Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master
chapter-302

Chapter 302 – More Interest Than Expected

『The Fūrinkazan fighting style… at first glance, it appears to be well-balanced in terms of speed, power, technique, and defense, but tis not so. It has its weaknesses.』

Even though I am currently fighting against one of the Six Supremacy, who have left their name in history, my master was as reliable as ever.

『First of all, the wind technique that she often uses in her attacks is not very useful when there are many allies around, and even more so, she must maintain a certain amount of distance from the enemy in order to utilize it. If the enemy is too close, she may also take damage.』

『In other words, she is vulnerable to super-close quarter combat.』

True to his word, I moved around at Norja’s feet without stopping, and on top of that, I tried not to ever move more than a certain distance away from her.

As a result, Norja couldn’t attack me with her tail, only with simple claw and stomp attacks.

Those attacks were big swings, with no particular feint or jab-like technique, just swinging around with force.

“Heeeeeeeeeeree!”

“Right here! 【Ragaan Sonic Smash】!”

As I am now, I can easily dodge, and on top of that, I can shrewdly hit counters.

Because she’s a big target, I can throw my fist as much as I want.

But…

『Nevertheless, you will need a decisive blow. The defense of her Ka(Forest)and Zan(Mountain) are designed to deal with attacks that emphasize destructive power, such as great magic and Hiro’s magic sword… her raw endurance cannot be overcome by half-baked attacks.』

Right. I’ve been hitting her with a lot of force in my fist, but it doesn’t seem to be having that much of an effect on Norja.

It’s blocked by her fur and simple beast muscles, so it doesn’t resonate to her core.

And Norja knows that too.

“Nihahahahahaha, you’re, like, giving me a good spanking~!”

Her eyes were serious even though she was laughing.

It’s as if she was trying to observe everything about me while daring to take my attacks.

『Tis so. I suppose she has become interested in your breakthroughs, simple movements and techniques… she is slowly pushing you into a corner, trying to draw out all sorts of things.』

Norja wasn’t letting her guard down, but she doesn’t think she’ll lose to me.

It’s as if she’s just trying to get to know me.

As proof of that, when I aim at her eyes or such vital points, she’ll avoid it.

When this happens…

『When this happens, what matters is when and where… it will depend on whether you hit the Great Magic Spiral.』

Yes. I was thinking exactly the same thing.

“So in so in ssoooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiin!!!

Even if I keep her from activating the Fūrinkazan, it’s meaningless if my attack doesn’t work.

If that’s the case, I have no choice but to hit the biggest and strongest of my attacks… the Great Magic Spiral.

But, it takes a little time to activate, and above all, it’s a big swing, so even if I launch it head-on normally, Norja will evade it.

So, how do you hit it?

『Tis decided then. Driving in at an opening from her blind spot is your only option.』

But since I can’t do that…

『In order to do that, you have to make her create an opening.』

「So, that’s——」

『To that end… dare to let her use the Fūrinkazan.』

“…… Huh?”

Hmm? I couldn’t help but say it out loud, could I?

What is Tre’ainar saying when I’m nervous about things like dust storms and claws that can gouge the ground out?

「Hey, what do you mean!? I’m fighting in close quarters like this so that Norja won’t be able to use the Fūrinkazan, but you want me to let her use it? What do you mean?」

『Yes, while trying to keep the Fūrinkazan at bay… you will intentionally show an opening, and when Norja sees an opportunity and uses the Fūrinkazan… that is when the biggest opening arises.』

「……? …… Huh?」

『In any case, keep dodging for now and get accustomed to her attacks and movements. Now that you can use radar, you can dodge them well enough. And then, gradually calm your mind and listen to what I have to say.』

Tre’ainar said something that contradicted the advice he had given before the fight with Norja.

No good. I don’t really understand what he’s saying.

