[11] Clash of swords.

Shiki watched Zastin in silence, his eyes flashing with a mixture of cunning and calm as he separated a little from Lala, making sure to keep her out of any imminent danger.

The tension in the air was palpable, but Shiki, instead of being intimidated, decided to break the silence with a slight smile.

"Can't you show up at least before exchanging blows?" he said suddenly, his tone a perfect mixture of sarcasm and seriousness, as if the situation were both a game and a deadly challenge.

Zastin, surprised but without losing his composure, bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect. His lips curved into a smile, recognizing the reason in Shiki's words.

"Well, I guess it's rude not to show up." With a firm movement, Zastin struck his sword against the ground. The metallic sound resounded with an echo of challenge, while the warrior adopted a noble posture, like a knight ready for a duel of honor.

"My name is Zastin! I am the commander of the Royal Guards of Deviluke and the best swordsman on the planet Deviluke," he proclaimed proudly, his voice full of authority and experience.

Shiki blinked at the magnitude of Zastin's presentation.

The grandeur of the title contrasted remarkably with his own presentation, and a strange expression appeared on his face as he tried to find the right words.

Finally, he responded with a mixture of honesty and self-criticism.

"Well, my name is Suzuki Shiki, um... I'm a novelist and... errr... the only Pseudo-Spirit on the planet. A pleasure." The comparison between the titles did not go unnoticed, and Shiki could not avoid an ironic smile at the situation.

Zastin nodded, intrigued by the mention of his race, but decided that it was not the time to investigate further. His eyes focused intensely on what really mattered.

"Now, show me your abilities in a real fight," he declared with a sparkle in his eyes.

'If he is not able to protect Lala-sama, at least he should take him with me to train him until he is strong enough,' Zastin thought to himself.

Zastin had already decided that Shiki was Lala's fiancé, and there was no turning back, as his princess had declared she had taken her first time.

Shiki observed Zastin's sword, the elegance and power that emanated from it. With calm determination, he replied:

"Well, if you have a sword, I will also use a sword." Although internally, a brief doubt crossed his mind.

'Even though I don't think he's as good at sword handling... since I don't have much experience in battle, I can make up for it with statistics and power,' he thought, trusting in his vast abilities and powers to balance the scales.

With a strong stamp, Shiki made the ground under his feet crack, a line of spiritual power emerging from the earth with a palpable intensity.

The ground broke into fractal lines that extended to a point later, where a golden throne emerged majestically from the depths, as if it had been waiting for this moment.

The throne shone with an ethereal glow, and in its center, the handle of a sword rested.

The sword shone with an ancient and majestic power.

Without hesitation, Shiki propelled himself towards the throne, his agile and precise movements making the space between them seem nonexistent.

He took the handle of the sword with unbreakable confidence and, with a single pull, freed it from its rest.

"Sandalphon!" he exclaimed, while the sword in his hand radiated a formidable energy that filled the environment, almost as if the very air vibrated with his power.

The blade of [Sandalphon] was a work of art in itself, of a bright silver color that reflected light like a mirror.

Its angular and robust design gave it an imposing and powerful appearance. In the center of the blade, a blue pattern of straight lines shone brightly, as if it were imbued with pure energy or ancient magic.

The handguard, made of soft gold, was adorned with intricate details that gave it a regal and noble air.

In the center of the handguard, a purple gem shone brightly, adding a touch of mystery and majesty to the sword.

The black handle extended towards a simple but effective grip, perfect for a firm hold in combat.

When Shiki raised the sword, the golden throne began to fade, decomposing into a rain of blue spiritual dust that floated towards him, wrapping him in a dance of light and energy.

"Adonai Melek," Shiki whispered, his voice resonating with a power that transcended the physical. At that moment, the spiritual dust concentrated around him, forming an Astral armor that fit perfectly to his body.

The armor, majestic and bright, radiated an intimidating aura. The mixture of golden, purple, and white tones gave him an almost divine appearance, while his presence in the scene was so imposing that even the wind seemed to stop.

Shiki was now ready, with the sword in hand and the celestial armor surrounding him, looking at Zastin, who was gazing at him with astonishment.

"Sorry for the wait, now we can start," said Shiki, while his eyes shone with an ethereal power.

The clock hand in his left eye turned quickly, a signal of the energy unleashed inside him.

Zastin nodded, his astonishment hardening into a determined look.

"That's how it will be!" he exclaimed, throwing himself forward with impressive speed, so fast that the ground behind him cracked from the sheer force of his impulse.

