--Arena Spectacula.

　The cheers echoed.
　The third game of the second round of the main tournament, "Shadow Blade Brothers" vs "Team Friendship".

　Bill and Ben, the Guard brothers, took the form of a blitzkrieg, concentrating on one Flux against two Richter and Flux.

　Their first move was ducked.
　As expected, not only Richter, but also Flux was a worthy warrior.
　A case I didn't want to think about. However, reality doesn't change as it pleases.

　Then the only thing you have to change is yourself.




"Mr. Richter is a little vulnerable when he's being run down like that. I'm sure you're aware of that.

I'm not sure.　That's the worst thing you can do in a two-on-two situation, as we've learned in the two games so far: .......

That's right. You're right. So whether you can overturn it or not depends on the flux you have to deal with after the one-on-two is created.




　This is what the commentator said last time.
　For the Kage brothers, who had thought that this would be the deciding factor in the game, this failure was more than a little painful.
　They didn't think that they would both be lightly dealt with by Flux's blade.

Ah...
That's great.

　In a flash, Bill opens up the distance between him and the trapped Richter. 　Ben calmly faces Flux.

　In his eyes, he holds a circle in both hands.

　Flux's weapon: the Wind and Fire Circle.

　It's a circle-shaped weapon, also known as a circle edge.
　Except for the handle, the rest of the blade is sharp and points outward, making it even better for defense than a double-bladed sword.

　While linear weapons are considered to be more intuitive and easier for anyone to handle, this wind and fire ring is a special kind of weapon that can be handled like a limb by those with a unique sense.

　Both Bill and Ben immediately understood that the boy facing them would probably be classified as someone with that unique sense.

　After all, that's what their fathers, the assassins, had done.

There's no such thing as a strategy against the Wheel of Wind and Fire. If there was, I would have done it from the beginning. But even if I didn't ......, I know I don't have much in the way of offense!　Let's go, Ben!
"Yeah!

　I'll grab the two daggers in my hand and charge.

"Flux!

　One more time before the screaming Richter catches up.
　This time they're sure to get him, Bill and Ben are breathing in sync with each other from both sides.
　Just out of Flux's sight. It's impossible for a human to see both left and right at the same time.
　Lose sight of either of them for a moment, and they'll dive straight into the shadows and plunge their blades into your pocket.

　That is the best way to take a large piece with two small pieces.


Fast.


　Futa in the commentary seat muttered involuntarily.
　The pasta next to him reacted and turned its face to the side. At the same time, her red pigtail shook.

What?
I'm sure Flux will lose sight of him if he goes around at that speed. It's also a good idea to do it from both sides. It's a strategy that one person would never be able to pull off.

　That's only possible if you have two heads.

But you could do something like Izuna did.
"I'm not saying you can't. In fact, Flux is quite good at it, and if he can do it like he did one day when Leafy and Arrows pinned Izuna down, then yes, he might be able to do it.
"Then--

"But Bill and Ben, they're top-notch at blocking signs.


　I'm not sure what to make of that, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　The room was buzzing.
　It's not only that Bill and Ben are more skilled than I imagined, but also the fact that they might actually be able to bring down Team Friendship.

"What?

　Flux's one eyebrow goes up.
　He's completely lost Bill. No sign of him. Maybe he's gone to get Richter. That thought crosses my mind.

　In fact, there was no doubt in my mind.
　Bill wasn't anywhere near here. The confidence that would have convinced any other swordsman.

　Surely that would be true for Izuna and Prim as well.
　Izuna had the means to forcefully overrun the area, and Prim had the ability to use her spear to travel long distances, which allowed her to make a "temporary retreat from anxiety", but Flux didn't have that.

　Bill from behind, Ben from in front.

　The combination of the two guards lurking in the shadows was definitely about to be decided.

"The Wind and Fire Wheel is good for defense. But it has no control, no firepower. It has no range. That's why it's best to catch it like this!

　How to deal with the Wind and Fire Wheel.
　Knowing this is why Bill and Ben were able to be so bold.

　If it hadn't been for their father's weapon, they wouldn't have known how to attack and would have been caught by Richter and sunk.

　So it was a "good fight".




"There's one thing I know about Bill and Ben when I see them standing around.
"One thing?
Yeah. They're used to taking on the Wind and Fire Wheel. At least, they're not just yesterday's moves. They know their weaknesses, they know their strengths, and they're trying to exploit their weaknesses while destroying their strengths.
"Then Flux is dangerous!
Ah!


That's it!

　I'm not sure what to do.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　It's also a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do when you're in the middle of a fight.

　This two-tiered system was so seamless that even Richter, who had finally caught up with him, was amazed.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm not going to be able to do it.

　So... it's not a good idea to continue like this.

　But at that moment, Richter's eyes met Flux's.



　The golden eyes and...




It's a good thing I know what I'm doing.

　It was a sobering statement.
　His voice echoed through the hall, causing some to turn from the game to the commentary table.

　But everyone thought that he was talking to Bill and Ben.

　The blue eyes of the young man next to him were looking up at him.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. What you can do, what you can't do. That's information. It's a lot easier to do than on the battlefield where you have to fight with what you know.


"Big brother?


I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm sure you'll agree.



　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　He ducked into his pocket and thrust the dagger at him to checkmate.
　He thought about it, but the eyes and blade were right in front of him.

　Why is the wind and fire ring there? Didn't he just deal with the building?
　He blinks, and on the other side of the flux, his foot kicks Bill's dagger away.

Apparently, the wind and fire ring users you knew were big and strong. Maybe that's why they didn't stand around like this.

　The golden eyes see right through it all.

And you're not used to fighting. Even though you've been trained to fight with long weapons, you seem to have a weakness for weapons that have less range than you, especially hand-to-hand combat. ...... trauma?

　I'm sure Bill and Ben didn't even realize that it stemmed from their encounter with Aylan B. Smiles.

　There was an eerie feeling that he knew more about her than she did about him.

　The boy, who looks like a girl, holds a wind and fire ring in his right hand around Ben's neck.


"I don't like that they know everything about me, what I can and can't do. You don't like it when people know everything about you, do you?

　He looks apologetic. "Isn't it nasty to know everything you can and can't do?
　The boy holding the Wind and Fire Wheel turns his back on the two losers.

We've won. But it was fun to fight in a way I've never seen before!



　Winner--Team Friendship.