[4]: Chapter Four
The strongest
Arrogant.
How arrogant.
After his declaration, that was exactly what everyone thought.
The mighty Queen included.
Yet the crackling energy in his palms drew curiosity from every corner of the arena.
Claire herself blinked, caught off guard by what she was witnessing.
The spectators above murmured, leaning forward, marveling at the spectacle.
Especially one person.
Charlotte Dimandias.
"Lightning?"
No way.
There possibly couldn't be something as unscientific as pulling lightning from thin air.
It wasn't that the phenomenon itself was unfeasible, but this… this was different.
Charlotte swiftly activated a terminal.
She immediately ran heat scans while also manipulating the arena sensors.
The sensors were originally devices, originally installed to monitor Slayers activity.
However,
She cut it off.
Rather, she redirected the scope to the weapon in the male's hand.
The answer stunned her.
"No way.. Electromagnetism, and that field around him, what's that?"
She already knew it.
Charlotte already suspected he was absurdly strong.
Yet this… defied even her expectations.
Not that logic mattered in this world.
But this application she was witnessing was rooted in pure scientific theory.
But this in front of her was upright more than just absurd, it defied logic.
"Mah, it doesn't matter, it's just a bit flashy."
"Yeah, if that's all, then Claire-sama has won."
People were quick to judge.
After all, all they learnt now was about Savages and being a Slayer.
Most had no idea what they were really seeing, only that it looked impressive.
"Iya. If Claire stood no chance before, now, it's basically just unfair."
Saying that Charlotte fixed her gaze more clearly on the match.
She wanted to see more of just what he had in store for her.
Back in the arena, however,
Claire watched, seeing the crackling intensity, and thus decided to test.
Tsun–!
A flash of light.
Green light erupted from her turret-like weapon, streaming towards him.
However,
Tzu–!
The light stopped right in front of him in a circle.
Despite seemingly trying to force itself through the invisible barrier.
Unfortunately, it was static.
"That is... [N-Barrier]?"
Claire narrowed her eyes.
It wasn't only her; the entire audience was shocked at the display.
[N-Barrier].
A basic technique of a Slayer.
Using their chi or life energy, they channel it into the Variable Stone.
It generates tangible energy that can then perform any function.
For a non-Slayer, someone who has no compatibility with a Hundred.
What's more, there were two types of barriers with two states.
Bare-Body Armament and Full-Body Armament.
With Bare-Body Armament, only an [E-Barrier] can be deployed.
However, with an [N-Barrier], neutralization of attacks is possible.
But…
This should be impossible.
Sadly however,
"This is not an [N-Barrier]."
Another declaration cut through the surprise, shutting everyone present.
"Let me enlighten you."
Snapping his finger, the green ball of light, which was the result of the energy attack,
Thud—!
…changed directions and slammed forcefully into the ground.
"I'll be that guy and explain how it works."
[Territory]
An invisible domain around him that allows him to control anything within it.
Essentially, it granted him nigh-omnipotence within the barrier.
Of course, his reach is within that three-meter barrier, but he can move with it.
In fact, its modest size made it all the more effective.
Because of that.
[Territory]
• [Protective Territory]
• [Offense Discharge]
Those two that can be used are strong at that level.
By generating a transmissible attack, like a soundwave, he could fire outward.
However, that was not the focus.
"Territory…"
Sounds formidable.
Claire understood one thing clearly: her conventional attacks couldn't reach him.
Yet, tzz–!
In a blur, she closed the distance in an instant.
[Accelerate.]
Projecting her chi into her Variable Stone, she converted it to energy.
She transferred the energy into her feet.
Because of that, she was able to close the distance in a flash, literally.
However,
Kzzt–!
Under everyone's gaze,
They saw her fist unmoving at about three meters away from him.
"I see.."
She muttered.
If this were an [N-Barrier], she would have sensed fluctuations through [Sense].
Any Slayer deploying an [N-Barrier] this large would be burning an absurd amount of Life Energy.
But it was the same, there was none.
Kcthhh—!
Just as she thought, a blinding blue arc split the air, cutting toward her.
"Nn!"
However, she jumped away in time, avoiding the attack.
As she did, mid-air, she swung her arm.
Six of her turrets surrounded Shion, bombarding him.
Boom!
Smoke erupted, spreading everywhere as Claire landed.
At the very least, that should have—
Before those thoughts were complete:
"Kusanagi. Reject."
Fuu!
She saw his figure jump from the smoke, making a drawing motion.
And then,
Psstt!
Lightning arcs were being drawn in the air, one, two, three, four...
Up to a total of at least twenty.
"Kusanagi, befall."
Click.
Sheathing the weapon into a sheath that appeared from nowhere, the arcs descended.
"Kuh!"
Watching it slowly fall, Claire's eyes widened.
No way... her [N-Barrier] probably couldn't hold its own against that many.
She had sensed it using [Energy Sense].
One.
Just one of those slashes is able to cripple her Life Energy reserves.
If that were the case then…
Don't mess with how. How would I, the perfect Queen, lose? Impossible!
From Claire, a brilliant emerald light shone, filling the entire arena.
As it did, it countered the blinding blue electric slashes aimed at her.
"Hou?"
Full Body Armament.
As the light disappeared,
Protectors dyed in her signature crimson color appeared on both her arms and legs.
On her back, tiny thrusters appeared as well.
"Come forth, my Petals―!"
She yelled.
