It's not just a matter of time before you get to the end of the game.

　--And finally, the battle for the 30th Test begins.

　We stepped on the crystal flowers and rushed out.
　I wield my sword and magic to overwhelm the monster-formed Rowen.

　Rowen's figure is nowhere to be seen.
　I'm still able to retain my human form at the very last minute. However, the crystal arms have increased and the figure that has become eight arms looks like a spider. Pillars of crystal grow out of its entire body, and its skin is covered with special ore. The ore covering both legs is especially thick and is the armor itself.

　Swords and swords cross each other.
　But the sword is not the only means of attack for Rowen, who has become a monster.

　She extends her remaining six arms to my body.
　The arms are waved in a messy fashion, trying to crush me.

　By simple calculation, the number of hands must have increased fourfold. But I dodge them with ease.
　There was absolutely no skill in the movement of that arm, to say the least. It's just that they are swinging around trying to break the external enemy in front of them.
　Compared to the sword Rowen had wielded until now, it was warm (lukewarm).
　It's a difference in skill between heaven and earth.

　You can't afford to be a good sport if you don't want to be a good sport.
　A unique sound of ore clashing with ore rang out.

　My 'Crescent Pectrazi's Straight Sword' is played.
　Although it slashed Rowen's clothes, the crystal underneath it was not damaged.

　The 'Crescent Pectrasli's Straight Sword' slashed through the crystal in the labyrinth. However, I could see that the body of the 'Stealer of Earth's Reason' was several degrees harder than that.

　I retreat as I am played.
　The action Rowen took in response to that retreat was not a sword or an advance - it was magic. One of her arms is held up and magic crawls across the ground.
　Lowen's magic permeates under the snow, and for the first time, a magic is constructed that I've never seen before.

　Interference is not possible with the 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)》.
　It's the same as with Arti. There are no gaps in the guardian's (Guardian) magic.

''--Kah, ah, magic, -- oats, -- phonia!

　A voice leaked from Rowen's throat that sounded as if it was a mixture of the sound of percussion instruments and a human voice.
　It was no longer in the realm of being difficult to hear with the human ear. Perhaps his throat had become so hardened that it was on the verge of losing its function as a vocal cord.

　And all sorts of minerals grew out from under his feet like a sword mountain.
　Amethysts, sapphires, pearls, topaz, emeralds - a swarm of swords of colorful, shiny, distortedly shaped gems that try to skewer my body.

　I leap to the side to avoid them.
　Although I'm surprised by the magic I've never seen before, its construction speed is slow.
　Even if I move after confirming its activation, I can dodge it with plenty of time to spare.
　It's so slow that it's not even worth comparing it to that Rowen's flashing sword.

''Ugh, ugh ......, Rowen is ......, Attachi is attacking too ......!

　The one who was baffled by the magic was the Reaper who was caught up in the vicinity.
　The evasion ability of a Reaper who can use dimensional magic 《Dimension》 is high. They are able to dodge the magic with ease just like me.
　However, the Reaper can't seem to hide his shock at the fact that the magic was used against him as well.

''Mo, it's no longer ......, Rowen, isn't it ......?''

　I have a duty to protect the Reaper.
　If she can't withstand Rowen's magical attacks, then I must protect her.

　The Reaper walks away from me and Rowen with a look of anguish on her face.

''I am, I am ......--''

　The Reaper was still in mourning.
　He doesn't know what he needs to do, and as if driven away, he flees to a place beyond the reach of his magic.

　Seeing the Reaper moving to a safe zone, I am relieved. Then I release all of the freezing magic I had been casting on her.
　Because with Rowen's words, she had completely lost her will to fight. And simply, I can't afford to devote any extra magic power to it anymore.

　The swarm of jeweled swords that Rowen had spawned grew in number and stretched high into the heavens.
　A few of them pierced the empty wards and cracked.

　Then, Rowen didn't move from the spot and began chanting to activate more great magic.
　It was as if his battle strategy had changed. This was the fighting style of a wizard, not a swordsman.

　I look at the cracked wards and decide that I can't fight for a long time and try to run out to settle the matter quickly. However, that is stopped by a word from the side.

''--Ka, Kanami!　Wait!　The tournament management has decided that Rowen is no longer rational and has become a complete monster!　This is not the same as the game anymore!　You don't have to fight alone!　From here on out, we will use the full force of the Allies to respond!

