Chapter 6.15

"Seriously, he did it ..."

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Mars' monologue echoed in the silence.

However, no one could answer his words. Everyone was at a loss for words at the indescribable scene in front of them.

While the silence reigned, they stared at the center of the arena. Only two swordsmen were standing there.

Countless pieces of metal were scattered around their feet. They were fragments of the tower shield that was shattered by Nozomu's [Core Piercing].

What came back to Mars' mind was the powerful thrust that Nozomu released earlier. Since Nozomu had very little energy, he guessed that technique was like [Phantom] that used a small amount of Qi to deal damage efficiently, but even so, that was a terrifying killing power.

"Irisdina... Have you ever seen that technique?"

"No, I don't. But I'm familiar with that stance..."

Irisdina's mind remembered the time when Nozomu, misled by Tiamat, turned his blade on them.

She remembered how he had taken a similar stance when Tima had activated the [Sand Castle Wall] to prevent the onslaught of the out-of-control Nozomu.

"Nozomu was using "that stance" at that time, and if he were able to use the technique he's using now...."

Even in a suppressed state, that technique could pierce Jihad's tower shield. If that technique had been unleashed in a released state of Ability Suppression, they might not even have a piece of flesh left.

"Now that you mention it, we were seriously in a dangerous situation..."

"I-It seems so..."

Mars and Tima were saying those words in trembling voices.

Although the rest of them didn't say anything, they were still in a cold sweat remembering what had happened at that time.

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Nozomu was just looking straight ahead. He didn't know that his friends were shaking in fear of the killing power of the [Core Piercing] that they had been exposed to.

At the end of his line of sight was a powerful man clad in silver and white armor.

Perhaps it was because he had taken a direct hit from [Core Piercing] that penetrated the tower shield. The greatsword held up by his hand had countless scratches on it, and there were cracks here and there.

Jihad who had been holding up his greatsword slowly lowered his hand amidst the remnants of the fluttering Qi.

What he saw was Jihad's calm appearance, completely unscathed.

"As expected"

Nozomu thought to himself as he gazed at Jihad's unscathed face.

He didn't think it was strange that Jihad was unharmed. It was certainly a surprise, but it would have been difficult to penetrate his defenses when he had a shield and a greatsword between them.

The penetrating power of [Core Piercing] was reduced when the Qi blade explodes. In fact, the Qi blade that Nozomu struck exploded in front of the greatsword that Jihad had raised.

Nevertheless, the damage that the greatsword received from [Core Piercing] was serious. The blade of the greatsword was deeply gouged out by the Qi blade that exploded at close range. It couldn't be used anymore.

"My shield was pierced and my sword shattered. Maybe I'm starting to become an old geezer."

Jihad threw away the greatsword that the blade had been cruelly gouged out. The greatsword fell to the ground and broke in half with a high-pitched cracking sound as if it had reached its limit.

Jihad turned an apologetic face at the shattered greatsword and looked at the armor he was wearing.

"And it's been a long time since I've had a scratch on my armor."

With a wry smile on his face, Jihad gave his armor a quick pat. A creaking sound reached Jihad's ears.

If others looked closely, they could see that the armor made of mithril also had some scratches on it. It was caused by the burst of Qi blades when Nozomu's [Core Piercing] exploded.

"I didn't expect to be beaten this badly..."

Jihad would not have expected his weapon to be shattered and his armor to be damaged by a student.

In fact, with the exception of Irisdina and the others, all of the students in the surroundings seemed to be shaken.

Jihad seemed to be saying those words in a tone of admiration, but Nozomu wanted to retort, "What are you saying when you're unharmed?".

"Too unreasonable ..."

Nozomu said in a bitter tone.

It was one of the most decisive Qi techniques he possessed. He had also released three different techniques in a row. If he was able to overcome it unscathed, even Nozomu would feel a little depressed.

In addition, Nozomu had consumed a considerable amount of Qi in the battle so far, and it was starting to affect his body little by little, making him feel tired.

(At the very least, he should have a single scar on his face!)

He tried to swear in his mind, but he gave up, thinking that this was a monster on the same level as his master.

"If this couldn't be settled with just this then, do I need to take some appropriate measures ... "

With those words, Jihad swept his gaze aside. The moment Nozomu noticed what was beyond Jihad's gaze, a shiver ran through Nozomu's body.

"~!?"

Hastened by the sense of danger he felt, Nozomu resisted the shiver he felt in his body and rushed towards Jihad at once.

The current Jihad had nothing that could be used as a weapon. But that didn't mean that he didn't have a weapon here.

"Haa~!"

Nozomu's slash, filled with his spirit, attacked Jihad.

Jihad's gaze was set on his original partner, the giant sword "Jaw Drop".

Nozomu swung his katana to prevent his opponent from picking up the weapon.

However, the moment his katana seemed to reach Jihad's body, Jihad's figure disappeared from Nozomu's sight.

"Wha~!?"

Nozomu let out a shout of agitation at his own slash that only cut through empty air.

Nozomu lost sight of Jihad for a moment. As soon as he immediately tried to look for any sign of Jihad, his vision was covered by a dark shadow.

"~! Above !?"

Nozomu, who immediately noticed where Jihad was, looked up.

There he saw Jihad literally leaping toward the sky.

He jumped over Nozomu's head and headed straight for his partner.

"Kuh~! This is bad!?"

Nozomu was momentarily taken aback by the unbelievable leap shown by a person who was supposed to be wearing full body armor.

However, he quickly regained his composure and turned around, swung his katana, and released a Qi slash at Jihad's landing spot.

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