Amagiri Shinmeiryuu? I have mastered it

When the duel started, no one was moving.

Whether Amagiri or Tamazuki, no one was moving.

Still, this was normal since, with his indecisive attitude, unless someone told him to do so, Amagiri wouldn't do anything. He was someone that needed to be led, and it might be Amagiri's first time to fight someone who didn't take the initiative, but the others felt it was normal since they had seen Tamazuki fight several times.

Amagiri didn't think too much at this moment and thought that he should take the initiative as he closed the distance between them as raised his blade, ready to start a downward slash.

However...

'It's too slow.'

Tamazuki could still see this goofy-goofy expression on Amagiri's face, which made him shake his head, and just deactivate his sword Lux as if this duel was wasting his time.

Amagiri was confused by Tamazuki's action, but suddenly Tamazuki appeared before him.

"!?"

Holding Amagiri's wrist before, Tamazuki lowered his body slightly and then sent an elbow strike at Amagiri's belly.

Amagiri was thrown several meters away before he fell to the ground as his entire body was in intense pain.

"....."

"How boring."

Tamazuki shook his head, feeling that he was wasting his time.

"AYATO!"

Saya was startled and quickly went after Amagiri, but the rest could only shake their heads, feeling that this duel was really wasting their time.

If Amagiri didn't stop Tamazuki, shouldn't Tamazuki fight the fourth or third rank?

As for Julis, she was dumbfounded since she knew how strong Amagiri was, yet this Amagiri was beaten so easily.

'How long is it?'

It had just been a few seconds since the duel started, yet it had already ended.

Her expression changed, and she suddenly thought about why she came to the Asterisk.

Her dream...

She knew if she wanted to realize her dream, she needed someone as strong as her partner, and that person was...

Meanwhile, Amagiri, who was struck down, felt his entire body was so heavy and powerless. He realized that he might have underestimated Tamazuki as it was his first time facing him, and he didn't use all of his power and only used his so-so-like physical ability.

"Are you alright, Ayato?" While Saya was worried, she was dumbfounded at how weak Amagiri had become.

"Wait, the battle hasn't ended."

However, this time, Amagiri decided to ignore Saya and used his power without hesitation. While his big sister sealed his power, he could use his power for a limited amount of time.

Yet, before that limited time, he felt that it should be enough to defeat Tamazuki.

Right?

Unlike before, his body seemed to be energized, and the Prana around his body seemed rich.

However, the rest didn't notice that, and they discouraged Amagiri.

"Why don't you give up, Amagiri?"

"It's painful to see more than this, Amagiri!"

"Yeah, don't embarrass yourself any longer."

While the rest told him to give up, strangely enough, Yabuki and Julis didn't say anything since they anticipated Amagiri to show them a surprise.

Still, surprisingly enough, Tamazuki answered Amagiri. "Don't waste my time this time."

"Sorry."

Amagiri knew that he had wasted Tamazuki's time, but even so, there was no way for this duel to end just like this!

Unlike before, this time, Amagiri took the initiative and struck him down with the blade courageously and confidently.

His speed, power, and techniques were several times better than before.

It was a perfect strike, which had been trained for so many years, along with the help of the protagonist's aura.

Yet, it was dodged easily by Tamazuki.

Frankly, the way Tamazuki dodged was quite unique, if not rather awkward, but no matter what kind of attacks were thrown by Amagiri, he could dodge them. While he dodged, he kept observing Amagiri's martial arts, learning them as he traced that martial arts to the root.

Still, as expected of the martial arts, which were mastered by the protagonist, Tamazuki needed more time to learn this martial art since this martial art wasn't as simple as it seemed.

"His dodging skill is so awkward!"

"I am getting scared to see him move like this."

"Yeah, but this Amagiri isn't bad."

They had to say Amagiri was rather strong, and unlike before, his performance gave them a surprise.

"Come on, Ayato! Beat him up!" Saya shouted excitedly.

Yet, strangely enough, none of Amagiri's attacks ever hit Tamazuki.

Tamazuki's specialty might be his defense, but it didn't mean that he didn't train his dodging ability. His dodging ability... how to say, he trained it by mimicking something. It was like how Chinese martial arts mimicked the movement of a certain animal and used their movement in their martial arts.

His dodging ability was similar.

However, he didn't mimic an animal. Instead, he mimicked a paper.

A paper.

Except for writing or drawing something, it was useless, but it was extremely light and flexible.

He tried to imagine his body was like paper, and he succeeded, but this technique wasn't perfect yet since he needed time to develop it to a higher level.

However, by using this martial art, he could relax their body and make it take on the characteristics of a piece of paper. This granted him extraordinary flexibility that allowed him to avoid any attacks.

This martial art also allowed him to float on the wind, as well as the ability to bend and contort his body.

Moreover, as a tanuki, this martial art was easy to master, or rather, this martial art was born to be mastered by a tanuki, who was a master of shape-shifting.

Still, this martial art seemed to be quite awkward in the eyes of the others since he dodged everything by a hairbreadth, yet those who faced him knew how amazing his dodging ability was.

Amagiri tried everything, yet he couldn't do anything, so he decided to use his technique.

"Amagiri Shinmei Sword Style, First Style—Shikibachi!"

Tamazuki was speechless at someone who announced their technique out loud, but Amagiri moved around him at lightning speed, then thrust forward multiple times while his arm was stretched out and wrist was twisted.

This was the martial arts of the protagonist.

Amagiri Shinmeiryuu.

It is an ancient art that has been around for five hundred years. It was created at a time when heavy armor was used when fighting, which greatly restricted movement. The basis of this fighting style rests upon shifting one's posture and, therefore, the center of gravity when using moves.

As a style created for use in war instead of duels, the Amagiri Shinmeiryuu, although famous for its sword techniques, is a comprehensive art that incorporates a wide range of weapons in its courses, among them being a spear, double short swords, as well as hand-to-hand techniques. Designed to fight many opponents instead of one-on-one duels, many of its techniques incorporate slower yet wider, sweeping arcs.

Which is why it was rather slow.

Tamazuki easily dodged Amagiri's technique as if it were nothing, causing Amagiri, Saya, Julis, and even Yabuki to be dumbfounded. However, no one was surprised somehow.

Amagiri was strong, and his technique surprised them, but that's all, and now, it was Tamazuki's time.

"It's an interesting martial art, but do you need to say it aloud?" Tamazuki asked.

"Haha..." Amagiri could only show an awkward laugh.

"What are you saying? It's cool to say your technique name out loud!" Saya was furious.

However, once again, Tamazuki ignored her.

"?!"

If Tamazuki wasn't in a duel with Amagiri, Saya would really blast this guy with her cannon.

"But now, it is enough of playing. I have mastered your martial arts."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Amagiri frowned, feeling confused.

However, everyone was excited.

"It's time! It's time!"

"Show it to us, King!"

"King! King! King!"

Julis and Saya were confused, but Yabuki could only shake his head helplessly, thinking that everything was over.

However, soon, all of them opened their eyes wide and showed disbelief when they saw Tamazuki was using Amagiri Shinmeiryuu!