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After enjoying a long rest, Ryuu finally stood up from her seat and stretched her stiff body, still feeling the effects of the previous duel. She walked over to her wooden sword lying on the ground and picked it up with one hand.
"Let's continue," she said, turning to Shirou. "And this time, don't hold back."
Shirou, who was still sitting under the tree, raised an eyebrow, slightly confused by the request. Slowly, he stood up and looked at Ryuu hesitantly.
"Ryuu, if I really don't hold back..." Shirou glanced at his hands for a moment, remembering how the Kanshou he had thrown earlier hit Ryuu. "For example, if I hadn't dulled Kanshou with Magecraft earlier, that sword would have pierced your back."
Ryuu, who had initially appeared confident, froze instantly. Her eyes widened slightly upon hearing Shirou's statement, and she reflexively touched her back, as if confirming there were no wounds there.
She let out a long sigh, then looked at Shirou again with a more serious expression. "Alright, then... just use a blunt sword, but don't hold back your Magecraft or your stats. I want to see your true strength."
Shirou looked at her with an incredulous expression. In his mind, he immediately imagined several scenarios that could occur. Even if he didn't use sharp weapons, too many of his techniques were dangerous.
If I fire Caladbolg, even in its dulled form, it won't just take out Ryuu... it'll obliterate an entire building behind her.
Shirou sighed, suppressing his frustration. He was a bit unsure how to explain this to Ryuu.
"Alright," Shirou finally relented, nodding slightly. "I'll gradually increase the intensity of my attacks. I'll raise it little by little until you feel it's enough."
Ryuu heard this and nodded in agreement. However, in her mind, she wondered. Just how strong is Shirou that he has to hold back like this?
With her determination burning even stronger, Ryuu took her stance again, ready to face Shirou's true strength that had been hidden until now. As Shirou prepared his Magecraft, a more intense battle was about to resume.
Shirou raised one hand into the air, and instantly, blue light gathered around him. Within seconds, twenty blunt swords appeared in the air, floating slowly like a swarm of bees ready to sting.
Ryuu's eyes widened at the sight. "You didn't even say 'Trace on' this time," she said in a tone full of surprise. "Don't you usually need that incantation?"
Shirou simply smiled faintly. "That's one of the advantages of Magecraft compared to magic in Orario," he said casually. "I don't always need a vocal incantation to activate it. Now, get ready to dodge."
Without giving Ryuu a chance to react further, Shirou swung his hand forward. In an instant, all the swords shot toward Ryuu at incredible speed, like a meteor shower crashing to the ground.
Ryuu's eyes widened as she realized something—the swords weren't fired randomly. Shirou carefully controlled the trajectory of each blade, blocking every possible escape route. Even before the swords reached her, she could see that her paths to evade were completely sealed.
This is insane... Ryuu thought to herself, her jaw tightening. This isn't just brute strength. Shirou has complete control over every sword he launches. If I can't dodge all of them...
In a split second, Ryuu made a decision. She had no choice but to deflect the attacks one by one. With lightning speed, she swung her wooden sword, knocking back a few blades coming from the right, then twisted her body to avoid an attack from behind.
However, despite her best efforts, three swords managed to slip past her defenses.
Thud!
One hit her shoulder, pushing her body slightly backward.
Thump!
The second struck her stomach, causing her to stagger back.
Crack!
The last one hit her thigh, forcing her to kneel on one knee.
Ryuu groaned softly, suppressing the pain spreading through her body. Even though the swords were blunt, their speed and force were still enough to make her body feel crushed.
She looked up, staring at Shirou, who was still standing in place, with even more swords floating in the air around him.
Ryuu let out a long breath, then smiled faintly. "I understand now... why you didn't unleash your full strength earlier."
Shirou sighed lightly before raising his hand again. "I'm still holding back, you know," he said casually, though there was a hint of teasing in his voice.
Around him, the air rippled as if something was trying to break through from an invisible world. A bluish-green light gathered and formed dozens of blunt swords that began to float around him, moving slowly like predators stalking their prey.
