Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 73 - Decisive Strike

It was clear from the onset that there was only one way this duel would end.

Leticia had known it from the start, and even Medrauta in her fugue state understood it to be the case. It was only now that the two knights drove their swords against each other as they rushed toward the natural conclusion of their dance.

Medrauta's blade met Leticia's, sparks flying in the air. Both knights pushed against each other, their eyes burning with fiery resolve.

They struggled against each other for another moment before deciding to disengage simultaneously, pulling away and leaping back to study their opponent for the briefest second just to dive back into combat again.

Medrauta's breath was heavy, but not exhausted. Sweat coated her body, droplets running down her cheek before falling from her chin. On the surface, she looked unperturbed, but she was slowly succumbing to the effects of battle fatigue and unlike before, she didn't dare take her eyes off her opponent now.

Likewise, Leticia was focused solely on Medrauta. Her once pristine black hair was now stained with blood drawn as a result of Medrauta's most recent attacks. Her wounds screamed every time she moved, but she welcomed the pain despite it sapping away her strength with every passing second.

As both knights locked eyes, they understood that the next strike would be the last.

Medrauta assumed a stance, and to Leticia, it seemed as if the world had paused.

The unwavering tip of her sword was pointed straight at her target, the entirety of her attention honed to such an infinitesimal point that Leticia nearly winced from the sharpness of Medrauta's stare.

It was as if the silver-haired knight was declaring to the world that she would accept no other outcome.

A shiver ran down Leticia's spine, and as she stared at Medrauta, she wondered if she could really manage to reach Medrauta with this final exchange of blows. The pressure that emanated from Medrauta was produced by no mere technique or posture, but as a result of the knight consciously deciding to condense all that she'd learned into this single attack.

In essence, Medrauta's next strike would be the culmination of everything that she was.

The message was clear. Leticia had boldly proclaimed that she would be able to reach Medrauta, so now the silver-haired knight was challenging Leticia to do so by baring the entirety of herself on her blade.

Can I also reach that level...? Leticia thought as she slowly raised her blade. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the core of what made her a swordswoman. In an instant, she ran through every technique that she'd been taught over the years and settled on the one that she was most familiar with.

She raised her blade high above her head. It was a position that left her wide open, but also served as the optimal stance for her to deliver the attack that she'd settled on.

With this strike, I'll reach her. I definitely will! Leticia nodded to herself almost imperceptibly as if to confirm her courage at the last second. She'd performed this overhead strike more times than she could count, and certainly more than any other cut or thrust that she'd been taught. This alone was her sole specialty. Her magnum opus.

Now then, come at me, Medrauta! Let me show you how I—

"You won't."

Leticia flinched, her concentration broken as Medrauta suddenly uttered those two words. "H-Huh!?"

"You won't reach me like that, Leticia."

Leticia was speechless as she stared at Medrauta. Is she just trying to shake my confidence...? She quickly dismissed that thought as she stared at the knight. Medrauta's eyes were free of guile and possessed such clarity that they almost glowed like transparent sapphires. It was no mere bluff.