True Leaders?

--- Alexia ---

Casting a quick glance at the scene I left behind, I sighed. "It seems he's more of a scumbag than I thought," I muttered to myself. I didn't know what kind of magic he used, but I had a suspicion.

Instead of wasting time in a stalemate with this guy, though, it's better for me to go all out. Acting like a chess piece on someone else's board is not my style.

Normally, this sword I've created would've been enough to erase all my enemies, but Jormungandr's Authority is getting in the way of that. He's a formidable warrior, but even he has limits.

Taking in a small breath of air, I prepared myself for what was to come.

Without hesitation, I started compressing more slime jelly into the sword, using all my Magical Power without worrying about how much I was spending.

The me of the past would've called me crazy for daring to attempt something I could barely pull off in training, let alone on a battlefield with countless variables.

But if there's one thing I've learned from training with Fray for so long, it's that this kind of pressure is exactly what I need to surpass myself.

400

The number of compressed swords slowly began to increase, despite the heavy toll it took on me.

But still, I had to push through.

"...Stop her at all costs!"

As I dodged one of Jormungandr's strikes, I heard Loki's voice ringing out.

He must've realized the consequences if I completed this, huh.

Well, at least he's not clueless, I'll give him that.

500

I caught sight of Freya in my peripheral vision as she charged her sword with a peculiar type of Magical Power, aiming to halt my progress.

Our swords clashed, and as we drew closer, I could sense its unusual properties more distinctly.

'Is that the charm ability Freya used to bewitch people?'

It emitted a fragrance akin to that of a rose, a scent difficult to resist if not for the protective Armor I wore.

I'm relieved I dealt with her first. She would've posed the greatest threat if circumstances had been different.

Now, unfortunately, she's nothing but a mere puppet.

Despite her strength, she can't fully utilize the power hidden within her body under someone else's influence.

I pushed her aside while simultaneously contending with Jormungandr, all the while continuing to compress the swords.

600

700

850

999

At this point, the sword was so full that it was starting to give off an intense pink glow, but that was only the tip of the iceberg.

I sensed it deep within me.

Attempting to infuse more slime jelly into the sword would only lead to disaster.

But, it should suffice.

As I readied myself for the final strike, time seemed to slow to a crawl. My enemies lay within striking distance, yet none could thwart my attack before it was unleashed.

"...[Thousand Sword Art: Severing Slash],"

I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of my heart pounding in my chest as I swung my sword in a wide arc resembling Jormungandr's earlier attacks.

The resulting slash released a torrent of Magical Power, hurtling toward them with unmatched speed.

Against this onslaught, neither Jormungandr's Authority nor Freya's Magical Power held any sway.

There's a reason I bestowed this technique with such a name.

It can sever anything. Even Authority itself.

That is the secret behind this slash.

The only thing they can look forward to now, is their own death.

But just as the wave of immense Magical Power was about to make contact, an explosion erupted with a deafening roar, shaking the very ground beneath me.

Caught off guard, I was engulfed in it before I could react. The sheer force of the blast sent me flying backward, the intense heat scorched my skin as I tumbled through the air.

It felt like my body was being torn apart, my ears ringing as I fought to stay conscious.

Colliding with a nearby wall, I felt the impact resonate through my entire being. The breath was knocked out of me, and I crumpled to the ground, dazed and disoriented.

---

As the smoke cleared, I strained to focus my blurred vision on the scene before me.

Where once my enemies had stood, now there was only a gaping crater torn into the earth.

Debris littered the ground, and the smell of smoke and charred flesh filled the air.

Blood trickled from my wounds, mixing with the blood that I was already covered in.

I groaned softly, trying to push myself up onto my hands and knees.

Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, and I could feel my energy dwindling rapidly. The effort of unleashing my attack, combined with the injuries I had sustained, had pushed me to the brink of exhaustion.

I could barely stand, let alone fight anymore.

But I couldn't stop there. I quickly scanned the battlefield.

And yet, there was no sign of life. Only silence echoed in the wake of the destruction the explosion had wrought.

Still...

Something was off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was a feeling of unease gnawing at the back of my mind.

My ears were still ringing, but all of a sudden, I could make out the sound of distant thunder.

Searching for the source, I looked up, squinting through the smoke and debris, and saw two figures locked in combat.

One was a man I know all too well, his sword flashing through the air as he parried bolt after bolt of lightning. The other was a woman with fiery red hair and eyes, her hands ablaze with crackling energy as she matched him blow for blow.

"She must be...one of them..." I muttered under my ragged breath.

The 'True Leaders' have finally shown up.

But before I could do anything, I heard someone talking.

"You've— best.— Rest now."

It was difficult to make up what she was saying, but since it was a familiar voice, I let it go.

With that, I felt my consciousness fading, even though I wanted to do more.

--- 

Author's Note:

It will be explained properly from Akira's POV in the next chapter, but we're getting closer to the ending!

I will eventually release Alexia's [Status] once we're done with the Trials, just like I did with Yor Forger, Anya, and Loid Forger.

Tell me if you would like anyone's Status from the 2nd Trial in addition to that, because I think I'll be making an Auxiliary chapter for all of them at this point (Including Akira as he passes through the Trials, so that you can have a way to see his growth more clearly)