Boom

Shiki didn't stay behind. In an instant, he also disappeared, his speed so overwhelming that the ground under his feet shattered into a thousand pieces.

The figures of Zastin and Shiki materialized face to face, their swords tracing a curve in the air as they clashed fiercely.

Boom

The clash of the swords resounded like thunder, and a shock wave spread from the point of impact, further cracking the terrain of the area.

The intensity of the collision was such that the air around it vibrated, creating a palpable pressure that pushed stones and dust in all directions.

Shiki and Zastin, in almost perfect synchronization, jumped backward only to launch themselves again, like two lightning bolts in the middle of a storm. The ground creaked under their feet, unable to withstand the magnitude of their power.

Zastin, with the dexterity of an experienced warrior, launched a series of quick cuts, each aimed at Shiki's most vulnerable points. The speed and precision of his attacks forced Shiki to retreat, defending with [Sandalphon] but feeling the pressure of an opponent who dominated the art of the sword.

"Haaah!" Zastin shouted with fierce determination.

After throwing a cut that Shiki barely managed to dodge thanks to his sharp reflexes, Zastin changed his tactics. Without warning, he threw a low kick, seeking to surprise Shiki and break his balance.

But Shiki, anticipating the movement, jumped into the air with agility, rising several meters above the ground.

From his elevated position, Shiki took advantage and cut the air with [Sandalphon], sending a burst of purple energy towards Zastin.

The cuts were fast and powerful, flashing in the air as if they were whips of pure energy that threatened to tear everything in their path.

Zastin, seeing the energy blasts approaching, showed no fear.

Instead of facing them directly, he chose to dodge them with a grace and speed that only a master swordsman could possess. His movements were fluid, almost as if he were dancing between the cuts, each step calculated to avoid the imminent danger.

Boom Boom

The energy blasts that Zastin dodged exploded behind him, tearing the floor and cracking it deeply.

Without the barrier that Shiki had placed on the street, the entire block would have already been destroyed.

Shiki fell to the ground shortly after, his landing marking the ground with an explosion of dust and debris.

He barely had time to get up when Zastin, without losing a second, threw himself at him with relentless force, the sword shining in his hand.

Zastin's blade descended at a dizzying speed, but Shiki, with his eyes shining and the hand of his watch spinning frantically, lifted [Sandalphon] just in time to block the attack.

The impact resonated in the air, sending a new shock wave around them.

Suddenly, both fighters disappeared and appeared far away from each other. Zastin, with an impressed look, said:

"You are strong. Even if you don't have much experience in sword handling, you learn quickly. Your physical abilities and senses are of the highest level, and I think you are holding back. So let's finish this with the next blow."

Zastin took a stance to execute his attack faster. Shiki, in silence, imitated his posture while firmly holding [Sandalphon] with both hands.

In a moment of palpable tension, a stone fell and broke the silence.

The two fighters disappeared in a flash, cracking the ground and producing a thunderous breakdown of sound. A cloud of dust rose, covering the result of the battle.

When the dust cloud dissipated, Zastin had missed his attack, and Shiki's sword, [Sandalphon], was pointing at his neck.

Shiki, with a calm expression, said firmly, "I win."

Zastin felt the cold of the blade on his neck and, with a smile, released his sword. "I lose," he said with respect.

Shiki, after concluding the confrontation, took a moment to relax.

With a slight gesture, his majestic Astral Armor began to fade into a bright powder of spiritual energy, enveloping him for a moment before revealing his normal dress. The transition was smooth, as if he had never worn that imposing armor.

Then, his gaze turned to [Sandalphon], his faithful sword. With a subtle movement, it also faded away.

Lala approached, running from a distance, her figure standing out against the backdrop of the battlefield. Despite the dust and debris, her laughter and enthusiasm illuminated the place.

When she finally arrived with Shiki, she hugged him tightly, almost out of breath from the race.

"You won against Deviluke's best swordsman; you're incredible, Shiki!" Lala exclaimed, her voice overflowing with admiration and joy. Her expression of happiness was contagious.

Shiki, with a satisfied smile on his face, held her carefully, turning her gently in a gesture of celebration.

Seeing his happiness made her feel that everything had been worth it.

"Hahaha!" Lala laughed with joy as they turned together, her laughter resonating with the same energy as her enthusiasm.

From a respectful distance, Zastin watched the scene with an approving smile.