Ryuu, still half-kneeling, stared at the scene with a mix of awe and dread. "Seriously...?" she muttered, her breath slightly ragged.
Shirou lowered his hand quickly. "Get ready, Ryuu."
Without further warning, dozens of swords shot forward like a torrential downpour crashing to the earth.
Ryuu immediately leaped to the side, avoiding the first wave of attacks. There are too many! she thought in panic. She swung her wooden sword as fast as she could, deflecting a few blades coming from the front, but some still managed to graze her body.
Thud! One sword hit her arm.
Thump! Another struck her hip, causing her to lose her balance slightly.
Crack! A sword nearly hit her head, forcing her to duck quickly.
"I can't keep this up!" Ryuu screamed in her mind. Staying in one place would only make her an easy target. With her high reflexes, she began running around the field, trying to find an opening to avoid the relentless rain of blades.
However, Shirou seemed to have anticipated her movements. The swords weren't just attacking from one direction—they rotated, locking down her escape routes, forcing her to either keep deflecting or take the hits.
"Hey, hey! This isn't fair!" Ryuu shouted as she tried to dodge. But Shirou just grinned, showing no signs of stopping his assault.
Finally, Ryuu ran out of options. With one long leap, she dashed toward the only remaining shelter—a large tree in the middle of the field. Once she reached it, she pressed her back against the trunk and raised her hands.
"Stop! Stop! STOPPP!!!" Ryuu shouted desperately. Her breath was ragged, and her body was covered in bruises from the earlier attacks.
Shirou finally lowered his hand, and the remaining swords stopped floating before slowly fading into fragments of light.
With her breath still heavy, Ryuu peeked out from behind the tree with an annoyed expression. "You... are really too much!"
Shirou just chuckled lightly. "You were the one who asked me not to hold back, right?"
Shirou stepped closer to the tree where Ryuu was hiding, his amused expression fading as he saw the elf's condition. Ryuu's body looked battered, and her breath was still ragged from the intense training. Her white sleeveless shirt was now dirty from the field's dust, revealing several bluish bruises starting to appear on her arms and shoulders. Her green shorts were also wrinkled, with a few impact marks visible on her thighs and calves.
The smile that had been on Shirou's face disappeared, replaced by a look of concern. He bent down slightly, looking at Ryuu seriously. "Ryuu, are you okay?" he asked softly, his tone different from the casual one he had during the fight.
Ryuu let out a long sigh, not answering immediately. She wasn't seriously injured, but the effects of the strange training session were still felt throughout her body. However, the soreness was mixed with a sense of pain.
She grumbled while rubbing her sore shoulder. "You really went overboard, Shirou..."
Shirou scratched his head with a hint of guilt. "Sorry... I should have held back more."
Ryuu blinked and looked at Shirou in confusion. Huh? Wasn't I the one who asked him not to hold back? Why is he apologizing now?
She glanced at Shirou, who still looked guilty. For a moment, the elf felt a strange sense of satisfaction, like a small victory after suffering from the rain of blunt swords earlier.
Dramatically, Ryuu pretended to take a deep breath before collapsing to the ground, as if she were truly exhausted. "Haaah... I don't think I can move for a while," she said, putting on an exaggerated tired expression.
Shirou looked at her with a worried expression. "Do you need something?"
Ryuu glanced toward the dormitory before saying casually, "Yeah if you don't mind, could you grab a potion from my room?"
Shirou straightened up and nodded firmly. "Alright, I'll be right back." Without delay, he turned and quickly walked toward the dormitory.
Once Shirou was out of sight, Ryuu leaned her head against the tree and smiled slightly. Heh, at least now I know just how big the gap in our strength is... and how much he cares.
Shirou climbed the small stairs leading to Ryuu's room, his steps quick but careful. He didn't want to take too long, especially with Ryuu waiting outside, her body covered in bruises from their earlier training.
When he opened the door to her room, he was greeted by a soft, refreshing scent of trees. This smell... it really suits her, Shirou thought for a moment.
