"...."

"Fufufu... Let's continue, shall we?"

Then, Dragulia-san and I both moved forward to attack!

"Haahhh!"

"Hmph!"

*clank!!!*

Our weapons clashed signaling the start of close-quarter-combat!

▪️

▪️

▪️

▪️×▪️×▪️×▪️