CHAPTER 1 — PART 5: A NEET KING VS A HAUGHTY QUEEN!

The colosseum was sprawled before us, the sand crunching beneath my feet with every step I took, and the air was clogged with immense tension; every breath was halted in a collection of suspense.

Her light blue eyes glued to my being, at the distant end of the arena, she stood.

She was calculating me, analyzing me, every twitch, every subtle move, any chance of an opening she could exploit.

Then, our eyes met, and the atmosphere seemed to crackle with energy.

"So this is a clan war? Between Oshima and Yoshitaka?"

"That guy is an Oshima? Impossible!"

"A clan war... it's been so long since we had one! Holy guacamole!"

Many of the girls said. I picked up on them, but my main focus was the battle. I'll ask my mother about our clan later. But I couldn't help but be curious—having a clan means more members, and more members mean more... siblings?

I gripped Amai tightly, letting go of those lingering thoughts. Amai had said something inside my head, making me flinch.

"Say what?" I got into a stance, my feet set shoulder-width apart, and the weight evenly balanced. My front foot angled slightly forward, ready to move at a moment's notice, while my back heel stayed firm for stability.

Both of my hands gripped the katana's hilt—right near the guard, left at the base—holding the blade diagonally before me. Its tip pointed toward Oharu's eyes, a silent warning.

"Iaijutsu... It seems Oracle is already sharing~" Mother's voice murmured, laden with intrigue. She observed closely as I deftly drew the katana.

"Iaijutsu? How does Yami know of such an art?" Katsumi, well-versed in martial disciplines and sword techniques, found herself captivated by the intricate display.

"I heard what you said, Amai... but I still don't get it. How do I know this stance? I've never fought before." I was bewildered by this display.

Amai's voice echoed in my head, "It's a facet of my true ability. I can archive previous battles, previous wielders, and their techniques. Then, I can seamlessly transmit this knowledge to your consciousness, making it seem like second nature."

"That's straight-up cheating!" I yelled out loud.

The realization hit me: this situation was inherently skewed and unjust! I had expected dedicated training to master these skills myself. Dammit, Amai, this is not how I imagined things!

Oharu clicked her tongue and materialized a sword out of thin air, pointing it right at me. "Let's do this, insect. I'll show the whole school how worthless a man is!"

I popped a vein. "Shut your damn stinky mouth!"

I rushed at her with a swift stride. I was shocked by my movement; even the way I ran changed, but for some reason, I had an annoying headache.

CLANG!

Oharu faced me head-on. Our blades clashed in a shower of sparks, the impact echoing through the arena. The collision sent shockwaves across the sand, creating ripples that mirrored the intensity of our clash.

As we pushed against each other, it became clear that Oharu's strength was formidable.

She's strong... probably stronger than me...

"!" I sensed danger. I jumped away in a flash in time—a sword had just come close to stabbing my back. She had erected various swords, floating around her, and she sent them at an incredible speed.

I dodged one by side-stepping.

Then came the second sword, a leap into the air.

Oharu had jumped as well, meeting me with a hard blow to my chest, then I saw the hilt of her sword pummel my nose, and then, with immense force, I felt how my body crashed into the ground below. The sand exploded everywhere.

"Idiot! Don't underestimate Oharu! She is from the Yoshikawa clan! A renowned Battle Maiden Clan!" Amai yelled in my ear.

"S-shut up..." I stood up slowly. "I don't care about clans and whatnot. What I'm focused on is wiping the floor with her!" I barked, katana raised again.

As the dust cleared off, Oharu landed on the other side of the arena, thinking that I was wounded at least.

What? Is he standing there unhurt? Oharu's gaze bore into me, a mix of frustration and disbelief etched across her features. Losing wasn't an option for her—her sister's potential mockery and her clan's looming disappointment weighed heavily on her mind.

"I will claim Oracle, I will defeat you, and prove to everyone that I'm way stronger! Even stronger than my sister!!" She exclaimed with fervor, rushing at me.

"Tch..." Now I understood what her goal was. She wanted to prove herself, and that was a commendable goal...

But! I have goals too. I must avenge my father's death, and I must become strong to fulfill it! This is a clash of ideals and goals!

I will train every damn day and break my habits, break myself, mold myself into something better. I will discard who I used to be, to grow. I will not let anyone belittle me anymore, not me, nor my father!

"Come at me with everything you have!! Don't hold back! Show everyone what you're made of! Best me, and best your sister." I grinned excitedly, knowing this was the beginning of something new—in me, in her, in this school.

