Chapter 51: No Need to Swallow

“…………”

“Huh! Ku! Gi!?”

The match had already progressed, with more than five minutes having passed.

Under normal training circumstances, one wouldn’t be out of breath after about five minutes of action. 

However, the battle against the formidable opponent Dimna Kais continued in a constantly tense situation, steadily depleting Gulf’s stamina.

(Guh!?? It’s really… getting dangerous!!!!)

Despite deliberately pulling back and summoning courage to move forward, trying various actions, none of the attacks seemed to land as a decisive blow.

It’s not that Gulf has never landed an attack on Dimna, but each attack has been successfully guarded against. Even kicks and punches that seemed to hit were countered, and Gulf could only manage to inflict damage enough to create mere bruises.

“It’s not over yet!!! If you give up, it’s all over! Gulf!!!!”

“Ugh!!! Ugh, ahhhhhh!!!!”

“…This beast.”

I can still hear it.

Even as my body distinctly feels fatigue, and the words ‘limit’ and ‘defeat’ come into view, the voice of my friend resonates well in my ears.

Just because I hear the voice doesn’t mean I become stronger.

Gulf understands that well.

However… every time I hear the voice of my friend, the desire not to give up surges within me. The feeling that I can still fight.

Dimna, in his exhausted state, responds to irregular attacks with a certainty that steadily intensifies his frustration.

Considering his track record of consistently winning matches without changing his expression, and achieving victories that border on overwhelming, this performance can be considered satisfactory.

In fact, in his previous matches, unless facing someone truly close in skill, even the spectators were convinced that the fight would undoubtedly end in Dimna’s victory.

However, in this match… partly because of the various irregularities supported by the presence of Ishudo, and judging by the ongoing battle, it cannot be unequivocally said that there is absolutely no hope.

Unlike the first and second matches, Dimna is not able to evade all attacks; he finds himself in situations where he must choose to either deflect or take some attacks head-on.

Despite his remarkable skills and physical abilities to immediately turn the situation in his favor, Gulf’s fighting style undeniably left the spectators considering the possibility of an unexpected turn.

“Tch… Triple thrust!”

“Huh!?”

However, Gulf’s experience has not yet reached the level of a seasoned veteran, and he misjudged the position from which the triple thrust was unleashed, taking two of the thrusts.

“Light Flash!”

“What!?”

A technique that can be acquired at Level Two of the Fine Sword Technique skill – Light Flash.

A slashing move as fast as light itself.

It is undeniable that, when activated, Light Flash delivers even faster slashes than those performed in a regular state. However, some argue that names like Light Flash might be a bit misleading, finding humor in it.

However, the slashing attack, imbued with the magic of light and unleashed from the strengthened body, is indeed the Light Flash.

If Gulf’s magical power were in perfect condition, he might have barely withstood it, but not only his physical strength but also his magical power is nearing its limits.

Unable to allocate all magical power to defense in time, his clothes were torn beyond the defense of magic, and the Light Flash reached his skin and flesh.

“Hu!”

“Gahh!?”

As fresh blood scattered, Dimna delivered a graceful kick to the abdomen, just as he did earlier.

Due to the kick landing on the abdomen, which was not fully defended in time, it didn’t result in a fracture, but extensive cracks appeared in the affected area.

“Gah!?”

“One… Two.”

Thrown out of the ring, crashing into the wall.

Ruthlessly, the referee started the count to ten.

“Don’t give up, Gulf!!!!”

The area slashed by the Light Flash is not critically injured for now. However, if left untreated, bleeding would add to the damage, forcing Gulf into a blackout.

Some fighters in the world resort to rough methods like tightening muscles to stop bleeding. However, as of now, it’s an impossible technique for Gulf.

Furthermore, the kick that sent him flying out of the ring… that was a dire situation.

“Goh!?”

“Three… Four.”

His fighting spirit is not yet broken.

Even if his magical power runs out, even if his physical strength dwindles, he won’t give up until he faints and collapses. There is no way he can give up.

Dragging his body forward, even if by force.

(Not yet… My body can still move, right?)

He understands. He was aware that his body was on the verge of its limits.

Still… he will keep moving forward until his consciousness fades away.

This is not an appeal for a job that I will never give up until the end!!!

Not giving up until he collapses.

That is Gulf’s attitude towards the fierce battle.

“Five… Six.”

(Move… Move, move!!! There’s still some movement left!!!)

No matter how much he whips his body, he gets up.

With determination and conviction, he finally managed to lift his knees… or so it seemed.

“Huh!?”

Still, the reality was dire.

At the moment he tried to squeeze out the last drop, it evaporated immediately.

(No, not yet… not yet!!!)

As he attempted to crawl forward, a voice, different from Ishudo’s, reached his ears.

“Pathetic. It seems the education of barbarians is truly worthless.”

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!”

If Phillip and Michela were to hear these words now… they would probably respond with something like, “Look who’s talking! The one struggling against commoners he looked down upon!!!”

However, for Gulf, these were words he couldn’t ignore.

The situation and emotions.

These two are crucial elements in a battle, and one cannot afford to underestimate them.

“Seven… Eight!?”

Just two steps away from the ten-count, Gulf bounced from outside the ring and gracefully returned to the ring.

“Hmm… So, you had that in you.”

“…You can retract your words from earlier.”

Ignoring Dimna’s question, he spoke with a calm expression—or rather, a forcibly suppressed expression—while keeping his emotions in check.

“Are you asking if I had that in me?!!!”

A rapid series of thrusts from a high-speed approach.

Attacks designed to control actions without activating skill techniques.

In this situation, it was a remarkably composed attack. However, not all of them hit their mark.

“With this battle, I will prove it.”

“Hmph, it seems… you don’t intend to answer.”

Gulf, at this moment, awakened to a weapon only a few skilled close-quarters combatants could master – the Fighting Spirit.

The atmosphere around him, unlike the Gulf just moments ago, was different. Even just standing there emitted pressure not inferior to Dimna.

However, despite the enhancement brought about by enveloping himself in Fighting Spirit, allowing him to return to the ring and move, the proximity to his limits remained unchanged, and he was well aware of it.

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