The judges' various cautions by Lili ended.

'I expected him to win the first round but I didn't think he'd make it to the third round.

　In response to those words from Dristos, Ira Horne said.

'Attah didn't think I'd make it this far either - until I first decided to compete in the Holy War Festival.
There have been changes since then, haven't there?
Yes, sir.

　Ira looked at Krohico.
　He's coming to watch the third game.
　I can't just show you a hapless game.

"S--

　Breathe in, breathe out.
　You'll be okay.
　You're gonna be okay.
　You have to do it.
　Even though your opponent is said to have the most powerful indigenous system of magic in the world, Dhristos Kircinha.

　A sword at the ready.
　In the swordsmanship of the eastern world, the stance of a seigan.

"Today--

　Ira said.

'I'll win you over,'

　I said it.
　I said it outright.

　Ayla was surprised at herself for saying it.
　One of Dristos' eyes opened.

'You looked horrified when we met in front of the bulletin board where the match-up list for the third round was posted.

　Dristos is half-formed, holding a long sword in one hand.

'I thought you might be a different person than Ira Horn, who was fighting in the second round.

　The way she was talking now.
　She seemed to be watching her own fight in the second round.

But when it comes to the battle, the atmosphere changes drastically, and that's probably how you are like him. You can't be too careful with people like you. And yet--

　Dristos opens his other eye thinly.
　His mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren't smiling.

'I will win this match, though.

　Sweat beaded on my hand gripping the handle.

　--I can't do it, Kurohiko.

　Ira's mouth fell open.

　If we win this one, the finals will be next.

　The finals will be held on the same day as the semifinals, and there will be no rest days.
　There will be no rest days.
　If you give it everything you've got in the semifinals, you'll probably run out of steam before the final.
　That's what we talked about last night with Kurohiko.

　But I've learned a lot from the fight.
　He's no match for me, I'll have to save my energy to win.
　Ira accepted everything.

　--This is my final match.

　In the morning, Ray, who came to give me a pep talk, said.

'Everyone seems to be paying attention to Ira's game. After all, everyone except Ira was expected to advance to the third round, but no one seemed to be expecting Ira to be in the third round.

　I was kind of happy that it wasn't expected.
　Because it means I'm growing up.
　It means that I've surpassed everyone's expectations.

　Lili raised her hand.

　--It's coming.

　The announcement of the start of the match.

Let the game begin.

　Immediately after his declaration, he dives into Dristos' pocket.

What--Ha, you're fast!

　Dristos opens one eye with surprise.

　Fastest speed.

　With the highest speed in this Holy War Festival, Ira sneaked into Dristos' bosom.

　The instructions he received from Kurohiko before the second round.

''If you feel that you can win with room to spare, try to fight the second round with less speed in your dive.''
"The speed of the dive?
'Ira's top speed makes me think that this second round's is the fastest. And it would be perfect if she could do a very physical performance after the match.
"I can do a tired act!　I've acquired plenty of sensations when I'm tired from all the training I've done so far................and that feeling, just remember it!
Can you do it?
"Yeah, I'll try!

　So in the second game, I increased my movements and sweat a lot more than usual, and after the victory, I did a tired 《acting》.



　Sword, swinging.
　Ira's blow goes to Dristos.
　Dristos is surprised.
　The plan was a success.

"But--

　Dristos took a defensive stance as he flew backwards.

'I can make it,'

　Yes.
　Dristos has great reflexes.
　Much better than I am.
　That's why Dristos is able to intercept them in time.

　But - what he needed to do was to jump in "up here".

　Thud!

....?

　It was a blow, with a mountainous trajectory.


　It caught Dristos' shoulder.


　On the other hand, Dristos's sword, which tried to intercept - not to be a counterattack, but to cut the sky.
　Lili took a short breath.

'Effective strike!

　When the attack hit, the hall was as still as water.
　However, the next moment was filled with surprise and excitement.

''Whoa!　Ira Horne got the first effective hit!
But was that blow so fast?
''If you ask me... it was a sharp blow, but if you ask me if that Dristos was a blow that could be taken out so easily and effectively...''
You're not careful, are you?

　It's not.

　Dristos isn't caught off guard.

It seems that Ira-san is good at attacking in a "straight" trajectory.

　It was only after Kurohiko pointed that out to me, that I noticed my signature attack.
　I wasn't aware of it at first, but he said that the power and speed had increased only when the attack was in a linear trajectory.
　Kurohiko also said this.

''But it seems that Ira-san isn't so bad with curved attacks. In short, she's just good at "straight-line attacks".

　In other words.
　That meant that curved attacks could be a good enough attack option.
　In this Holy Martial Arts Festival, Ira had not used a single "curved" trajectory attack throughout the entire match.
　Hence, Dristos must have stepped on the assumption that she would only be able to attack in a straight line trajectory.
　That's why she intercepted the "straight line" just now to deal with it.
　Surely, that was the only thing she had in mind.

　The curved trajectory that she had saved until now was alive here.

　--I see.

　Ira felt it seeping into him.

　--That's what assembling a fight was all about.

　Even if they were inferior in basic ability, they could still compete with each other if they assembled their tactics.
　Kurohiko said.

'If it's those two chairmen, while saying things like they couldn't read how they came up to this point with their mouths, I think they'll still pay attention to the competence of Ira-san, who is the training partner of themselves and 《drawn》 me.'

　Kurohiko's reading was another one that was a hit.
　He probably wouldn't use Peyerkantar right at the start of the game.
　He had read it that way.

''Chairman Dristos' most cautious thing in this third game should still be 《Polar Sky》. If 《Peyerkantar》 and 《Polar Sky》 cancels out each other's effects, then it will be a physical battle from there on.''
'Oh, I see!　So you're reading that Kurohiko is going to preserve the inherent technique at first and see what happens?''
''Yes, probably. 'Yes, probably, but if Ira-san turns out to be a strong opponent, he should be able to use that thing right away. Therefore, if there is an opportunity, right after the match, when we are still trying to measure Ira-san's strength, we will make the first move.

　He succeeded.

　Dristos wasn't caught off guard, but he was preserved.

　It was his first move, and he got a valuable and effective hit.
　But then Ira steps forward.

　--But," he said, "Ira steps forward.

　Dristos' eyes lit up.

　The strongest peculiar technique, the Peelkantal - invoked.