“…Thanks.” I shifted my thoughts after that short muttered response. Forget everything unnecessary for this battle. Become one with the sword and go forth, expending all of your abilities. You couldn’t possibly defeat Integrity Knight Eugeo otherwise, neither could you reach your best friend’s heart beyond that thick armor. The point of my black sword quivered audibly. It was as if the traces of that thunder roaring in the far-off skies on the day we set off two years ago had crossed time to arrive at this moment. —I’m counting on you, partner. —I’ll be sure to give you a name when the battles are all over… so lend me your strength. Praying to my beloved sword in my right hand, I took in another deep breath and jolted to a stop. The noise, the environment, and even the heat and cold disappeared off in the distance. Nothing existed in this world aside from my black sword and me, the Blue Rose Sword and Eugeo. I had dreaded, and awaited this instant in the depths of my heart since two years before. —Let’s go, Eugeo!! I violently kicked off the ground, screaming without a sound. Eugeo kept still with his middle-level posture and awaited my assault. Petty tricks wouldn’t work on Eugeo as he was now, capable of freely bending the Aincrad-style swordsmanship and high ranking sacred arts to his will. Dashing fifteen meters in an instant, I let loose an downwards slash from the right with the momentum from all of the speed in my charge.