"Eclipse".

It was the strongest sword skill possessed by Kirito's second sword flow skill, surpassing Starlight's sixteen consecutive hits and reaching an extraordinary twenty-seven consecutive hits.

Except for Heathcliff's exclusive skill "Holy Sword", this is probably the strongest move in the entire game.

Even if it is a boss who raids a special floor, Kirito who has this move may not be without the power to fight.

It's a pity that what he is facing now can be said to be one of the only two 'bugs' in this game.

……

***********************************************************************************************************************

In the fighting arena, the ultra-high-speed sword light continued to stir up wind and dust, and the sound of metal collision from the sword body became louder and louder.

With an irresistible momentum, Kirito's swing speed once again exceeded the limits of what he could achieve in the past.

(Ahead of her!) ）

Looking at the surprise on the face of the sword girl and the marks on her arm that had been cut by the blade, the young swordsman was overjoyed to see that the attack had worked.

The anxiety that had been unable to break through the opponent's defense line gradually disappeared, and Kirito, who was planning to take advantage of the victory, continued to push forward.

But soon, he realized that he was still too naïve.

Except for the first few blows, the opponent's defenses became impregnable again.

Yuki obviously used a single sword, but he was able to catch his every slash steadily.

(Is the gap really that big...... ）

This thought involuntarily popped into my mind.

Although the combo skills in his hands were still fast, the feeling of powerlessness that had little effect had already surfaced in the boy's heart.

Perhaps, this is the end of what his sword can reach now.

……

("Eclipse"...... ）

On the other hand, as the opponent of the second-sword swordsman, Yuki didn't expect that she would become the target of Kirito's move first.

Now in this situation, it seems that she has replaced Heathcliff and Kiritto in advance of the decisive battle.

But it's also a good opportunity for Yuki.

Since using a one-handed sword, she has never forgotten her original intention and honed her skills.

（…… The regret that the other world could not be completed is realized here! ）

Not only does Kirito subconsciously have the idea of competing with her, but she also has the intention of confirming her own harvest through Kirito.

After all, crushing in strength and victory in skill are completely different.

So Yuki didn't use his bug state from the beginning, but duel as a 'normal player'.

In the face of continuous attacks, the girl, who had mastered the rhythm of the battle, wandered in the sword light.

The kind of "sword technique" that I realized when I fought with the Grim Reaper boss before, I'm worried that I won't have anyone to try.

“…… Kirito, you know what? It is the law of the world that human beings have to face the shackles of time and the containers that bind their souls. ”

“……？”

As if explaining why, the black-haired girl who fought back Kirito's last sword suddenly smiled meaningfully.

"But once we are freed, don't you think it's worth looking forward to what kind of future we can go?"

Isn't the concept of time blurred, and the 'imprisoned' consciousness in this imaginary world in some ways like a sign of liberation?

Although some people couldn't understand Yuki's words, it didn't prevent Kirito from feeling the momentum of the other party's gradual condensation.

Just like he had done with the Eclipse before, it was even more than that.

"And then ......"

The body suddenly became sticky, and Kirito suddenly felt that the girl in front of him was out of place with the world.

Everything has exceeded his realization.

"That's the 'answer' I found in this world!"

Accompanying the words fell head-on was an unpretentious sword.

There is no dazzling light when the "Sword Technique" is activated, and there is no sword speed that exceeds the limit.

But.

Can't hide.

I don't know why, Kirito feels this way.

Or to put it more accurately, no matter how much he dodges, the other party will still hit his intuition.

This is the "sword skill" that really belongs to Yuki.

Its name is:

- "Heavenly Power".

Through the analysis of someone's theory, although it is only a short moment, she does interfere with the flow of time with her extraordinary will.

After trying to no avail, Kirito's heart was unexpectedly calm in the face of this unavoidable attack.

"Don't!! Yuki ——!! ”

"Hey! Kirito!! ”

Looking at the young swordsman who suddenly gave up resistance, all the audience rioted, shouting the names of the two.

(Is it over...... ）

（…… ）

（…………？ ）

It's just that after a few breaths, the expected attack that crossed him did not come, and the tip of the sword stopped in front of him, and the girl's crisp voice came.

"Why do you put on such a sad protagonist's trick of saying goodbye, you don't really think I'm going to cut you, do you?"

"Forehead ......"

She didn't really come to fight to the death.

Anyway, it's okay if this guy is too deep into the play, why do the people in the stands think they can do it......

Noticing the commotion just now, the sword girl who fell into a subtle loss in her heart withdrew her weapon.

"This time it's me who won, Kirito."

Glancing at the duel bar above the two of them, Yuki put on the same confident smile as usual.

If no one 'dies', the winner will be judged by the amount of health.

“……”

"Ah, I lost."

It's all the same......

The boy who lay down on his back looked at the sky with a lot of emotion.

********************************************************************************************************************

"Hey——! Kirito! Yuki-sama! You're all right!! ”

As the duel ended, the invisible barrier that prevented everyone from leaving the arena completely disappeared, and they all jumped off the stands one by one.

The loudest shout was, of course, a certain down-and-out samurai with a red turban.

Jumping up to Kirito who was sitting up and hooking his neck, completely ignoring the swordsman boy's unbearable expression, Klein said excitedly.

"You guy, why don't you run to fight Miss Yuki to the death! If you hurt someone, we "Arcadia Guards" will not forgive you! ”

"And! What was that last move? Why have you never seen it used?! It's so handsome! ”

The barrage of questions made Kirito smile bitterly, obviously he was the loser, right?

"But then again, why did you suddenly give up just now?"

"No, it's actually ......"

Sure enough, from the perspective of others, the final fight was undoubtedly Kirito's release of water and the victory was 'conceded' to Yuki.

Anyway, this kind of false name thing, the sword girl doesn't care about it.

Instead of caring about Kirito's 'friendly' exchanges, Yuki beckoned to Yui who was poking his little head out at the entrance.

Then he turned to look at his partner, and just in time to see Naoba running over with a resentful face and his smiling 'inexplicably bright' sister.

At this moment, Yuki always felt that Asuna who was following behind had been signaling that she was asking for more blessings.

……

It must be an illusion, right?