The room was quite simple, with just a bed in the corner with neatly folded blankets, a small table with a few items arranged on it, and a small door leading to the bathroom. There were no excessive decorations, just a calm and clean atmosphere that was immediately felt upon entering.
Shirou's eyes quickly landed on the potion bottle he was looking for—neatly placed on the table. He immediately grabbed it and turned around, almost tripping over the doorframe in his haste. With quicker steps, he returned to the yard where Ryuu was still leaning against the tree.
As soon as he arrived, he handed the potion to Ryuu. "Here, the potion."
The elf took it but didn't use it right away. Instead, she looked at Shirou for a moment, her mind drifting to the past.
Alise once said... If there's a man who can touch me without me rejecting him, maybe I should think twice before letting him go...
She bit her lip, feeling slightly nervous. During their previous training, Shirou had half-hugged her when she almost fell. Strangely, Ryuu didn't feel weird or uncomfortable with that touch—something she usually avoided from anyone other than Syr and Alise. And now, there was another opportunity right in front of her...
Swallowing hard, Ryuu finally spoke. "Shirou..."
"Hm?" Shirou looked at her, still with a worried expression.
Ryuu glanced at the potion bottle in her hand, then back at Shirou. "Can you... Apply this for me?"
Shirou blinked, looking hesitant for a moment. "Huh? Me?"
Ryuu nodded slowly, patting her bruised calf. "It's easier if someone else does it. Besides, I'm too tired to do it myself."
Shirou swallowed. He wasn't sure this was a good idea, but refusing Ryuu's request also felt wrong. Finally, with some hesitation, he poured the potion onto his palm before squatting in front of Ryuu.
His hand carefully touched the elf's calf, applying the healing liquid with slow movements. The potion began to seep into her skin, causing the bruises that were previously visible to slowly fade.
However, when his eyes glanced further up, he noticed that Ryuu's thigh also had some severe bruising. His heart raced without him realizing it. Do I have to apply it there too...?
Ryuu, who was watching his expression, almost laughed at how tense Shirou looked. However, she just smiled slightly and waited, curious to see if Shirou would continue or choose to back off.
Shirou was still hesitant as he looked at the bruises on Ryuu's thigh. He swallowed, then quickly shifted his attention to Ryuu's shoulder, which also appeared bruised. With careful movements, he poured the potion onto his palm before starting to apply it to Ryuu's exposed shoulder, just above the sleeveless white shirt the elf was wearing.
His hand moved slowly, making sure the healing liquid seeped well into Ryuu's skin. Shirou was completely focused, his eyes watching every part he treated. He didn't even realize that his body was now very close to Ryuu, so close that his breath felt warm on her skin.
Ryuu, who was leaning against the tree, tensed up. Her heart began to beat faster than she expected. She could feel every movement of Shirou's hand on her shoulder, the touch feeling gentle yet firm. Something inside her trembled, a strange feeling she wasn't used to.
Trying to distract herself from the growing uncontrollable emotions, Ryuu finally spoke. "By the way, how much of your strength are you still holding back?" she asked casually, trying to hide her nervousness.
Shirou, who was applying the potion from Ryuu's shoulder to her arm, paused for a moment upon hearing the question. He thought for a moment, trying to recall the various abilities he hadn't shown during their training earlier.
Magic Sword... Noble Phantasm... even Unlimited Blade Works... he thought. So far, he had only used basic techniques in their fights. He hadn't shown the magic swords that could explode upon hitting their target or the Noble Phantasms whose power could destroy an entire building in one strike. He hadn't even used his Reality Marble in this world yet.
After a while, Shirou finally finished applying the potion. He raised his face and looked Ryuu straight in the eye. "Maybe... about five percent of my full strength," he admitted honestly.
Their eyes met at a very close distance. Shirou only now realized how thin the gap between them was. Ryuu's sky-blue eyes shone softly in the daylight, her breath sounding slow but steady.
Aware of their closeness, Shirou immediately flinched and backed away slightly, his face slightly red.
