Reiou match, final of the tournament to determine the challenger. The match between Sherry and Vogue.

　After confirming the dueling crowns in the center of the arena, the two men took their positions without exchanging a single word.

　The tension was palpable even in the contestants' bleachers. This is one of the best parts of the title fight.

He's so spirited.
Hmm. So you don't even have time for a conversation.

　Sylvia responds to Raz's muttering.

　Yes, you're right. On one side.

'No, Shelly might be, but Vogue isn't. That guy, I'm sure, doesn't even have time to say hello.'
Are we wasting time?
Yeah. I'm amazed that you were able to find out with all that information during the winter. Apparently, I've been working on an anti-banko measure (・・・・・).
...... I see, sunshine (...)

　Vogt is clearly in a hurry. During the Battle of Capito, and now.

　...... I think he's too scared of the sunset (...) and the anko.


"-- Hey, hey, hey, you!

　Suddenly, there's a loud voice that breaks the flow.

　It's Sherry. He points at Vogue and smiles challengingly. Is that guy going to dare me before the judge calls?

'You?　...... Is it me?
Yes. And who else could it be but you?
'No. But it was called too much (・・・・).

　He called the former Spirit King "you". Well, there's a quirk.

"Can't afford it?　I take it back: ......

　Sylvia muttered, holding her head in her hands.

　I suppose. That's like a 'naive countess' then. No, that's actually what it is, isn't it?

I'm sorry to be so generous, but I'm going to win this game.
That's a lot of confidence.
'Of course. I've really worked myself to death the last six months!
Wow. ...... Really?

　Shelly's understandable provocation.

　Vogt returns it nonchalantly and says one last thing.

'You'll have to work hard for a hundred years before you can say something like that. 'Little girl,'

　It couldn't have been a better turnaround.
　Sherry couldn't help but close up.

'Thank each other!'

　This is the time limit.
　Sherry's plan to provoke the match to his advantage has backfired.


'Take a stand--start!

　A command by the judges resounded.

　At the same time, the two invoked the 《Spirit Summoning》.


''--Yo. It's been a while, Tsuchi Onna.
Oh my god. Long time no see, Red Wakame.

　Saramandala, the great spirit of fire, and Normie Death, the great spirit of earth. Apparently, they know each other.

　The sense of cursing goes to Terra, but the attribute favors fire and disadvantages earth. That's a tough factor for Sherry to deal with.

''Terra!''
Yes?

　Whoa, Sherry is like a "torchka" right away. Terra-san's "earth attribute and Nino type" enveloped Sherry as she looked at him.

''Salamandara, aim for the No Meadeath.
Yeah, yeah.

　In contrast, Vogue's strategy is to use the attribute advantage to hold Terra down?

　And in the meantime, ......


The aquadragon and that one is ...... and the winged salecob, or the Yoruba.
Land power, air speed, land power. You are very biased.

　《Demon Summoning》. I knew it, I should say. Vogue had tamed three demons firmly. A big water-attribute dragon, a flying winged skull, and another big rugged boar.

　Raz was right, I'm quite biased. But I suppose that's part of the plan as well.


'Simultaneous attack.'

　At Vogue's direction, the demons all charge at Sheritar at once.

　I see, that's why there are two power types. In other words, Vogue saw in advance that Shelly was going to use the Torchika method of warfare. That's great, totally.


''Oh my gosh, Master~''
Whoa, you can't do that.

　Terra can't afford to help Shelly due to Salamandala's interference.
　Sherry can't see much of what's going on outside due to the wall of dirt.

　Is this a quick decision ......?


Yikes!

　Intense body blows by Aquadragon and Yoloi Boa. In just two shots, Sherritor is destroyed without a trace with Sherry's screams.

　That's a big pinch. The Summoner's weakness lies in himself. Unless he can defeat the two demons in front of him in the flesh, but Shelly wouldn't have such a gorilla-like status.


''Kuhn ......!
'Hahaha!　There's no way you can beat me!

　Immediately after, Terra ate Salamandala's fire magic and fell to the ground.


''Terra!　Oh no, how do I do that? ......

　Sherri, it's time to get out of here.


Make up your mind.

　Vogt didn't even give them time to mourn, but gave his final command.

　Aquadragon and Yoloi Boa were closing in on Shelly from both sides. An attack that was difficult to dodge or prevent.


''U, lie, noaaaah!


　It's a done deal.






　And I'm sure everyone thought so.


'...... nah nah nah nah.'

　Sherry, who should have been distraught, flicked her tongue out and laughed.



!

　At the moment, Vogue would have noticed a single demon flying in.


　The moment the torchka was destroyed, it was lost in the dust cloud, the demon that Sherry had secretly "demon summoned" - the "Doshabad".


''You're a schemer, Sherry-han.
He's a good actor.

