-325- Truely the end

"——!"

The thunderous strike clashed against the cross-shaped shield with a serrated friction, as if intending to cleave the shield in half. Countless sparks flew and a cacophony of screeching and explosive friction echoed, creating an extremely jarring sound.

"Ugh…!"

Heathcliff, holding the cross-shaped shield, felt an undeniable force of weight transmitting through the shield. While letting out a groan, his eyes widened in surprise.

"The power has increased compared to before…!?"

And it had increased quite a bit.

Heathcliff's grip on the shield was slowly pushed back, causing his tightly controlled expression to become more defined. He pressed all his strength onto the shield to withstand the incoming impact.

However, Rozen's sword skill had only just begun.

In an instant, the thunder-like strike, after passing through Heathcliff's cross-shaped shield, immediately flickered and slashed back like a shimmer. Following that was a spin, brutally striking Heathcliff's shield once again.

The trajectory of that sword skill was akin to the swipes of a fierce beast's claws.

This was the one-handed sword's three-strike sword skill—"Sharp Nail."

A heavy slash that resembled claws swiping was divided into three, landing heavily on the cross-shaped shield Heathcliff held. It was like an unseen monster striking upon it, sparking with fire and exuding astonishing power.

"Thud!"

Amidst the muffled sound, Heathcliff's cross-shaped shield was forcibly pushed back by an irresistible force.

"...!?"

Heathcliff seemed as if he hadn't considered this result at all. An inexplicable emotion flickered in his eyes for a moment, followed by a sharp glint as he tightened his grip on the cross-shaped sword. The effects glow of the sword skill also shimmered on Heathcliff's cross-shaped sword.

At this moment, Rozen, having used "Sharp Nail," was also caught in the stiff duration of the sword skill. His body was frozen in front of Heathcliff.

"This is the end."

Heathcliff calmly declared, the cross-shaped sword in his hand carrying a long effects glow as he thrust it towards Rozen.

A flash burst forth in Heathcliff's hand.

This thrust was faster, more accurate, and stronger than the sword skill used by Asuna. It was a merciless direct strike towards Rozen's chest.

And as long as this strike connected, the victor would be determined.

In the context of the First Strike Win mode, this strike was already powerful enough to be classified as a strong attack and would serve as the reason for victory no matter what.

Rozen had no way to evade it.

Because Rozen's body was still in the recovery time of the sword skill.

Thus, Rozen couldn't avoid defeat.

—[ If he hadn't positioned his fist at his side before the stiff duration. ]

"Clang!"

At this moment, the effects glow of the sword skill shone on Rozen's fist.

"That is...!?"

Seeing this scene, Heathcliff finally seemed to remember something, and his complexion changed.

Rozen, meanwhile, gazed at Heathcliff's subtly changed expression and a smile curved on his lips.

"Senda (Flash Blow)!"

This was the basic single-strike technique of martial arts.

Just before entering the stiff duration, Rozen prepared the stance for triggering "Martial Arts."

In this way, even if Rozen himself was immobile due to recovery, the system would still activate the martial arts sword skill since it detected the preparation motion.

As a result, Rozen's fist shot forward like a bullet through the air.

"Clang!"

Beneath the clear sound, the side of the cross-shaped sword Heathcliff thrust forth was forcefully struck by the fist, which carried a red effects glow. It was sent flying.

"What...!?"

Heathcliff's composed face finally showed a shocked expression.

Using a fist to deflect a weapon?

This wasn't something that couldn't be done.

However, one must know that Rozen was stuck in the stiffness state after using the sword skill with a single-handed sword. He couldn't move, and even if he prepared a martial arts sword skill motion just before recovery, it wouldn't be directed towards Heathcliff's weapon.

After all, Heathcliff's thrusting sword skill was unleashed after Rozen had used his sword skill. Moreover, it was the sword skill of the unique ability "Holy Sword," and Rozen couldn't possibly know its trajectory.

However, Rozen still managed to make the pre-prepared martial arts sword skill hit Heathcliff's weapon, deflecting his sword skill.

What did this indicate?

It demonstrated that Rozen had seen through Heathcliff's actions before he used the one-handed sword skill. He had also seen through the preparation of his sword skill and even the trajectory of that skill. Only then could he prepare the motion for "Martial Arts," hit Heathcliff's weapon, and deflect it.

How could Rozen foresee the activation of sword skills in advance?

How could Rozen anticipate the trajectory of sword skills in advance?

These were all questions in Heathcliff's mind.

However, these questions were destined to go unanswered.

Because all of this was thanks to Rozen's diligently honed external system skill—"Mind's Eye."

As a result...

"This is truly the end!"

Rozen, who deflected Heathcliff's sword skill, only entered an extremely brief stiff time for the martial arts sword skill. Then, both the one-handed sword skill and martial arts sword skill's stiffness time ended simultaneously.

"Clang!"

The watery effects glow shimmered on Rozen's Royal Sword.

Heathcliff immediately recognized the nature of the sword skill Rozen was preparing to unleash.

"Horizontal Square!"

This was a fierce horizontal quadruple slash directed towards the front, forming a square-shaped formation with four consecutive strikes from a single-handed sword.

Rozen gripped the Royal Sword tightly, stepped on the ground, and with a speed far exceeding before, he shot towards Heathcliff with a sky-blue effects glow.

This time, it was Heathcliff's turn to enter the stiffness time of the sword skill. Coupled with his weapon and shield being deflected, he found himself in a vulnerable position with his body exposed in front. Avoidance was impossible.

The situation had reversed.

The victor should be Rozen.

Just as this outcome was about to manifest...

"Thump!"

A sound effect similar to the end of a match resounded in the air, causing a purple window to appear.

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Both Rozen and Heathcliff exclaimed in astonishment.

Simultaneously, a purple barrier suddenly unfolded between Rozen and Heathcliff, deflecting Rozen's sword skill and sparking with dazzling flashes.

Heathcliff's recovery time also came to an end.

Rozen and Heathcliff respectively moved away a certain distance, wordlessly gazing at the purple window in between.

On the window was displayed a message.

"Duel time up?"

Rozen was left speechless.

"A draw?"

Heathcliff's brow furrowed as well.

Indeed.

Duel time was up.

Regardless of the duel mode, victory or defeat had to be determined within the designated time. If the duel time ran out, the victor would be decided forcibly.

And the winner would be the one with the higher HP.

However, this judgment was based on units of 5%.

In other words, if one side had 70% HP and the other had 65%, with a gap of 5%, the former would win.

Conversely, if one side had 70% HP and the other had 66%, with a gap of less than 5%, it would result in a draw.

Both Rozen and Heathcliff had 100% full HP, and neither had landed a hit on the other.

In conclusion, the result of this duel was a draw.

"..."

Both Rozen and Heathcliff fell silent.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Only then did Saichou and Hanachou fly to Rozen's side, announcing their return.

"Phew..."

As for Asuna, who had been watching the duel from the side, she let out a secret sigh of relief, then found herself in a similar state of speechlessness.

No one had anticipated that the outcome of this duel would turn out this way.