　The MC, who has been evacuated to the outside of the ward, uses a magic tool (microphone) to ask me to stop the battle.
　Not to be outdone by the volume of his voice, I scream.
　Not only to the MC, but to everyone here.

'Not yet!　Our finals aren't over yet!　Please don't come in!

　Upon closer inspection, many guards and knights were lined up outside the wards.
　As long as they were instructed, they were going to rush into the ward as soon as they were instructed.

''No, already ....... You can't treat Rowen as a tournament participant!　That figure is a far cry from the Levantine's prescribed 'human form'!　He is determined to be removed from this confederacy as a monster!
Don't go rattling around with a slight change in appearance!　You guys just need to think about protecting your audience!

　I say wildly, refusing to allow a third party to intervene.

'But that's not how it works!　People are already--!

　A few soldiers were about to enter through one entrance gate.
　I don't know the reason for the advance, whether it was for work or to get ahead of themselves to make a name for themselves. But I could tell, even from a distance, that they were intent on fighting to defeat Rowen.

　With a cluck of my tongue, I head for them.
　As I run, I sense a sharp desire to kill from behind. I use 《Dimension》 instead of 《Sensitivity》 to accurately figure out what it is.

　All of Rowen's eight arms held jeweled swords made with magic.
　While performing a great magic chant, Rowen threw several of them wildly at me.

　The target was not me, but a new enemy that had entered the ward - the soldiers of Vualhura.

''--Magic 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter), Last Frost (Frost)!

　Fortunately, there were many puddles of water on the ground.
　I pass my magic power through the water and create a wall of ice. Its surface is rounded and successfully deflects the gemstone swords that come flying in from the front.

　However, Rowen generates more gemstone swords from the ground and throws more of them.
　All of them cannot be deflected by the wall of ice alone.
　I jump into the firing line at full speed and flick the gemstone swords with my sword.

　Then I grab the last one with my bare hands and stop it.

　The soldiers behind me were pale. The moment they entered the ward, several blades were coming at them at a speed that was difficult to even see, so it was only natural.
　However, although the blood was draining, they hadn't suffered a single wound.

　I breathe a sigh of relief.
　If one of us loses even a single wound, the promise to Rowen will be reneged upon.
　That won't mean you've survived the '30th Test'.

''Please don't bypass it!　You're going to die!

　I threw away the jeweled sword I had grabbed and waved my blood dripping hands to intimidate the intruders.
　The cold air of the 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)》 blew in and they stiffened.

''Excuse me!

　Taking advantage of the opportunity, I roughly grab their bodies and throw them back to the back of the entrance gate they entered.
　The intruders, driven out by my unusual arm strength, roll down the corridor. It looks like they're going to have one of the scrapes, but since it was me, not Rowen, I'm going to assume it's safe.

　Then, to avoid adding more trouble, I shout again.

'This is our fight!　Yikes, we're in the finals of the "Dance Tournament" here!　You can't just barge in on people like that!　Just sit back and watch the outside world!　Moderator, is there something wrong with what I'm saying!
Well, don't get me wrong, Kanami-san--!

　If the number of intruders continues to grow, I won't be able to provide for them alone.

　That's how strong the guardians are.
　That's why I'm appealing to them.

　That's why I'm going to appeal to everyone here to help me.

"We're still fighting in this arena-- no, in the theater!　And "V'alfoura" (here) is where you'll see it!　You're all here for the 'final (this)'!　I thought "V'alfoura" was welcome to participate, criminal or not!　And you'd be crazy to end the fight without their permission!　Let's not let this final end in disappointment!　Let us decide for ourselves!　No, it should be on!　Nah, don't you all think so!

　I appeal to the audience, who are upset.
　People are buzzing when they hear my point.

　I was about to shout more to push them away, when a familiar, theatrical man's voice - not the host's voice, but a familiar, theatrical voice - echoes through the entire hall.
　That voice agrees with me.

'-- Ah, that's right (・・・・)!　The battle is for those who are fighting!　Best of all, it would be a shame to end this!　Kanami, who defeated me, declared that he would surpass the 'Sword Sage', the 'strongest' and the 'hero'. I wouldn't let that happen, even if I were dead!　The other player, Rowen, seems to have become a monster, but there's nothing wrong with that. I'm sure Kanami will defeat him with as much power as the 'hero' of the story, or even more so!
'E, Mr. Elmirad Siddharq: ......!

　Elmiraad had taken the magic tool (microphone) from the host and was speaking to the entire audience.
　It was the one thing I was hoping for the most right now. He seemed to sense my feelings before anyone else and moved to continue with the final.

