"Well then… Meguri-san, looks like it's finally our turn." Shuo ignored the two girls hovering nearby, his attention fixed on Tomoe with a spark of genuine excitement in his eyes.
Since obtaining Zangetsu, aside from this morning's solo drills, this would be his first real swordfight against another person. And his opponent wasn't just anyone—Tomoe Meguri, a swordswoman with the power of a mid-class devil. He could feel his pulse quicken with anticipation.
Tomoe, catching the edge of his praise, flushed a delicate pink—like peach blossoms after rain. She averted her gaze for a moment, then straightened, composure returning as she reached for a wooden sword.
"Nangong-kun, I apologize for my earlier attitude. Your swordsmanship is truly impressive. I may not understand your reasons for challenging me, but when faced with a worthy opponent, I have no intention of backing down." Her voice was clear, steady, and honest.
She took her stance. "Let's do this."
Shuo grinned, gripping his own wooden sword. There was no point wasting breath on words when swords could speak for them. He dashed forward, Tomoe meeting him head-on.
The club members held their breath as the two clashed in the center of the dojo.
CLANG!
Their wooden swords collided, both fighters springing back, then darting in again, exchanging blow after blow.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The pace quickened, the sound of their strikes ringing out like a drumbeat.
After parrying another of Shuo's attacks, Tomoe couldn't hide her exhilaration. "Nangong-kun, are you sure you're not one of us? I've boosted my strength and speed as far as I can, and you're still matching me—one-handed, no less!"
Shuo just smiled and shook his head, offering no explanation. Let her think he was one of Rias's peerage. If she knew he was just a human, she'd probably hold back—and that would ruin the fun. A chance to cross swords with a true equal was too rare to squander.
He'd already noticed: Tomoe's sword fundamentals were stronger than his own. But with his precognitive "observation" ability, he could read her attacks and slip through her defenses. For now, neither could gain the upper hand, but with every exchange, Shuo's movements grew sharper, more instinctive.
Tomoe's eyes flashed with competitive fire. "Nangong-kun, I'm going all out from here!"
"Good! That's exactly what I was hoping for." Shuo's eyes narrowed, a grin tugging at his lips. If Tomoe was going to fight without holding back, so would he. No more playing the underdog—anything less would be an insult.
Their wooden swords met again, harder and faster than before. The air crackled with tension. Both fighters moved with single-minded focus, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them.
Tomoe unleashed a flurry of exorcist sword techniques, passed down through generations. Her attacks came in relentless waves, but Shuo parried and countered with calm precision, his breath steady, his mind utterly clear. He saw her openings and pressed them, forcing her onto the defensive.
Off to the side, Yura Tsubasa and Kusaka Reya watched, wide-eyed.
"Is… is this real? Nangong-senpai is actually fighting our captain to a standstill?"
"It's unreal… I mean, he sleeps through class, still gets top grades, he's ridiculously good-looking, and now this? If word gets out, half the school will be calling him their dream guy."
"Yeah, no kidding…"
They whispered, cheeks flushed as they watched Shuo with a mix of awe and bashful admiration—neither realizing just how obvious their feelings were.
Koneko, glancing at the pair, couldn't help but mutter internally: What a sinful pervert, this Nangong-kun. Still, I never thought this big pervert's swordsmanship would be on par with Kiba's…
Shuo, oblivious to the girls' reactions, was lost in the thrill of battle. Facing someone who could truly push him to his limits was exhilarating.
Their swords clashed again—BANG!—and Shuo was forced back a few steps. He grinned wider, exhilaration clear on his face. "This is amazing! But I think it's time to finish this. Meguri-san, prepare yourself for my strongest strike!"
Tomoe didn't reply, but her determined expression said everything.
In a blur, Shuo surged forward, his wooden sword suddenly sheathed in a black, iron-like aura—Armament Haki. He brought it down in a single, lightning-fast arc.
Tomoe barely managed to raise her sword in defense. There was a sharp, decisive crack.
Her wooden blade snapped in two. Before she could react, Shuo's sword was at her throat. The outcome was clear.
"I lost," Tomoe said, voice steady but eyes shining with respect.
"Nangong-kun, you really are full of surprises. Other than Kiba Yuuto, I don't know anyone at this stage whose swordsmanship could match yours. Honestly, even he might not be able to win against you." She lowered her broken sword, not the least bit dispirited—if anything, her fighting spirit seemed to burn brighter.
Shuo waved off the compliment, chuckling. "You're giving me too much credit. I've never actually fought Kiba, so who knows how it'd turn out?"
As the two traded words, a voice called out from the doorway, unable to hold back any longer.
"That's not just modesty, Nangong-kun. Your swordsmanship really is impressive—even I wouldn't dare say I could beat you."
Tomoe turned, surprised. "Kiba-kun? What brings you to the Kendo Club?"
The blond boy stepped inside, smiling politely. "Hello, Nangong-kun. I'm Kiba Yuuto. I came to invite you to the Occult Research Club—but I never expected to see you fight like this…"
The truth was, Rias had grown impatient waiting for Shuo and had sent Kiba to check on him. He'd arrived in time to witness nearly the entire duel. Watching Tomoe lose so decisively, Kiba looked stunned, unable to hide his disbelief.
He'd heard from Rias that Shuo had once taken down a peak low-class devil in an instant, but seeing him dispatch Tomoe—a mid-class devil—so effortlessly was something else entirely.
Before Shuo could even process Kiba's arrival, the system's familiar voice chimed in: [Challenge complete: Tomoe Meguri defeated. New mission unlocked…]
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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