　It was all a milestone, I suppose. Just for this one moment.

　He didn't even pretend to be using a demon, he didn't even pretend to be using a demon, he made her insult him as a naive countess, he dared her to talk down to him, he dared her to scream loudly, and he was thoroughly caught off guard until the very end.

　The Doshabad is a bird-shaped, second grade demon with colors and patterns like earth and sand. It was the perfect way to blend in with the disintegrating pieces of sheritah. The delay in discovering the Vogue until the last minute was probably due to factors there as well as carelessness. In addition, the Dossier Bird has enough offensive power to take you by surprise. We can't ignore them.

　The rush by Aquadragon and Yoroiboa, or the assault by Doshabad. It was clear which would reach them first. The Doshabad was closer and faster at distance. The surprise attack was successful. Vogue is forced to respond.


　...... I can't believe that Sherry, that sheriff, is going into such a muddy battle. I was suddenly impressed.

　When I just met her, she must have been a hothouse daughter with nothing but pride. She would never have thought of this, this was an unrefined strategy if she had been in those days. A strategy that doesn't care a whit about appearances, she just goes for the win with no regard for pride.

　She has grown up. Not just in terms of skills and status, but also inside of it, clearly.



'Excuse me ...... were you also a winner (...)?'


　But it doesn't reach.

　Vogue must have assumed it. That Sherry was using a demon, and that he would take advantage of Torchika's destruction to [Demon Summoning]. No, that mouthpiece, he might have been preparing for it half-heartedly as an insurance policy.

　That's why he pretended to let Wing Sarekoube participate in the attack and had him wait (...) in the air far above his own head.

　As an insurance policy in case Sherry wasn't a 'naive countess' but a 'matchmaker'.


　She's also growing up. She listened to my cheeky sermon, "Don't think you understand," with an open mind, and considered all possibilities and made countermeasures.


''Huh--!

　The Doshabad, which had been hit by a piercing body hit by the Winged Salekobe, which had fallen from above at a frightening speed, was bounced off and lost its momentum as it wobbled.

　Sherry's trump card was easily nullified.


''...... Aww, what a shame.''

　Just before receiving the rush of Aquadragon and Yoloi Boa, Sherry mutters with the corner of her mouth raised.


　That expression, that way of saying it. That guy, although he says he's sorry, he's not regretting it at all.

　He understands. I am the one who is threatened. From now on, Vogue is the one who will be threatened.

　If you can do this in your first race, that's certainly impressive. If they can keep up this pace of growth, it won't be long before they're on par with the Vogues. Because the stronger Mevion gets, the harder it is for him to gain experience. It's always the ones who are on top who suffer.

　That's why Shelly doesn't regret it any more than necessary. Because you can bet on the next, then the next, then the next, then the next.


"--That's it!　Winner, Vogue!


　The game is over.

　I don't think Vogue will be too happy about this win.

　This is one of those fights that he deserved to win. However, at the end, she was instilled with an uneasiness (...) that couldn't be wiped away.

　Up until now, she had stood atop the mountain as the Spirit King and fought all the way to the top. There must have been some dangerous moments at times. But I don't think she's ever been this close to a fight before.

　The way the title contenders are fighting is changing. I think that's how they feel about it.


............

　I'm the only one she's looking at. But it's everyone else who has to win.

　Frustrated, frustrated, and unbearable, they are striving like hell to get back to the Spirit King again, and they are challenging me to improve their abilities many times over. It's not hard to imagine how hard Vogue is trying.

　But Vogue isn't the only one who has improved his or her abilities. Everyone around you will be trying to win in one way or another. The competition is fierce, and you need to keep winning with a relaxed expression on your face.


　I know what it's like. The moment you see the doshabad popping out of the smoke, the contraction of your heart, the red-hot brain, the sweat pouring out of your face, the back of your throat, I can feel it.

　It gets stronger by the day. It increases day by day.

　I have to overcome my anxiety.
　You have to overcome your anxiety.

　The real battle for the Spirit King has just begun for you today.

　That's what Cherie tells me.



'Things are heating up.'

　Much more than the winter season.
　It's going to be a lot more exciting.

　There will be more contestants.
　Everyone will be many, many times stronger, dozens of times stronger.

　And eventually, you'll think that ...... is a good idea.


I'm not kidding.

　Overcome your fears and conquer them. Same with me.


　So, we make sure that everyone thinks, "There's nothing we can do to beat him.


　That's it. I'm not stinting on anything, I'm giving it my all.

　I'm going to blow away six months of effort with a single breath, and I'm going to crush them thoroughly so that they won't think to challenge me again.


　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get the most out of this article.


　They're the ones other than Raz, will they really love me?



Let's go to .......


　Congratulations to everyone who made me a little nervous after I passed the first test.

　Now, the second test, hajimari hajimari--