　Then Elmiraad turned from his harsh words to a polite whisper to the entire hall.

'Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, you have nothing to worry about. No matter what kind of aftermath of the battle hits the auditorium, our guild, the Supreme, will take responsibility for protecting you. I hereby pledge to you that you will not be harmed by a single scratch. --I'm not going to let it go. I will not let it end.

　The atmosphere in the match hall changed when Elmirad, the heir of a great nobleman and well known in the Confederation, spoke up.

　I've been thinking for a while now, but Elmirad is better suited to inspiring people like this than fighting.
　The pride and will to not be defeated by their position. And the beauty of her sturdy and cool voice shakes people's hearts.

　The buzz in the hall begins to heat up.
　As Elmirado said, the air was filled with the feeling that it would be a shame to miss this match.

　Then, a voice as loud as the magic tool (microphone) is added to the air.

"--Me, everyone!　Let Kanami and Rowen Alais fight to the end: ......!　We in the guild "Epic Seeker" share the same idea as the guild "Supreme"!　At ......, right?

　It's Snow's vibrating magic.
　Snow shouts out to Elmiraad to keep up with him.

"Snow!　Of course!

　First of all, Teri in the audience shouted back.
　Then, everyone from the 'Epic Seeker' also stood up and showed their willingness to cooperate.

''Yeah, we don't want you to forget our guild. Our master is struggling. Then what if the guild 'Epic Seeker' doesn't help it?

　They say those encouraging words from their mouths for the audience to hear.
　For the Epic Seekers, this place, this time, this game is a dream come true, because they have been looking for a 'hero' role like me for a long time. Because they have been looking for a 'hero' role like I am now.

　That's why, more than anyone else, I'm going to put my passion into words and say that the final is not over. They each take up their weapons and shout that they will protect the audience.

　The heat from everyone in Epic Seeker sparked a fire that lit up the hall. Riding that hot wind, I call out to the MC - or rather, to the people in the back of the room who are deciding whether to continue with the tournament.

'Everyone in the guild will keep you safe!　So, just give me a little more time!
'But, Kanami!　The wards don't seem to be holding up any longer!　At this rate--

　The moderator did not break, but represented the opinions of the tournament management without breaking.
　At that time, Rowen, who was weaving a great magic in the center, ended his chanting.

''--Amond, -- Phonia!

　Magic is recited in a metallic sounding voice, and Rowen's magical power swells within the wards.

　Just like before, jewel swords grow out of the ground. However, there are so many of them that they cannot be compared to the previous. Countless jewel swords pierce the heavens, and I continue to avoid them as I weave between them.
　From the sides of the gemstone swords, new gemstone swords extend and attack.

　I avoid the swords from all directions at a paper-thin point.
　However, even if I can avoid them, I can't avoid the warding that surrounds the hall.

　The great magic strikes and the ward breaks like glass. This was the moment when the MC's fears came true.
　The magical power of the warding that had been materialized becomes fragments, flying in the sky and trying to pour down on the audience.

　I watch it off without a care in the world.

　Suddenly, a storm of fire broke out.
　Then it swallows all the fragments in the air and vaporizes them.

　It's Maria's magic.
　Maria, who had been quiet all along, had been weaving fire magic in anticipation of this situation. Thanks to that, most of the shards disappeared in the air.
　There are a few fragments that failed to burn. However, they were played by the brave warriors who wanted to continue the final match that was waiting for them. Among them were the 'Seven Celestial Knights' (Celestial Knights) and others.

　There was zero damage, but the wards had disappeared.
　However, as if there was no collapse of the ward, a new ward was immediately put up as if there was no collapse of the ward.

''-- Sacred Magic [Invisible Field]!
Holy magic, the invulnerable field!

　Dia and Rustyala were in the front row, emitting a white magical light.
　The wards, thicker than before the collapse, were re-stretched and suppressed all of the gem swords.

　It took only two people to deploy a magic that exceeded the wards prepared by the tournament management.
　And next to them, Maria mutters in a small voice that only I can hear.

''If any fragments fly into the spectator area, I'll burn them all. So feel free to fight, Kanami-san.

　With the help of the upper echelon of contestants in the "Dance Competition", the safety of the venue was proven.

　The crowd was excited by the great magic of the event.
　The voices of those wishing to continue with the final increased in a chain reaction.
　Confirming this, Elmirad laughs and asks.