Oharu bit her lip; she wanted to keep her cool, but my words had affected her. "Insect... no, Yami-san. Very well," She locked eyes with me, and grinned too, mirroring my own lips.

"[Sword Art: Senken Kaiho!]" She raised her hand to the sky, and one by one, many swords began to materialize.

I looked up, a bead of sweat ran down my cheek, making me chuckle nervously. "Woah... so this is what a Yoshitaka can do?"

"Worry not, Master! I can help you, this is child's play!" Amai giggled, making me a bit apprehensive, but I had no other choice.

"Yeah, I'm in your care, Amai!" I trusted my being with her.

"Yeah! Master!" Amai exclaimed cutely.

The word "Master" still bothered me, but I'd let it slide for now. I kept gazing at the absurd amount of swords floating above Oharu.

"Woah... what an impressive amount of swords. Nice magic." My mother approved of Oharu's display of strength.

Shizue, who was watching, was also dumbfounded. "Oharu-san is definitely C or even B-rank..."

She clenched her fist. Shizue was a D-rank, just like me, but her fiery personality wouldn't let her dwell on such thoughts. She then gazed at me and "Hmph'd." She must really hate me or something...

Wrong!! You're wrong!! IDIOT!! — says the tsundere.

Katsumi, who was sitting next to Shizue, could only frown at her, noting her blush and pout.

Hotaru, the one who stalked me daily, was also watching me from the stands. She was calculating ways to counter such an ability and making mental notes. "Master will be fine, he is the Queen's son after all."

"Master, go! I'll channel experience into your brain! Moves that can counter her magic." Amai then sent mental waves to my head, images of past users and their ways of training.

"Hot damn... that one has massive boobs..." I saw one of the past wielders—a blonde beauty with a scar on her left eye.

"Hey! Focus! She's starting her attack!" Amai brought me back to reality. I then began to move like water; a rain of swords fell on me, like a tidal wave.

I was like a flash of light, moving through the arena, until I met her. My katana slammed against her sword, then again, and again. Every slash turned into sparks, sparks turned into a plume of light.

The sound of metal echoed across the whole school. Suddenly, we were higher in the sky, then in a flash we were on the ground, then left, then right—just booming clangs and sparks.

"I—I can't keep up with them... so fast..." Katsumi said, astonished. Her inferiority complex made her lose a bit of will.

"Well... Yami does have the Light element... so.... it makes sense that he's fast." Shizue added, dumbfounded by the fight.

"Get cut down by the Blade of Yoshitaka!" Oharu compressed a massive sword with around 500 of them. It was colossal, and I could definitely sense huge amounts of mana in it. I blocked a slash and was sent flying into a wall in the arena.

"Ghhht!?" I then looked up and saw the massive sword coming right at me. I barely dodged by rolling to my side. "Fast!?"

I then placed Amai between me and the massive sword, and the force of the slash sent me flying to the side. I then crashed into a crystal-like barrier that protected the spectators.

My body fell into the sand below, falling to my knees.

"It seems your son is being cornered, my lady. Are you sure he can beat a Yoshitaka?" Mother's secretary looked at me disdainfully, thinking that I was a stain on the Oshima clan.

"Yami already exceeded my expectations, Rikka. This is his first ever fight, and he's showing such skill and power." Aimi paused, sensing a change in the air. She then grinned. "It seems Oracle will do something interesting."

Damn it... that sword is... too fast and strong...

Amai's voice echoed in my mind, mixing amusement and reassurance.

"Master, fear not. Let me help you break your limits. Without my guidance, your magic remains dormant, untapped potential."

Her laughter resonated before turning sly.

"I have just the perfect skill to defeat her. Your mother used this before!"

I see... let's do it, Amai! I trust your judgement!

"Let's astonish the arena—repeat after me!"

With little choice, I complied. After all, the impending threat of Oharu's assault was motivation enough.

"Now, say this!"

Her command registered, and I grinned a bit.

"[Mana Release: Brilliant Break!]"

As those words left my lips, I felt an eruption of energy, blinding the whole arena.

"Hehehe! I'm borrowing your Mother's Ultimate Art. I knew you could use it, you are her son after all." Amai giggled excitedly.

My body was a comet of light, my mana sent a gust of wind everywhere, sending sand throughout the whole arena.

"Impossible... that's my Ultimate Art..." Aimi could only laugh. "You managed to do that, Oracle..."

Rikka's glasses broke from such immense pressure. "Isn't that... my lady's?" She was lost for words.

Shizue's eyes widened. "Is that... the Queen's Ultimate Art?"

Hell yeah! Everyone is glazing me now! I can hear them all!! HAHAHAH!!!

