One-on-One Duel

I deliberately summoned them without using 【Enchantment】, so I could preserve enough strength to use magic. But I still have another way to strengthen them.

"Undead Boost!"

"Clatter clatter clatter clatter!!!"

The moving Skeletons I summoned rattled their teeth as if expressing their joy at being strengthened. To some observers, this alone might have been a terrifying sight.

"Activate 【Abyssal Aura】 and 【Evil Eye of Death and Chaos】. Go."

In addition, I released 【Abyssal Aura】, which causes various status ailments, and activated 【Evil Eye of Death and Chaos】, which increases susceptibility to abyssal magic. Something resembling black mist poured from my body, while red lights ignited in my three eye sockets.

At the same time, I ordered the Skeleton Swordsmen to attack. Usba's level was probably not much different from mine, making the Skeleton Swordsmen little more than fodder to him. Even so, how would things look if it were two against one, with me supporting them?

"Clatter clatter clatter!"

"...Touching them seems like a bad idea. Then let's attack with jabs."

Usba dodged the Skeleton Swordsmen's slashes while throwing a knife at me. It flew at a decent speed, but the shield of the Skeleton Shielder that stepped in front of me knocked it away.

"Remote activation: Astral Magic Circle, Thorn Whip."

I activated Thorn Whip so that it wrapped around Usba's feet as he continued dodging the Skeleton Swordsmen's fierce attacks with a calm expression. I wasn't expecting much from it, though.

"Too easy."

"As expected. Then, remote activation: Astral Magic Circle, Black Thread."

Usba crouched and cut away the thorns with two daggers he had somehow come to hold in both hands. But I never thought something like that would be enough to deal with it. My next move was to restrain him with 【Dark Magic】, my main attack.

"Heh heh heh. Magic won't work on me, you know?"

"What!?"

To my surprise, Usba cut through the approaching magical threads with his daggers. A sword that could cut magic!? I had no idea such a thing existed...

"As long as I have this, no mage can defeat me."

"Is that so? ...Fall back! Activate Astral Magic Circle, Spell Adjustment, Lava Bullet."

If he could cut magic, then I only had to attack with more than he could deal with. I had my servants take a step back, then fired Lava Bullets at Usba.

"Then all I have to do is dodge them, right?"

Even after I fired five bullets made of magma, Usba moved as though weaving through the gaps between them and dodged every one. He certainly had the skill to back up his confidence.

But it would be a big mistake to think you were the only one who could move quickly. How many times do you think I've been forced to spar with the two of them—Jigoro and Genzuro, that Battle Junkie?

"Hmph! Spell Adjustment, Acid Mist."

"Guh!?"

I used Acid Mist from 【Smoke and Mist Magic】 in only a narrow area around his head, enough to envelop it. Good thing I had Spell Adjustment!

"A childish trick...!?"

"Explode."

I only managed to block his vision for an instant. But that instant was exactly what I needed. I made the servant I had sent charging self-destruct. A mass of bones scattered around us. I was safe because I was hiding behind the Skeleton Shielder, but Usba, who had taken the blast at point-blank range, couldn't possibly have escaped unscathed.

"..."

However, I probably hadn't defeated him. It shouldn't have had that much power. Things might have been different if a bone had happened to pierce his throat or some other accident had occurred, but he would surely protect his vital points above all else.

"Heh... hehehehe! Amazing! You actually managed to wound me! Aside from my clan members, only a few people have ever done that—and you're the first solo mage!"

"I'm honored. But I'd appreciate it if you picked one: praising me or bragging."

From my perspective, it sounded less like he was praising me and more like he was saying that he and his companions were strong.

"No, no, I sincerely mean it. This looks like it'll be even more fun than I expected... doesn't it!"

"Huh!?"

Usba threw the two daggers he had been holding. The Skeleton Shielder immediately stepped between us. The shield should have knocked them away... but it didn't!? They pierced it!?

The weapons held by summoned monsters only had performance appropriate to their level. My 【Summoning】 level was 29. In other words, I could only summon monsters between levels 20 and 29 that had undergone two evolutions. Weapons appropriate for them were far inferior to my own equipment.

Apparently, even the Skeleton Shielder's shield, which specialized in defense, was inadequate. Perhaps protecting me from the attacks of an opponent above level 40 had simply been too much for it.

"Now the real fight begins. Agility Boost, Dexterity Boost."

"【Enchantment】?"

At some point, Usba had begun holding a black straight sword, from its tip all the way to its pommel. The crude blade had no ornamentation whatsoever, yet it was obvious that its performance was far above average. But what concerned me more was the fact that he had demonstrated the ability to use magic.

Using magic requires a catalyst, such as a staff. Strictly speaking, spells can be activated without one, but their power is greatly reduced and the amount of mana consumed increases. A staff could therefore be considered essential for casting magic.

And yet Usba had been enhanced to the point that a faint phosphorescence rose from his entire body. That meant he possessed a catalyst other than a staff. Perhaps it was that sword, or maybe a ring or necklace. I didn't know, but I would make him tell me after I won.