Her shift to Full-Body Armament having completed, she quickly used [Accelerate].
The thrusters on Claire's back whirred open.
From there, tiny floating gun pods, her petals, scattered outward.
She stretched her hands, commanding them to surround Shion, who just let out a scoff.
Heh.
A smirk spread across his face.
Click–!
Kusanagi's sheath snapped shut, and in a flash, both launched their attacks.
Zktzz–!
Claire's Petals fired their lasers.
However, Shion sliced through each beam without draining his stamina.
As he did, jagged trails of lightning streaked the air with residue of current.
However,
"With this, it's over, Kamika Shion―!"
Claire's voice, like a signal, echoed through the arena.
Once more, simultaneously from each and every Petal, a beam was released.
It was a veritable storm of lasers.
"Useless, useless, useless, useless, useless."
If Claire were hoping to overwhelm him with numbers, then it clearly wasn't working.
Shion was cutting each one down.
But he knew that wasn't the main attack.
Inclining his head to the back, he noticed an energy signature in his blind spot.
Over there, huh?
The moment he turned—
Boom!
An enormous beam was released, flying towards Shion mid-air, hitting him.
Smoke erupted, filling the air.
"Hmph, it seems like when attacking, you can't use that [Territory] thing, eh?"
Claire noticed this at some point.
Instead of just defending, he was actively slicing through the lasers as he attacked.
That meant…
Either there was a time limit, or he couldn't maintain [Territory] consecutively.
If that was not the case, he must have had it active while chasing her.
Claire pressed on, continuing the barrage until she was certain of it.
Though…
"I acknowledge you… for someone who's not a Slayer, you're strong."
No, it was more than that. She felt defeated.
He had forced her to not only activate her Full-Body Armament.
But she was also forced to unleash her strongest attack.
That stung.
It was humiliating.
Below, the crowd cheered.
Seeing their Queen wield Full-Body Armament in action was breathtaking.
But reactions were mixed.
Emile, Fritz, and Reitia all glanced at Hayato.
He, however, showed no sign of worry; instead, he kept his gaze on the smoke-filled area.
Same with Charlotte.
For a moment, staring at the smoke-filled area, she then let out a cackle.
"Hyahahahaha. He's playing with her."
Charlotte laughed hysterically, tugging at her hair while Hayato nodded.
"Yeah, if he really wanted, this match would have ended since it began."
Down below, just as Claire turned away.
Just as the comms were about to declare the Queen victorious—
"Strong, you say?"
Everyone froze.
The smoke slowly cleared, revealing the figure suspended in the air.
Claire's shaking eyes moved towards the place he stood mid-air, trembling.
"No… no way."
Her full attack, which could obliterate any High-Level Savage, was neutralized.
"Claire, you didn't bother to reason why your brother went through so much work just for one person?"
"Your brother wants to control me because of one thing."
Because I am strong.
Those words fell on the student body as they suddenly felt pressure.
Even those protected behind the barriers felt their hair rise.
Looking at Shion, they saw it.
Lightning gathered around his right palm as he slowly raised it.
From around the arena, residues of lightning began gathering toward him.
"Gathering lightning?"
Charlotte scoffed.
It wasn't as simple as gathering lightning from thin air.
The residues of lightning were what [Kusanagi] had discharged.
He was simply gathering it all back.
Slowly, the lightning he gathered formed a shape, a particular shape.
A… dragon.
"The name of this attack is called Kirin."
Lightning cracked as a roar seemed to leave its mouth.
A heavy gust of wind bellowed as it swept across the entire arena.
Crack, crack—crack—!
"Everybody take cover!"
Hayato immediately stood up, shouting as loud as his voice could.
The energy barriers surrounding the stadium were beginning to crack.
"Yikes… this guy."
Charlotte sweatdropped, feeling her scalp tingle; this guy was nuts.
But… Claire must be having it worse.
Sure enough, she was.
What's that… incomprehensible. Had her brother also faced this?
Now, she felt like a frog in a well.
With this, she had no qualms.
Raising her head, she watched as he declared his verdict.
"Begone, with the thunderclap."
She saw it as the dragon, about a building tall, descended quicker than she could perceive.
Boom–!
The world inverted.
It turned white and deafening as a thin, high-frequency sound stretched.
Undoubtedly,
He was the strongest.
Some seconds passed as people slowly adjusted to the aftermath.
Claire, especially, who should have felt pain or something, slowly opened her eyes.
There was no damage to her surroundings, and everywhere was fine.
"Wh… why?"
"Ehh, as small as that attack was, if I let it loose, it'd cause a catastrophe."
What Shion did was simple.
Before the energy detonated, he quickly unsheathed Kusanagi.
After that, he appeared on the ground, slashing at the attack he'd made.
That canceled it.
Claire was left speechless.
Slowly, her shoulders dropped altogether as she curtly raised her hand.
"I give up."
Rather than having a bitter expression on her face, she wore a wry smile.
How could she be bitter towards someone that strong?
But yes, she did feel humiliated, though she didn't voice it.
With her declaration, noise erupted across the stadium with one particular chant.
Even people who were rooting for Claire found themselves cheering for him.
One particular word struck: "A King above a Queen, an Emperor."
Hearing that, Shion felt his lips twitch, but he said nothing.
Instead, with a bit of cringe mixed with embarrassment, he exited the stadium.
Claire watched him as he left with mixed feelings.
Amidst a mix of emotion, one arose.
Curiosity.