Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 173: Proxy Nidol
「You're faster than I thought. It's annoying, but do you think that I'll be at a disadvantage in a speed match? 」
Nidol muttered with a lazy smile. Open fields can take full advantage of the potential for mobility. It is easier to move in an open field than among the spectator seats where you will find uneven footing and various obstacles.
Right after, Rio headed towards Nidol from the front while moving left and right as a trick. But–,
「Huhm! 」
Nidol focused all his strength onto his sword and slammed it into the ground. With the impact point as the start, the black flames began to spread out and cause an explosion.
（What ......................... What is it?）
Rio retreated with a step back like dancing at the same time and looked at the black flames, with a doubtful face.
「Huhm, your reaction is also a wound above all others. But, this sword of mine can manipulate the flame of the evil dragon at will. Putting out a fire won't be that easy, you know? 」
Nidol hummed in admiration and then unsheathed his sword to the side. His sword shot out a black flame like an arrow that cleared the field.
「. Should I give him some leeway? 」
Nidol muttered with a shocked face as the field in front of him turned into a black bonfire. Lalu–,
「He is a long-awaited opponent who can cross his sword with mine for the same reason. I want to enjoy this fight longer, but I'm not a cowardly dragon. YOU………… . . 」
Right after saying his sentence, a compressed wind cannonball shot out from within the fire. The compressed air ball blew out the black flames and headed towards Nidol in a straight line while clad in black flames.
「MUH! 」
Nidol swung his sword at once. Upon contact, the wind cannonball created a shock wave in the atmosphere that defeated Nidol.
It took a while for Nidol to get rid of the wind cannonball, so before he realized it, Rio was only an inch away from his chest.
"GREAT! 」
Nidol showed a trance-like smile and took a defiant stance on reflex, but Rio had already gained the initiative with his sudden attack.
He slipped into the chest of Nidol, who was gripping his heavy sword, killing his chance to fight back and began to defeat Nidol by slashing at him using both daggers with movements that were hard to follow.
Rio's dagger flashed a few times under the moonlight. He slashed Nidol's hands and feet with great precision but―― 、
(It looks like the secret lies in the armor material on his body. It is as strong as the skin of some dragon subspecies.)
Instead of using a slash attack, Rio used his attack power to inflict blunt damage. Nidol's clothes might repel the dagger but the damage of its impact should accumulate under that outfit. It seemed that Nidol was wary of the attack aiming for his vitals, but it might only be a matter of time before he died from the accumulated damage.
Nidol found himself in a state of emergency, however, he let out an innocent laugh in a loud voice. It was as if he was truly enjoying this battle from the bottom of his heart.
Perhaps it was because he was unable to gauge the true nature of the man named Nidol that Rio started attacking again while maintaining his vigilance.
"What's the problem? Isn't that the best chance to kill me? Come and grab my neck at once. You will only regret waiting for me to weaken. 」
Nidol urged Rio to kill him immediately, but, soon after, his face suddenly turned grim. The black-colored magic power exploded like flames from Nidol's body and the heavy sword in his hand.
Rio retreats reflexively but ――
「Unfortunately, your time is up. I …………………. Can't push it anymore. Run as far as you can now! 」
Nidol sighed after saying that. Streams of sinister black magic power gathered towards the heavy sword in Nidol's hand.
（That magic power is bad news）
Rio could feel the shivering on his back and started squeezing even stronger magic power within his body.
「................ Hou?」
Nidol looked at the scene in awe while his lips curved up like a war beast. Even during that time, bursts of violent black magic power continued to gather into the heavy sword in his hand— 、
「Alright, GAME ON!」
Nidol adjusted his position and swung his sword down lightly. At that moment, endless black bursts of flames roared towards Rio. The ground of the arena was also covered in pitch darkness.
But, perhaps because Rio had squeezed a large amount of magic power that would not lose to Nidol's, he held his hand far towards the rushing black flames that were coming in. A brilliant white light burst out from Rio's hand at the next moment.
Streams of white light collided with the black flames and pushed its way through the black flames while releasing light particles like diamond dust. Following the dazzling white light was a fierce storm that brought the frozen Arctic wind inside the arena.
The black flames shot out by Nidol froze in place as if being gnawed by a storm. Using that instantaneous distraction, Rio was already moving behind Nidol―― 、
「........... Uhm, although it ended too early, I wondered when I could feel such a feeling that made my blood boil again. It was a fair fight, I enjoyed it. I never kept my promise, now take your pay. What do you want, is this my life? 」
The nidol who got the dagger pushed his neck saying so in an emotionless voice.
「………. I'm not interested in your life. I just want information. 」
Rio paused for a moment and then told Nidol about his demands. The reason for attacking Nidol was not to kill him because he only wanted information.