''Oh!　Apparently, our guild 'Supreme' is not the only one who wants to see the rest of this battle!　It looks like the elite who won the "Dance Tournament", as well as the princesses, apostles, and knights of the Hoosiers, will be helping to continue with the final!　If you say that you still feel uneasy with such an elite group of people, we can only see it as an insult to us: ....... Now, I wonder what the response from the people who run the "Dance Competition" will be!　

　It was a disgusting but effective word.

　The tournament administrators, who had been waiting behind the MC, had to painstakingly accept it.
　The MC declares in an audible tone to everyone in the arena.

''--Sho, we're going to continue!　I guess we should just continue!　I've already done it.　I want you to play in the finals too!　Nobody gets in my way!　So, Kanami, go ahead and do it!　The 'Dancing Tournament' finals aren't over yet!

　The moderator encourages me with the most familiarity of the day.
　Only, for now, that familiarity is comfortable.

　Elmirado shouts out in a voice as loud as the MC's. "Now, we officially have the right to continue with the final.

''Now, we've officially earned the right to continue with the final!　Then Kanami!　All that's left is for you to be a 'hero', braver than a 'hero', and triumph over the 'hero'!　Fight!　Fight and show me a 'real hero'!
"Elmirad, you're a 'hero' and a 'hero'!　You don't have to tell me!　Fight!

　The feverish audience is being swallowed up in a frenzy. They seem to be starting to get excited about this unusual situation.
　As if pushed by their voices, I run.
　I slash at Rowen, who was trying to build more magic in the center.

''--sh, --listal.''

　Rowen abandoned the build midway through and let the magic unleash itself.
　Glittering crystal seeds spread out, sticking to the ground and pillars.
　Soon the seed sprouts and the crystal plant swells and stretches like a living thing. It tangles between the pillars, and the inside of the arena is transformed as if a spider's web has been set up.

　As I dodge the attacking crystal ivy, I close in on Rowen.

　My target is the skin that hasn't yet turned to crystal.
　I swing my sword, intending to dismember Rowen's body.

　But the eight crystal arms prevent me from doing so.
　The eight arms of the crystal prevent it from doing so.

　And then, using the eight swords held in his hand, he fights back to cut me to pieces.
　It fights back, but it is too loose.

　No, Rowen's attacks, which have turned into a monster, are vicious. Its attacks from all sides, which are both fast and hard, can only be described as menacing. Probably, any boss monster up to the 30th layer wouldn't last a moment.

　But inevitably, it feels ...... loose compared to Rowen when she was a human. Although there is a threat, it doesn't feel like an attack from an absolutely unreachable area.

　In other words, Rowen's swordsmanship with eight swords is poor.
　It's the same as the Tida of the past. A wild attack that relied on speed and physical strength. There wasn't an ounce of sword skill left that had captivated the entire audience there.

　It was clearly weakened.
　As Rowen - no, his strength as a human being has disappeared.

　Before I turned into a monster, no matter what kind of move I used, Rowen would immediately respond to me. On the spot, she created a new "sword technique" and tried to attack me.
　That threat is not present in the current Rowen. It's just a matter of being attacked by me.

　There is no counter-measure for this, and it is only a matter of letting the massive amount of magic and physical strength to fight back.
　It was easy enough to slip through the cracks in the crystal armor.

　Then, I thrust my sword into the gap in the crystal armor.

''--Aah, gah, aaaaah!

　He screams as if he has rubbed coins against coins.
　Blood floods out of the wound I pierced, and I can see that the blood is turning into crystal.

　Thinking that the entire "Straight Sword of Crescent Pectrazi" will harden at this rate, I hurriedly pull out my sword.
　The wound is covered with crystal and the bleeding stops.

　I have no choice but to repeat the attack on the other crevices.
　I slash at the non-crystalized skin with my sword. Each time, the wounds harden and the non-crystalized parts disappear.

　Every time I bleed, I'm sure that my movements are getting slower and slower.
　Hence, I repeat the process over and over again.

　As I overwhelm Rowen, the crowd's enthusiasm increases.
　But only I, the one who was fighting, knew that this was not the same as being overwhelmed.

　Finally, all of Rowen's body is hardened with crystal, and there is nowhere to put the sword.
　Covering all the wounds with the crystal, Rowen comes at me.

　There are no techniques or tactics there.
　It's the very monster that rages without reason.

