Chapter 57: The Strongest Sword Ogre
The clearing was silent. The hammer ogre was defeated. The warrior woman had surrendered. The princess was several meters away, observing. Only two fighters remained. Tanaka glanced at the swordsman. The Ogre had been motionless the entire time, conserving his strength. Even when the others had attacked simultaneously, he hadn’t wasted a single movement, analyzing each of their techniques.
Now he stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Tanaka narrowed his eyes. The swordsman stopped several meters away and said, "I am the strongest sword ogre in our settlement." He sounded calm. "I have been observing your fight." Tanaka nodded. "Then you already know what to expect." The swordsman shook his head. "No. I only know that I am interested."
Tanaka smiled. "Very well." The swordsman crouched slightly. He raised his sword. "Remember my blade." Tanaka’s eyes widened in interest. The Ogre vanished. Tanaka’s eyes widened as he activated Thought Acceleration. His perception sharpened, the world around him slowing down, but the swordsman’s movements were still too fast for him to see clearly. Tanaka twisted his body to the side as the blade slashed across his chest.
Slash!
Tanaka stumbled back, a thin cut visible on his shirt. He looked at the swordsman and said, "Fast." The swordsman did not respond. He was already moving. Tanaka pushed off the ground and jumped forward, his fist flying toward the Ogre’s face. The swordsman tilted his head to the side, avoiding the attack. Tanaka’s fist passed right by the Ogre’s face, and the swordsman’s blade slashed upward. Tanaka raised his arm to block the attack.
Stone Body.
Clang!
The blade met Tanaka’s forearm, sending a shockwave through his body. Tanaka was sent tumbling backward, sliding across the ground for several meters. Tanaka looked up at the swordsman. That was not fast enough. The Ogre’s movements were not simply quick. They were efficient, each one a calculated step toward his opponent. Tanaka smiled. "This is impressive." The swordsman heard him.
"You’re complimenting me?" Tanaka shook his head. "I’m stating a fact." He pushed off the ground, his body accelerating forward. Tanaka threw a punch, but the swordsman easily sidestepped the attack. Tanaka threw another punch, but the swordsman ducked and blocked the next one with his blade. Tanaka grabbed for the swordsman’s arm, but he twisted away, his blade flashing forward.
Tanaka ducked, the blade passing over his head. Tanaka spun and drove his elbow into the swordsman’s side, but he blocked the attack with the flat of his blade.
Boom!
Tanaka was sent flying, skidding across the ground. For the first time, the swordsman’s feet dug into the ground as he slowed his momentum. Tanaka wasted no time, throwing a punch into the swordsman’s gut. The Ogre’s body was sent hurtling backward, but he landed on his feet, the ground cracking beneath him.
The hammer ogre, who had been watching the fight from several meters away, muttered, "He’s pushing him back..." The warrior woman crossed her arms. "Physically, he’s stronger." The princess watched silently. "But our swordsman hasn’t shown everything yet." Tanaka heard her. His eyes were locked on the swordsman. The Ogre slowly pushed himself to his feet, a small smile on his face.
"You’re powerful." He adjusted his grip on his sword. "But power alone won’t reach me." Tanaka smiled. "I was thinking the same thing." The swordsman vanished. Tanaka activated Thought Acceleration once more.
There.
Left.
No.
Right.
Tanaka turned.
The blade was already there.
Slash!
Tanaka raised his Stone Body arm to block the attack. For a moment, nothing happened. Then his eyes widened in shock as the blade cut through his reinforced arm. Tanaka’s eyes widened in shock as the Ogre’s blade cut through his arm, separating it from his body. The clearing was silent as the swordsman stood several meters away, watching.
Tanaka looked at the severed limb before looking up at the swordsman. "You cut through Stone Body." The swordsman nodded. "Pure strength." Tanaka’s eyes narrowed. That explained it. The Stone Guardian’s defense had been incredibly hard to break through, but this Ogre had cut clean through Tanaka’s reinforced arm with sheer strength.
Not magic or some other power. Just raw power combined with skill. The swordsman raised his blade. "Ogre Sword Art." The air around him seemed to tighten.
"First Form."
He vanished.
"Death Thrust."
Tanaka’s eyes widened as the blade flew toward his chest. Tanaka moved to the side, but the blade barely missed him. Tanaka countered with Earth Impact, sending a shockwave across the ground, but the swordsman simply jumped over the attack.
Tanaka followed up with a punch to the side of the swordsman’s head, but he blocked it with his blade.