Although the air was full of dust and the remains of the battle were still visible, the satisfaction of seeing his princess so happy was evident on his face.

"I have no problem with the two of you getting married," Zastin said with a smile.

His white hair moved with the wind, adding an almost ethereal touch to his presence.

"In fact, I'm quite happy to see Lala-sama so happy. I will go to inform Gid-sama about you. You have proven to be strong enough to protect her. I'll leave it to you."

Shiki nodded seriously, still holding Lala. "I will protect her with my life. You can tell my father-in-law and mother-in-law that they have nothing to worry about. I will do my best to keep her safe."

Zastin nodded, his expression becoming more serious.

"You must be careful with the candidates for the fiancés out there. Some might try to kill you to stay with Lala-sama; they won't give up so easily."

Shiki observed Zastin's serious expression and assured his confidence. "Don't worry about that. I have a way of knowing where they will be every time they enter planet Earth," he said in a calm tone.

'Rasiel,' Shiki thought he should put a past version of himself to keep an eye on Rasiel all day, just in case.

"I understand," Zastin replied, looking at Lala.

"Lala-sama, call your mother and your sisters. His Highnesses were quite worried because you suddenly escaped," he added, with a slightly reproaching tone, although with a touch of paternal warmth.

"Um!" she nodded enthusiastically. Although she had enjoyed her time on Earth, she missed her mother and her sisters.

"I'll call them later; I just need to build a universal network to be able to communicate easily with them," she explained cheerfully, as if she were talking about something as simple as putting together a toy.

Shiki, who had been lost in his thoughts, mentally activated his power.

'Rasiel,' and in an instant, a version of his past self began to watch the grimory all day, making sure that nothing escaped his control.

Despite his trust, Shiki was aware that destiny could be capricious and preferred not to leave loose ends.

Now, [Rasiel] would warn his Time Clone that resides in the dimension of his shadow if something strange happened in his surroundings; then the time clone, who was connected to him, would warn him.

Zastin, satisfied with Lala's response and Shiki's demonstration of skills, nodded with a slight smile.

"I see. Well, my work here is complete," he said, turning to look at Shiki.

"You proved to be worthy, so now I'll be going back," he added with a tone of respect.

It was not easy to impress someone like Zastin, but Shiki had achieved it without apparent effort.

Lala said goodbye to Zastin with an animated hand wave, while he faded in a flash of light. The atmosphere calmed down after his departure, leaving Shiki and Lala alone again.

Shiki and Lala looked at each other, their eyes reflecting both the satisfaction of the triumph and the concern for the desolate landscape that surrounded them.

The remains of the battle and the dust covered the earth, leaving behind a mantle of destruction.

Shiki sighed and turned to Lala. "It's better that you get away a little," he said calmly. Lala nodded and walked away.

With a determined expression, Shiki summoned [Zafkiel].

The giant clock appeared majestically on his back, the sounds of tic-tac resonating in the air, an imposing presence that seemed to defy time itself.

Then, Shiki used [Dalet], his ability to rewind time, just as he had done in his home. He concentrated his power, and the environment began to transform.

(A/N: Shiki is able to manipulate the time of the terrain without using his bullets, but against opponents who pass a certain level of power, he will have to use his bullets directly. I do this to make it convenient, not for anything else.)

The debris was lifted and the dust was dissipated, all returning to its original state as if the battle had never happened.

The landscape was rebuilt before his eyes, restoring the field to its intact form.

Once the area was back in perfect condition, Shiki turned to Lala.

"Let's go home," Shiki said, extending his hand to her with a smile.

"Um!" Lala responded with an expression of joy.

He took her hand with enthusiasm and, together, they began to walk home.

After a quiet walk, Shiki and Lala arrived at Shiki's apartment building.

The building stood with a modest but cozy appearance, and his apartment was on the third floor. After going up the stairs and reaching the door, Shiki opened it with his key.

Lala was the first to enter and turned towards Shiki with a warm smile.

"Welcome home," she said with a tone full of affection.

Shiki, feeling a wave of happiness, smiled back at her. He approached and hugged her tightly, his heart overflowing with emotion.

"I'm home," he said with a sincere smile.

At that moment, they stared into each other's eyes.

The words seemed unnecessary; the link between them was evident. With a deep connection, they leaned towards each other and shared a tender and passionate kiss.

— — —

(A/N: I tried to correct the spelling errors with a page. How about now? Are there still many errors? Remember that I don't speak English, so I can't know).