「I mean… even her current attacks could kill me if they land, yet you want to deliberately let her perform a special move called the Fūrinkazan, which is even more powerful than this…? That’s… pretty dangerous, isn’t it… well, even if I can avoid it, it’s still pretty dangerous!」

Anyway, considering that even one shot of Norja’s attack could end me, I have to keep dodging while improving my concentration for now.

“【Ragaan Crossover Step】!”

There’s no time to hesitate. Just move around.

Use foresight and predict Norja’s attacks one, two, three moves ahead.

Make full use of the radar and sharpen all your nerves.

“…… Nuh… Nuh…”

Then, as the sound of a violent impact echoed, Norja’s cheerful laughter gradually subsided.

What? Suddenly, even in a bad mood…

“…… I really can’t hit you… well done.”

No. Was that a normal compliment?

『Fuh, the opponent is a Six Supremacy. Despite a difference in race, if the adversary is worthy, the evaluation will be fair.』

Tre’ainar said that, and now that you mentioned it, both Jamdi’el and Paripi somehow acknowledged me while we were fighting, for what it’s worth.

Leaving out things like me being the son of the Hero, Hiro, or anything like that.

And it’s not just the Six Supremacy of this era…

“Hey, who the heck is that man! Oh, he’s not getting hit, he’s evading!”

“He’s not running away…… he’s dodging the boss’s typhoon-like attacks!”

“That powerful and matchless attack of the Great General… that masked man… can do that!”

The Amazonesses, who were watching this situation from a distance, were also changing the way they looked at me, even though at first they were wildly screaming like, “Do it!”.

They’re evaluating… huh?

Whoa, what is this… why are only those involved with the Demon King Army acknowledging me properly…

『―――Perhaps… not just limited to that? In this era…』

“…… Oh…”

Tre’ainar pointed, and I noticed that kid with a pouty expression, but a twinkle in his eye, in a different place from the Amazonesses.

That pouty, sulky, slightly annoying kid was looking at me with a twinkle in his eye.

Even to him, I was…

『Also… there is a certain young lady who would be angry were she to be neglected, is there not?』

「That’s right!」

Yes, and now I have Espie.

I got it…… that’s why……

「If that’s how it’s going to be, then… I’ll surprise them more anyway.」

『Hmm, tis fine.』

My heart was a little scared, but now I want to astonish them even more.

But on the other hand…

“Well done… but…… I see.”

“Huh!?”

In the midst of the battle, Norja smiled again.

“You’re sharp, and above all, abundant feints, agile footwork… the insight to read all of my movements… they’re stunning. But…… that alone is not enough to beat me. Not with the power of the attacks you’re relentlessly hitting into the openings you’re exploiting. And being as good as you are, you should have already realized that. And yet, I smell a purpose, a target, in your fight.”

“…… Nuh…”

“So there is something, isn’t there? A killer move that could do some real damage to me. But, it probably needs to be wound up, or it’s a big swing, so it’s tough to hit me with it head-on. So, to hit it, you must be trying to exploit an opening somewhere, right?”

Once she stopped his limbs, Norja started talking fluently with some pride, but… it got found out… my aim…

『Fu, as expected of Norja… her wild instincts, her wealth of experience…… she will not get caught in a scheme so easily… however, to speak of it so fluently… well, it seems that this one…』

Apparently, it’s not going to be that easy. Tre’ainar was also smiling wryly.

What’s going on? Is that bad?

『It matters not. Child, do not falter.』

「Oh, oh?」

『In this way, by deliberately talking about the opponent’s intentions and inciting them, she is merely observing how you move from there, how you react, whether you react in a way that would be undesirable and so on.』

Just observing?

What’s the point of that…

『It seems that Norja has taken more interest in you than I expected.』

“?”

『But what concerns me is rather … in this period… Norja’s obsession at that time was certainly with Hiro… but to be so interested in Ragaan-Man… is this really based on historical facts? Tis useless to think about it, but… Hmm…… well, tis fine! Move, child!』