Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 36: The Stronger Saints, part 1
XAVIER did not move his legs at all, but waited patiently for the saint to attack. Of course he still remembers his conversation with Heisuke. However, he could not settle matters here quickly and caught up with them. Although Gallahad is an enemy, he is a role model. For anyone who wants to have more than one wife, Gallahad is the one who needs to be asked for his advice.
Xavier, of course, if he could choose, would not have another woman besides Artemys. Besides strength and power, Artemys has everything a man can expect from a woman. However, Xavier had a hard time rejecting the woman who was a big meritorious and already familiar with her. They will be hurt if they are rejected. That too is how Artemys infiltrated into the co—'s life
—xavier's path of mind spontaneously severed as Gallahad finally charged forward, a thick air of wind enveloping his body and greatsword.
Before Xavier's eyes blinked, Gallahad was already before him with a sword ready to slash. However, Xavier only took one step to the left to thinly dodge the slash. At the same time, his right hand had already pulled out the black-handled adamantite sword from its sheath. The sword instantly shrouded in black flames and swung swiftly.
Gallahad was of course a bit surprised his quick attack could have been avoided just by shifting to the left a step, but his already deeply honed fighting instincts allowed him to block Xavier's black fire-coated sword swing. Only, Gallahad failed to avoid Xavier's right-footed kick that had lodged into the left side of his abdomen. He crashed, but Gallahad could still land on both feet.
Ignoring the black flames that were trying to swallow the veil of wind that was clad in his sword, Gallahad again shot forward. “Wind Sword Art: Invisible End!”
Xavier responded to Gallahad's sword technique by slashing his sword once horizontally, and instantly a wave of black flames shot out at high speed and continued to rapidly enlarge. The wave of fire engulfed everything before him, as well as the invisible wind slash that Gallahad had pressed down.
The magnitude of the fire wave blocked Xavier's view of the saint. Gallahad took advantage of that by darting behind Xavier and slashing his sword fiercely. However, without turning around or looking back, Xavier's sword had first moved backwards. The clash of the two metal blades again occurred.
Gallahad did not stop at one swing of the sword; he swung it many times, again and again.
However, still in a state of not looking back, Xavier can block all sword swings without shifting from where he stood even if only a inch. It was like he had eyes behind his head and super physical strength.
But it really isn't. Xavier just optimized [Sensory Magic] and made use of [Reverse Law]. No matter how much power Gallahad channeled on his sword swing, Xavier's sword would receive weak power. [Reverse Law] reverses reality. Xavier wasn't trying to enjoy the fight; he was making use of [Reverse Law] as he should.
“Lightning Explosion,” whispered Xavier, and instantly the saint crashed, but he was still able to land on both feet.
“Unlike when sparing with Commander Hekiel, Dermyus, and Reinhart, I did not hold back. So, it's only natural that you can't keep up with me.” Xavier turned his body to face the Gallahad he had thrown. “However, you're not bad, Gallahad. Your physique is as strong as Commander Gilbert's. Your speed can keep pace with Reinhart and Commander Dermyus. Your mastery of wind magic matches Vice Commander Elizabeth. No wonder you are one of the six strongest saints.”
“I accept that as a compliment. But you are very strong, yet still quite young. Although everyone acknowledges you are a big deal—with Commander Lilithia, Commander Zenith, Princess Kanna, Edward Penumbra, and Emperor Nueva—after hearing you defeated Undead Thevetat, but feeling it for yourself is still surprising.”
“Good if you admit. That means you understand the end result of this battle. Don't you want to give up?”
“Heh, it seems that I have no other choice,” Gallahad stuck his greatsword (which had been partially engulfed in black flames) on the ground, “Fuse in the endless darkness, Infinity Darkness. Give power to the throne holder, Room of the Ruler.”
Xavier raised one eyebrow once he found himself in total darkness. He can't see anything. his [Sensory Magic] was also unable to sense anything. Even as Xavier manifested the blue flame as a light, it lost its color. Not a single bit of light was emitted. True darkness.
“No light can illuminate in this infinite darkness, just like the uselessness of sensory magic inside here.”
“Not bad,” praise Xavier while blocking Gallahad's blow with his left palm.
“Ba-How can? You shouldn't be able to see me! You shouldn't be able to feel me. You can also only hear what I allow you to hear.”
“I happen to be able to see the invisible. Heard what cannot be heard. Feel the unfeelable. You have to me—!”
Xavier instantly fell silent, his eyes slightly widening. He found himself unable to move. And, for the first time since the fight began, a punch hit Xavier's heart furiously, sending him crashing.
“It just so happens that I created the rules in this space,” explains Gallahad. “If you don't let me move, you won't be able to move. Do you still think you can win? Do you still think I can't compensate you?”
“Pulling,” reply Xavier after both his legs stopped dragging. “Say, what's your magic?” ask the commander.
“Nobody knows I have this magic. And I won't tell you either. I only use this magic when victory is unattainable. When I'm me—kau! How can you move? I won't let you move!”
“It just so happens that I don't like following the rules. And you just asked me if I still thought I could win? Do I still think you can't compensate me?” Xavier is not waiting for confirmation. “The answer, of course. You hit me because I was surprised. Apparently so sensation when someone who wants to move but can not move.”
“...What do you mean?”
“I mean, let's inverse the rules in this place. I'm the rule-maker, and you're the one who has to obey.”
“Invert rules? Just be right! This is my domain. I am the one who—”
“Diam.”
“—meme..!”
“Good. Until I let you talk, you can't talk. Next rule, this darkness is gone.”
And at once, the true darkness vanished without trace; they were now in an almost limitless white room.
Gallahad who stood a dozen meters away from Xavier widened his eyes in shock. His lips twitched, but he could not open his mouth to speak.
“Your magic is quite interesting. Putting aside my ways, one way to break free from here is by illusion. Ah, Menez will be out of here before you know it. Well, now, how do you want to be defeated? Are you ready to accept death, or negotiate to stay alive? I'm sure you don't want your wives married to another man after you're dead, do you?”