I was confronting the man who was the leader.
　This man must have the ability to be comparable to a B-ranked adventurer.
　The pressure is incredible.
　If you're not careful even a little bit, you'll be swallowed up by the man's spirit and you'll lose your will to fight.

''Before we do this, may I ask you to do something?
What... what?
'I thought I'd ask for your name. A crunchy guy like you, I'm going to remember your name. Well, what's that, like your war record?
It's the Lane Shroud.
Nick Glory...........

　Nick kicks the ground.
　It's as if he used magic, and it's approaching in front of me at an astonishing speed.

''Phew!''

　A right hook to the temple.
　He avoids a sway and fires back with a...

Ha!

　There's no time to fight back!

　Nick slammed fist after fist in a flowing motion.
　He wasn't just swinging his fists in the dark.
　Each movement was refined like an art form.

'Could it be that you are a fist fighter!
You were right, buddy!

　A fist called a deadly weapon flew in.
　A blow that split the air.
　If it were a direct hit, that alone would shatter my bones.

　A straight right came close to my face.
　However, I could read the trajectory.
　I twisted my body and tilted my head to the side to avoid it.

　Tucking my body further down, I tackle Nick's lower body to grab him.
　He intercepts me with a knee, but I don't care, I'll hold his lower body down and knock him off balance.
　I get on my horse and secure the advantageous position.

　That's the power I got from my contract with Kanade.
　He can't get out of it so easily.
　I'm going to win this fight!

　With that enthusiasm, he swung his fist down at Nick, who was assembled below him....

Tsk.
Wha...?

　This guy........he's in a mounting position and he's avoiding my fist!
　It wasn't just a one-time fluke.
　Twice, three times I'll shoot my fist at you
　Nick shook his upper body and moved his head to try and avoid the blows from directly above.
　Alternatively, he would try to catch it with both hands as a shield.

　So this is the power of a fist fighter!
　It's not like me, who simply has enhanced physical abilities.
　A well-trained body and a technique that is ingrained in the depths of the body.
　That skill is this man's greatest weapon.

Don't........get carried away!
What?

　In the manner of a bridge, Nick turned over and broke my stance on top of him.
　Then, as he spins his body around, he kicks me.
　Nick kicks me away and I get away.

'Huh you're a hell of a force to be reckoned with. When was the last time you were in a mounting position?
That kind of skill you have, you're a hell of a guy. Are fist fighters always guys like you?
No. I'm special.

　Nick gave him a vicious smile.

　A shiver ran down my back.
　This guy is dangerous.
　Probably the longer the fight goes on, the worse it will be for me.
　Someday, just as I had figured out my sword skills when I fought Arios...
　There's a risk that Nick will see through my method of attack.

　The other way around is that I could see through Nick's attacks.
　That seemed like a very difficult thing to do.
　Nick's fist was not so sweet that he could see through it in an instant.

'Then how about this!

　He released the Narkami mechanism.
　He ejected a needle laced with poison.

''Tsk!''

　As before, it would be profitable if he used his arms as a shield, but as expected, he wouldn't be so foolish.
　Seemingly assuming that he was applying poison, Nick was avoiding the needle from a distance.
　I don't think this attack is going to hit.
　If it catches you by surprise, or...no.
　It would be quite difficult to catch him by surprise.
　If I could do that, I'd be quicker to hit him with my fist.

Then this is what I'm going to do!

　I used the other mechanism of the Narkami.
　Press the switch....
　Then he waved his arm from right to left, as if grasping at empty space.

'Nah........wire!

　The ultra-fine wires ejected from the Narkami got tangled in Nick's arms and caught his body.
　This is another gimmick that has been planted in Narkami.
　It ejects an ultra-fine wire that is difficult to see and captures the target.
　Originally, it was intended to be used when capturing small animals and the like, but.......
　It seems to be able to be used in competitive battles without any problems.

d*mn it, you...!

　Nick tried to tear the wire off, but he was struggling.
　It was just as well.
　The wire is also specially made by Ganz.
　It's not something that can be torn off by an ordinary person because it's made with the soul of a stubborn craftsman.

　I raised my arm, which was connected to Nick's by a wire, and raised it vigorously.
　I'm pulled in, and Nick is pinned down in front of me.

　I'm going to run, and I'm going to get fleshed out...
　With that momentum, he slams his knee into his abdomen.

''Guh........!

　Nick's huge body staggered.
　Quickly, he struck a series of fists.
　Striking again and again, as if to break down the armor of flesh....
　He spun on the spot like a soloist.
　He jumped with the momentum of the rotation and slammed a kick to the side of Nick's head.

　Nick spilled out an unspoken voice.
　He wobbled to his feet...
　Yet, I stepped up and still didn't fall over.

'd*mn it!
What?

　Nick is going to try and take me out with his big arm.
　It's an opportunity.
　I can't keep my distance here, but........

　Unable to control the flailing Nick like a wounded tiger, I had no choice but to keep my distance.
　Without taking my gaze off of Nick, I jumped backwards, wary of him.
　However, the wire remained tangled in Nick's arms.
　With this, once again, the advantage would be....

...chuckle...

　Suddenly, Nick laughed.
　Amused.
　Amused.
　A look of amusement lifted the edges of his lips.

'Interesting ... interesting, man!　That's nice, man. You never told me you were going to do this. This is great, we're having a blast!
What do you mean...?
'Oh, come on, don't be a hippy. We're having so much fun. Let's laugh harder. Let's put on a happy face, okay?

　If I had to guess, this guy...

Are you a battle maniac...?
It's such a cliché. Well, there's no denying it.
What a pain in the ass...

　A mercenary, a fist fighter, and a battle maniac.
　What a terrible combination.
　Maybe I'm just out of luck today to meet a guy like this.
　I guess I'd better get this over with as soon as possible before it gets nasty.

I didn't think it was going to be this much fun, but I'm glad it is. You're the one who's gonna get the biggest bang for your buck.
What the...?

　That sounds like....

We're gonna have to get serious from here.

　Have you ever not been serious?
　.........no, that's not it.
　He shouldn't be the kind of man to play around at a time like this.
　This man may be a fist fighter and a battle fanatic, but before that, he's a professional mercenary.
　It's hard to imagine him playing with the risk that his job might fail.

　But I don't think he's bluffing either.
　What do you mean...?

　I wondered and paused to look at it.
　That was a mistake.
　Nick grinned and took a pill out of nowhere.

'I try to refrain from using this thing as much as possible because it makes things so boring... Well, if you're dealing with you, it's not a problem. It's not enough to have a problem with this. I'm going to use it.
Well....

　Before he could stop himself, Nick swallowed the pill.

'Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　Nick's muscles swell up.
　His body changes to the point where he feels as if he's getting huge.
　His chest plate is as thick as armor and his arms have doubled in size.
　It's no longer so easy to call it a change.
　It was a 'transformation'.

''Fuuuu........''

　
　He easily did what most people couldn't do.

"This is my secret weapon. It's a potion that pushes your physical abilities to the limit. I don't use it often, since no one else will use it against me, but you're going to have a lot of fun with it.
Totally I really don't think it's my lucky day.
Now let's start round two!