"Nice job, Amai! I can even hear them from here... is that part of [Brilliant Break]?" I asked Amai swiftly.

"Yes, [Brilliant Break] is literally a limit breaker, one that expends mana rapidly, but you get like a 50x booster!" Amai grins, but then she says cautiously, "Try not to use this ability more than once; a second time might give you erectile dysfunction, and a third will definitely kill you."

I think I just heard something incredibly important!!

"W—What a... risk, but I get it." I finally gazed at Oharu, who looked incredulous, her lips contoured into a grim look, and she looked pissed off for some reason.

"How is this possible? I've trained for years... and yet—" Oharu's eyes closed as she yelled in rage, rushing toward me with a sword in hand.

"—and yet, you have an Ultimate Art!!??"

I materialized a sword made of pure light. I blitzed at her, overpowering her in one blow. I sent her flying accidentally, using more strength than I knew I had. "H—Holy crap..."

I saw how she crashed onto the limestone, making a crater with the outline of her body.

She raised her left hand and let all the remaining swords rain on me. I looked up, my eyes widening like dinner plates; they were moving so slowly. I just walked, at a slow pace... not having to actually dodge. I made my way to her, her expression almost frozen—it seemed time was slowed down for me.

Suddenly, I felt my head throb like crazy. My hands immediately made their way to my temple. "Ghhht..."

"Not good... the after effects take a while to take place... it seems you're not ready yet to fully utilize [Brilliant Break]..." Amai's cute voice sounded concerned.

I looked up again. The swords moving at normal speed—a speed I'm not good at. I rolled to my side, barely dodging the swords.

"That's my chance!" Oharu leaped from the crater, darting to me, sword raised.

As I dodged another sword, I couldn't react to Oharu's slash. I saw my blood stain her blade and clothes. I rolled uncontrollably backwards and hit a wall, falling to my ass.

My light began to wane, to flicker like a dying bulb.

I gasped for air, stabbed the ground, and pulled myself up, barely standing up.

"I... can't lose here... I won't lose here..." I inhaled deeply and exhaled softly.

The light resumed its brilliance. My headache got worse, yet I wouldn't give up.

Oharu's eyes narrowed, but she couldn't deny it; I'm stronger than she thought I would be. "I'll acknowledge your strength, Yami-san. But Oracle will be mine."

"I think it's time to end this, Oharu-san." I created another sword of light and poised it at her.

"Very well, I shall end you." Oharu compressed all the swords into one massive sword, floating next to her.

I grinned out of nervousness. "This could be bad..."

We both locked eyes, and together, we began running.

BOOM!

Our swords collided.

Midst the clash, a memory of my father's smile flashed before me. It served as a reminder of the legacy I carried and the responsibility to honor his memory.

With that thought, my grip on the radiant sword tightened, and I channeled my mana into it with renewed fervor.

The brilliance surrounding my blade intensified, expanding until it became blinding. Oharu's eyes widened, her expression shifting from confidence to surprise. With a powerful swing, I unleashed a burst of Light Magic that engulfed both her and her sword.

The spectators watched in awe as the intense radiance spread, illuminating the entire arena. The light subsided, revealing a figure standing resolute amidst the fading brilliance—it was me, clutching the radiant sword with both hands. Oharu, on the other hand, knelt on her knees, her blade shattered, and her aura diminished.

"You're stronger than I thought..." She muttered, a mixture of frustration and regret permeating her words.

Struggling to maintain her posture, Oharu could barely manage to kneel. An exhausted sigh escaped my lips as I felt the weight of my own body, an unfamiliar sensation attributed to my mother's Ultimate Art, [Brilliant Break].

"Amazing Master! I knew you could pull it off!" Amai was definitely excited about my win.

Mother smiled proudly at me, grinning at her secretary as if saying, 'I won the bet'.

Shizue couldn't help but feel her worries be lifted from her, like a backpack with heavy rocks. "Yami-san... you're something else..."

Katsumi's fists clenched. Seeing a man unleash such power and win a duel made her feel useless, but if a man could beat a Yoshitaka, why couldn't she? Thanks to me, she wants to improve now.

A certain figure watched the battle from her penthouse, sipping cognac, in a bathing robe, her eyes narrowed in disdain. "Utterly pathetic, how could you lose to a man... you bring dishonor to our clan, Oharu."

Back to my victory, I watched Oharu lose her composure. Her expression was full of negative emotions and complex thoughts. I didn't even want to say anything... it would be awkward.

Suddenly, I felt my body tingle. My hair raised. I flickered my eyes all around me and saw a massive Blighted in the distance.