"Then I'll play a few trump cards of my own. Charge."

"Clatter!"

I gave the last remaining servant its order and quickly changed equipment. What I drew was my trusty scythe. Then I removed the 'Dark Book' from my book holder. Like a staff, it was a magical catalyst, allowing me to cast spells.

"Agility Boost, Agility Boost, Agility Boost, Dexterity Boost, Strength Boost."

"You won't even serve as a meat shield—let alone a bone shield."

"No, that'll be enough. Dispel, then Spell Adjustment, Magic Jammer!"

"!?"

My servant's shield was cleaved in two with a single slash, and it was shattered by the return stroke before it could even self-destruct. But I hadn't wasted even a moment of the time it had bought me.

While strengthening myself with 【Enchantment】, I used 【Curse Magic】 to dispel Usba's enhancements. The fact that it succeeded in a single attempt was undoubtedly thanks to 【Evil Eye of Death and Chaos】.

Then I used Magic Jammer to prevent him from strengthening himself again. Magic Jammer prevented magic from being activated, but it could not cancel something that had already been activated. It meant extra work, and I had revealed one of my trump cards, 【Curse Magic】, but it couldn't be helped. I would just consider it a necessary expense.

Now Usba could neither strengthen himself again nor cast any new magic. At the same time, I had also lost the ability to use magic, but that was fine. It was all part of my plan.

Having reached a different Race from an ordinary Skeleton High Lich through 【Alchemy】, my Strength and Agility stats were also higher, even if only within the margin of error. If I enhanced them to the limit, I could raise my stats enough to handle a front-line class.

"Here I go!"

"Hehehehe! You really are an interesting fellow!"

I returned the 'Dark Book' to my book holder, gripped my scythe with both hands, and charged while recalling my sparring matches with Jigoro and Genzuro. I could no longer maintain Magic Jammer after taking my hands off the catalyst, but Spell Adjustment had extended its duration, so it wasn't a major problem.

"Hah! Hya! Hnn!"

"Oh, this is unexpected..."

Usba seemed surprised that I was more agile than he had expected as we exchanged blows. I'd undergone training while being chewed out countless times. I'd be pretty pathetic if I couldn't at least move properly!

"...Oh? Is my vision trembling? Fear status?"

It had finally taken effect. That was probably the work of 【Abyssal Aura】. Perhaps thanks to the Evil Eye's effect as well, I had managed to inflict the Fear status ailment on him.

"But!"

"Guh!"

"I can still correct for something this minor."

Yet Usba was a formidable opponent. He was the boss of the strongest PK clan. Even with his vision distorted by fear, he continued swinging his sword without hesitation. I couldn't exactly call this an advantage!

We stood our ground and traded blows, but no matter how much I enhanced myself, I was still a mage; winning a sword fight was fundamentally impossible. I did manage to poison him during the exchange, but it was like throwing a drop of water onto a hot stone. Even if I could keep up with him, I could not match him as an equal. I gradually became entirely defensive, continuing to deal with his attacks by deflecting them, but...

"Crushing Blow!"

"Gaaah!"

At last, Usba caught a momentary opening and struck with all his might. I ended up taking the blow directly on the shaft of my scythe. He must have been using a weapon skill, because the blow was incredibly heavy despite having been delivered from such an awkward posture. I felt my body rise into the air.

This is bad! At this rate, my back would hit the ground! If that happened, Usba surely wouldn't let me stand again.

"Flight!"

"Oh?"

The effect of the 'Moon's Feather Robe' made me float in midair. I had somehow managed to survive...

"Whoa!?"

That was close! That bastard Usba had thrown a knife at me without saying a word! I would be nothing but a sitting duck like this, so I landed as quickly as possible.

"Magnificent. Even though I'm holding back somewhat, you're the first person to give me this much trouble in a one-on-one fight!"

"Should I take that as a compliment? But I know someone stronger than you."

"Oh? Then please introduce me to them!"

My provocation seemed to delight him even more. Tch, this Battle Junkie really was impossible to deal with! If this dragged on any longer, I would have to play even more of my cards... What should I do?

"...Boss, time's up."

"Oh my, everyone's gathered already? I got completely absorbed in the fight."

The one who stepped between us was Akane, the cat-masked girl. Apparently, she had gone to gather their companions as Usba had ordered. Looking around, I saw several masked figures dressed in black, similar to Usba and Akane.

"Well, who'd have thought there was someone besides us who could fight the boss head-on?"

"Seriously."

"And he's a mage, too, right? Amazing."

"That robe's pretty cool, isn't it? I wonder where he got it. Looks player-made, though."

"..."

There were six people in the masked group, including Usba and Akane. It seemed to be a small clan, like ours.

"Now then, Izam-san. You fought me splendidly, one-on-one, until the time limit. So, let me hear what you have to say."

"I'm glad to hear I passed."

"Hehehehe! No, no—rather than merely passing, it feels as though I was handed an answer sheet with a perfect score and shown an answer worth two hundred points."

Usba sheathed his sword and gave an elegant, theatrical bow.

"Then allow me to show you to the headquarters of our 'Persona.'"