　However, with everything covered by the crystal armor, the thrust was effective.
　With the messy movements of my eight arms, I slam my sword into the crystal's body with all my might. However, a high-pitched sound only rang out and no damage was done.

　No matter how many gaping large swings were repeated, I no longer had an effective way to exploit the gap.
　At that moment, I realized that this absolute defense is the true value of the "Stealer of the Earth's Truth".

　There is no basis for this, but the thief of the Principle of the Earth cannot be harmed by using any mineral in the world.
　That's the "truth" of this world.
　That's how I felt.

　Immediately, I think of the most destructive magic I've seen so far and build my magic power.

''-- Magic 《Ice Flamberge, Impact (Impulse)》!

　When I couldn't destroy the 'Ray Crystal', Snow had destroyed it by multiplying it with vibrational magic.
　Imitate that vibrating magic.

　The sword is coated with cold air, and only at the moment the slash strikes, the cold air is reversed.
　The image of releasing the vibration instead of suppressing it.

　Like Snow's magic, it vibrates from within the ore.

　--but it has no effect.

　To begin with, I'm good at suppressing vibrations with magic, but I'm devastatingly bad at making them shake.

　Rowen swings her counterattack blade as she eats the "Ice Flamberge, Impact (Impulse)" in her stomach. I had no choice but to honestly increase the cold air and try to freeze Rowen's body.

''Kook, - Magic 《Ice Flamberge》!

　However, neither the vibration release nor the vibration suppression had any effect in front of Rowen's ore body.

　Without even taking a defensive stance or being frightened at all, Rowen continued to pay off his arms with abandon.

　Although she catches the counterattack with her sword belly, she is flung away by her abnormal physical strength.
　I point my hand at the ground, interfering with the puddle as I'm flung off. Rowen is trying to chase me, running straight ahead, regardless of the snow and puddles.

''--Magic 《Midgals Freeze》!

　The puddle of water turns into ice in the shape of a snake.
　A large mouth of a snake attacks from under Rowen's feet. It bites into her torso and lifts her body up. Immediately, Rowen grabs the Midgall's Freeze with his hard and strong arms and crushes it.

　However, Rowen's body floated in the air.
　Immediately I regain my stance and leap. Then, using the crystal branch stretched out in the sky as a foothold, I take a position directly above Rowen. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm going to do with it.

　Of course, Rowen is also moving her arms and counterattacking. However, this is not the time to worry about a few counterattacks. I only think about hitting the maximum destructive power.

''Ku, only oooh oooh--!

　I slam Rowen to the ground, using all of my muscle power while being ripped in eight places on my body.
　The 《Midgals Freeze》 shatters, snow dances, and crystals shimmer.

　Wrapped in mysterious smoke, Rowen rises up below, surrounded by mysterious smoke.

　There wasn't even a scratch on her.
　There was no damage from the slash, and no damage from the impact could be seen at all.

　Rowen is in a perfect position and swings her sword at me, who was defenseless in the air.

''--Well, 'magic freezing'!

　Quickly adding the length of the swords and poking at the ground to change the landing spot.
　With eight swords, I narrowly avoid becoming full of holes. I move away with a bite of my teeth as the cloak I'm wrapped in is slashed through.

　I strike a crushing blow.
　I also tried to use my magic power to add to my attack power as much as I could think of.
　However, there was no damage to Rowen.

　It's like seeing a '0' on the game's battle screen the whole time.
　Its too high defense nullifies all attacks.

　I'm thinking about how to deal damage to Rowen while taunting the eight arms that are approaching.

　The Crescent Pectrazuli slices through even the Ray Crystal. Even so, it can't cut through Rowen.
　The 'Freeze Magic' that froze Tida's body. It does not penetrate Rowen's body, which is denser than the walls of the labyrinth.
　He crossed the sword and magic, and even used gravity to slam the 《Ice Flamberge》 into her defenseless body. But still, the "0" did not become a "1".

　Then what should I do?

　I don't have ...... to worry about, I'll find the answer right away.
　No, it's a little different than finding out. I already had the answer.

　It's the same as when I fought the Reaper.
　The answer is already given to me by Rowen.

　Now all we have to do is recreate it.
　Probably, the '30th Test' is a test to teach me that.

　Until I learn it, the 'ordeal' will not end.
　Rowen can't feel safe--.

　So I'm 'chanting' (...)

' -- 'I am'!　'I'm leaving you behind'!

　Not my 'chanting', but Rowen's 'chanting' -