*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
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Autumn Harvest Festival (4)
Holy Buster Semi-Open Impact.
This technique amplifies divine power through prayer and releases it as a pure physical explosion of energy.
In essence, whether it’s a knight or a mage, both transform energy into combat techniques or magic spells. However, Estelle’s method is simply an explosive burst of energy, like inflating a water balloon until it’s about to burst and then popping it instantly.
It’s a straightforward, almost wasteful approach, but it has its advantages.
In martial arts, it’s akin to a no-breath strike; in magic, it’s like casting without incantation.
The overwhelming force, unleashed without preparation, leaves no time for the opponent to react.
“Ah, I guess I should apologize to whoever prepared the arena.”
Despite her words, Estelle didn’t sound the least bit sorry. Her tone was laced with arrogance, as if she believed she had the right to do as she pleased.
“Hmm~ Is it over?”
Though she hadn’t used her full power, the force she had unleashed was enough to shatter the arena. With such overwhelming pressure, it was hard to imagine anyone standing their ground against it—especially not someone like Alicia Arden, a swordswoman known for her technical finesse rather than raw power. Yet…
“…”
There she was, standing amidst the wreckage of the arena, her sword drawn and her eyes sharp as ever. She hadn’t moved a single step despite the onslaught.
‘Could it be… she neutralized the shockwave with just her sword?’
Is that even possible? And in such a brief moment? Unless she could somehow ‘freeze time’…
“So, this is what they call a ‘Domain,’ right? Interesting.”
The domain—a legendary realm of martial prowess, spoken of in myths and often dismissed as exaggeration. The most famous example would be Garrand Arden, the pinnacle of a bygone era, but that was a long time ago.
The domain was known to exist, but those who had actually witnessed it were few. And as a cleric, Estelle had no real connection to this level of martial skill.
“Huh?”
Before Estelle could dwell on it further, Alicia closed the distance between them in an instant. Her sword swung in a horizontal arc—
Clang!
—and was stopped cold against Estelle’s bare skin.
“What… what kind of sound is that… coming from a person…?”
“I shall be the iron wall that halts the enemy’s steel chariots.”
Estelle’s body was enveloped in an invisible, radiant light.
The energy was dense and potent, something entirely different from aura or magic—pure divine power.
Even Korin Lork had only seen such vivid divine power during Erin Danua and Ohad Breth’s final moments.
With the power of Wundry, Estelle had drawn even closer to divinity.
Perhaps only Erin Danua and Korin Lork, with his all-seeing eye, could fully comprehend this power.
“They call you a saint…”
“Not anymore.”
With a smile, Estelle lifted her club—the magical club of Dagda, perfectly attuned to the divine power of the earth.
“Now, I am a goddess, child.”
Alicia raised her sword to block the descending club, but the sheer weight of it bore down on her like a mountain.
“Ugh…!”
The magical club of Dagda—a weapon so heavy that even eight giants had to lift it together. Only the divine power of the earth could wield it freely. No mere human could withstand its weight.
“Ugh…!”
Before she could be crushed, Alicia deflected the club, but the force of it struck the ground, shaking the entire arena.
Boom!
Though she avoided the direct blow, the shockwave from the club pummeled Alicia’s body.
“Ugh…!”
“You’re skilled.”
Despite her relaxed tone, Estelle’s movements were like a flash of lightning. Her divinely enhanced physical prowess was already enough to overwhelm Alicia.
“Whew…!”
As Estelle charged at her with brute force, Alicia calmly regulated her breathing and responded with precision.
Alicia’s elegant and refined style of combat, honed through countless sparring sessions with Korin, allowed her to deflect attacks while landing her own strikes.
Whenever Estelle swung her club, Alicia dodged or deflected it, delivering cuts to her thighs, abdomen, chest, and neck.
But despite the multiple strikes, Estelle didn’t flinch. She charged forward, undeterred.
“Ugh…!”
The opponent was inexperienced in combat, relying solely on her overwhelming physical strength. It reminded Alicia of a similar case.
Hua Ran, the Infernal Yacha.
Her overwhelming defense and infinite aura.
Fighting her seriously would likely be similar to this—a battle against immense, overwhelming power.
‘But there has to be a limit.’