Boom!
The swordsman crashed into a tree, but Tanaka landed on the ground, his severed arm already regenerating. Blue slime oozed from his shoulder, rebuilding muscle, bone, and skin. The Ogre’s eyes narrowed and clicked his tongue.
"Regeneration."
"Yeah."
Tanaka flexed his fingers. "Convenient, isn’t it?" The swordsman did not respond. He attacked again, his blade slashing forward. Tanaka blocked, but the next slash he dodged. The next one he took a step back from. Each attack was different, some being thrusts, some slashes, and some quick movements that targeted his joints.
Tanaka tried to predict each one, but it was difficult. Thought Acceleration helped, but it was not enough. The swordsman kept changing his rhythm, making it hard for Tanaka to keep up. Tanaka blocked another attack, but the force sent him sliding backward. Tanaka countered with a kick to the swordsman’s knee, but he ducked and Tanaka followed up with a punch to his side.
The swordsman slipped beneath the attack, his blade flashing upward.
Tanaka jumped, but the blade passed beneath him. Tanaka landed behind the swordsman and turned to face him. Their eyes met. Tanaka grinned. "You’re really good." The swordsman lowered his blade slightly. "And your swordsmanship is poor." Tanaka blinked.
"That was direct."
"It was not an insult."
The swordsman raised his blade again. "You possess tremendous strength." "Your body is difficult to kill."Your skills are dangerous."But your sword..."
He paused.
"Still requires polishing."
Tanaka laughed. "I can’t argue with that." He raised his sword. This time, he did not rely solely on his power. The swordsman’s eyes sharpened. Tanaka attacked, the two blades colliding.
Clang!
The swordsman attacked again, but Tanaka blocked. Tanaka parried the next strike, but the swordsman twisted his wrist, forcing Tanaka to redirect the attack. Tanaka took a step forward as the Ogre stepped back. Tanaka followed, the two men circling each other. Tanaka’s eyes narrowed as he studied the swordsman’s every movement.
Tanaka could see it now.
The pattern.
Not the attacks themselves, but the transitions between them. The swordsman always shifted his weight before changing direction, and he always lowered his shoulder before sweeping his blade. His breathing changed before he used his fastest technique.
Tanaka smiled. "I see you now." The swordsman’s expression changed. Tanaka took a step forward, but the swordsman attacked. Tanaka parried the attack, then blocked the next one.
The Ogre tried to step back, but Tanaka stopped him with a shoulder tackle. Tanaka’s blade flashed forward, but the swordsman blocked it. Tanaka kicked the Ogre’s knee, knocking him off balance, and followed up with a powerful punch to his side. The swordsman’s blade was sent flying through the air, but he turned to grab it, only for Tanaka to appear in front of him.
Tanaka’s blade was at the Ogre’s throat, stopping him. Silence filled the clearing as the swordsman looked at Tanaka’s blade before slowly raising his hands.
"I surrender."
Tanaka lowered his sword as the swordsman retrieved his weapon and sheathed it. "You defeated me." Tanaka nodded. "You gave me a lot to think about." The swordsman looked at him. "Then improve." Tanaka smiled. "I will." The hammer ogre groaned from the ground. "So that’s it?" The swordsman glanced at the hammer ogre. "You lost first."
"Shut up." The warrior woman scoffed. "You lost because you charged without thinking." The hammer ogre glared at the woman. "You want another fight?" "You can barely stand." The princess quietly smiled. Tanaka looked around. Four ogres had been defeated. The princess, the hammer wielder, the warrior, and the swordsman.
Only one remained.
The prince.
Tanaka turned to the young Ogre.
He had been silent the entire time, watching the fight without interfering. He had not given any advice, nor had he attacked. Tanaka’s eyes met the prince’s. For a few seconds, the two simply stared at each other.
Then...
The prince slowly drew his sword. The blade slid free of its sheath with a soft sound.
Shing.
Tanaka’s smile widened. The prince stepped forward. His eyes were calm, his expression serious. Tanaka tightened his grip on his sword. The prince raised his blade. "So..."
His voice was quiet.
"You’ve defeated my companions." Tanaka nodded. "Yes." The prince lowered his stance, a thin trail of crimson energy swirling around his body. Leaves lifted from the ground, and the air itself seemed to grow heavier. Tanaka’s smile grew even wider. "So this is your true power." The prince looked at him. "Prepare yourself, Tanaka." Tanaka lowered his stance as well, wind swirling around his body. The clearing was silent as the final battle began.