Ryuu, who also snapped out of her daze, quickly cleared her throat to cover her embarrassment. "Ahem... So, even just five percent of your strength is something I can't match, huh?" she said in a half-joking tone, trying to continue the topic before the situation became more awkward.
Shirou scratched his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the fact that he was indeed much stronger, which sounded a bit arrogant. "Well... I don't want to go overboard. You're already plenty strong, Ryuu."
The elf just snorted softly, but deep down, she realized something. If this is only five percent... then what is his full strength really like?
Ryuu let out a long sigh, trying to calm her heart, which was still beating a bit erratically after their earlier closeness. She reached out her hand to Shirou. "Give me the potion. I can handle the rest myself," she said, her voice sounding normal, but inside she still felt a slight turmoil that was hard to explain.
As Shirou handed the small bottle to her, Ryuu grumbled inwardly. Sorry, Alise... It seems I really can only accept touches like this gradually. If this keeps up, my heart might explode before I even get into a real relationship.
She poured a bit of the potion onto her palm and began applying it to her still-sore thigh. Shirou, who was sitting not far from her, quickly averted his gaze, pretending to focus on the trees around them. However, Ryuu noticed and felt a bit amused at how awkward Shirou looked.
To lighten the mood, Ryuu spoke again. "In that case, how about you show me your full strength? But don't target me," she said while continuing to apply the potion to her remaining wounds.
Shirou sighed, his eyes returning to Ryuu. "I can't," he said honestly. "If I really use one hundred percent of my strength, this place could be destroyed. It might be better to try it in the Dungeon or somewhere safer."
Ryuu snorted. "Geez, you really like hiding your strength, don't you?" she muttered while moving her hand to her back to apply the potion, though it was a bit difficult due to her shirt getting in the way.
After a while, Ryuu finally felt sufficiently recovered. She placed the potion bottle next to the tree and stood up. With a serious expression, she looked at Shirou. "Then, you'll withstand my attacks. Don't counter at all," she challenged, picking up her wooden sword again. "Prove just how weak I am compared to you."
Shirou looked at her in shock. "Wait, Ryuu... I didn't mean to belittle you!" he protested.
However, Ryuu was already ready, her wooden sword held firmly in her hand. "Then, respect me by showing that strength of yours!" she said with a determined gaze.
Shirou sighed for a moment before raising his hand. "Alright then," he said, his eyes now more focused and serious. In his hand, a faint blue light gathered, and in an instant, a wooden sword identical to Ryuu's appeared. Shirou gripped it tightly, swinging it slightly to adjust his grip.
Ryuu's eyes widened as she saw the sword. "That's... Alvs Lumina!" she exclaimed, perfectly recognizing its shape and design.
Shirou nodded. "Correct. I can replicate weapons I've analyzed before," he explained, holding the wooden sword firmly. "My Magecraft allows me not only to recreate weapons but also to understand their structure and balance."
Ryuu clicked her tongue in annoyance. "But still, I'm the one who's mastered it!" she said, feeling a bit offended that Shirou had copied her weapon so easily. Quickly, she stepped forward and swung her sword at Shirou.
Shirou calmly raised his sword, and clang!—Ryuu's attack was easily deflected. Not wanting to give up so easily, Ryuu continued her assault, one, two, three slashes in quick succession. However, Shirou deflected all of them without seeming the least bit troubled.
Ryuu began to frown. Normally, using a new weapon required adaptation. But Shirou, without any confusion, used the sword as if he had been training with it for years. His movements were smooth, his stance perfect, and even the way he swung and defended felt so natural.
"What the hell..." Ryuu muttered as she slashed again, only to see her sword being blocked with terrifying precision. "You... You copied my sword techniques, too?"
Shirou sighed and nodded. "More or less. I can replicate not only weapons but also the techniques of their users," he said casually as if it were no big deal.
Ryuu clenched her teeth. "Tch... That's a bit annoying," she muttered, feeling somewhat frustrated. How could she not? Shirou copied the techniques she had trained for years with discipline in a matter of seconds.