Hua Ran’s defense was passive, unbreakable. Estelle’s, however, was active, maintained through ‘prayer.’ If that’s the case—
“Stop flitting around…!”
Estelle channeled divine power into her feet. As she stomped down, the already shattered arena floor heaved, launching Alicia into the air.
“…!”
With no foothold, Alicia found herself hurtling through the air, helpless as Estelle readied her club to strike.
There was no escape. Falling from the air meant being crushed by that monstrous club.
———
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Estelle’s sight of Alicia vanished.
This wasn’t just acceleration. Estelle’s divine-enhanced vision could track even supersonic speeds.
Moreover, there was no foothold in midair. How could she possibly accelerate?
But before she could comprehend, Alicia was already in front of her.
‘Domain?’
A domain was a state where one could take an ‘impossible step’ in frozen time. A level of mastery that defied the natural order.
Korin Lork.
Erin Danua.
Garrand Arden.
Ohad Breth.
Tates Valtazar.
These transcendent beings walked the path of perfect martial skill.
But Alicia Arden…?
‘Isn’t a domain supposed to be limited to a single step?’
That’s what the legends said. But the distance between Estelle and Alicia was far greater than a single step.
Three steps. Alicia Arden walked three steps.
Eyes that could see the boundary.
A natural talent, able to gaze into the void of space. A talent so absolute that it mocked years of extreme training and effort.
Ignoring the limitations of distance—
Alicia’s Style—Thousand Swords.
Infinite Domain Breakthrough.
—She reached the hem of Estelle’s sacred robe.
Slash!
“Ugh…”
A foolish sound escaped Alicia’s lips. In excruciating pain, she had performed her domain breakthrough, only for the final blow to miss entirely.
“This isn’t good.”
Despite being caught off guard, Estelle’s expression hardened as Alicia missed her chance.
She whispered a prayer under her breath, and the club emitted a dangerous aura.
The concentrated power was so overwhelming that it triggered Alicia’s survival instincts.
“W-Wait! T-Timeout—!”
HOLY BURSTER
FULL OPEN IMPACT
The arena and Alicia were engulfed by an explosion so fierce it seemed almost reckless.
“Eek…”
In the tournament’s infirmary, Alicia whimpered, close to tears.
“Is there no such thing as moderation?”
“No kidding.”
“Who do you think I’m talking to?”
When Korin playfully smacked her on the head, Alicia’s face crumpled even more.
“I’m a patient…”
Sigh
“…I wanted to give you the winning prize.”
“Is that what’s important right now?”
The domain and full impact—both were techniques far beyond what should be used in a friendly tournament. Watching the two fight so fiercely made Korin feel guilty.
“Anyway… I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
The fact that the two girls had fought so fiercely for the winning prize was his fault.
“I mean, it’s not like it was anything special.”
All he had wanted was one of the commemorative items as a prize. It wasn’t even that big of a deal, yet the two girls had fought so hard for it.
“Hehe, then… could you kiss my wounds better?”
“You…”
Korin almost hit her again but stopped when he saw Alicia’s smiling face. He felt both guilty and grateful.
“You’re injured, so why are you smiling like that?”
“Just because… I like the fact that I did something for you, Korin.”
“You’re really… hopeless.”
Unable to say anything more, he just patted her head, and Alicia beamed, completely unfazed.
“Korin, can you help tighten my bandages?”
She raised her arms above her head, and Korin carefully wrapped her bandages from her underarms to her chest. Despite her injuries, she kept smiling brightly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Korin~”
With her fingers interlaced, she wrapped her hands around Korin’s neck, pulling him close.
“Hehehe…”
“What are you so happy about?”
“Just…”
Since her confession during summer break, Alicia had become more open about expressing her feelings.
Unlike before, when even holding hands made her shy, she was now more direct with her emotions.
“I don’t mind getting hurt if it means I can have you all to myself like this. Hehe…”
“Stop being so reckless. Don’t get hurt; just do well.”
“Hehe, have I done well?”
“I know.”
“If you know, then… how about a kiss…?”
“No.”
TL NOTE: A club, btw, is kind of like a baseball bat, but way more intense. Imagine a bat that’s been hitting the gym—thicker, heavier, and designed for smashing rather than swinging. It’s the kind of thing you’d want in your hands if you were facing something tough, like Giants and such…
*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
*****
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