Miracle Summoner

Undoubtedly, sword skills are finishing moves capable of determining the outcome of a battle.

Sword skills are inherently far more powerful than ordinary attacks and are system-assisted in many aspects. Once they hit an opponent, they can easily drain all the target's HP in one blow, leading to a swift defeat.

In numerous battles, sword skills are crucial for establishing the foundation of victory, whether against players or monsters.

However, unlike fighting monsters, casually using sword skills against players is a rather foolish move.

Unlike monsters that usually act according to pre-programmed patterns, allowing for predictable attacks, players are real, living humans who adapt on the fly and cannot be confined to a specific fighting pattern.

Against such opponents, haphazardly using sword skills raises two issues. First, hitting the target is uncertain. Second, after executing a sword skill, the user experiences a "rigid" state, rendering them immobile.

At that moment, the user becomes a sitting target, doomed to be attacked until death.

Thus, even though the duration varies based on the skill's mastery level and attributes, sword skills always induce some degree of immobility. In duels against players, unless the user is absolutely certain of landing the skill and finishing the opponent, it's unwise to employ sword skills recklessly.

For Yuuki to end the fight with a finishing move, she would need to create a scenario where she could strike Rozen with absolute certainty. Otherwise, the immobility following her sword skill would undoubtedly be her downfall.

But...

"How do I create a situation where I can hit with absolute certainty?"

While darting at high speed and glancing at the countless illusions appearing all around, Yuuki found herself at a loss.

Among these many illusions, only one was the real Rozen. His speed was incredible, his movements elusive, and his reflexes even matched her own. Striking him with a sword skill seemed near impossible.

"What should I do?"

Rather than panic, Yuuki remained composed, her calm growing as the pressure mounted.

After a moment, Yuuki came up with a not-so-ideal solution.

"It seems this is my only choice."

With that thought, Yuuki suddenly stopped mid-air and floated motionlessly.

"Whoo…"

She slowly closed her eyes, releasing all her physical tension. Focusing her concentration, she heightened her five senses to their maximum.

At first glance, this behavior seemed like surrender—giving up resistance and leaving herself open to attack.

"Hm?"

Rozen noticed this scene and was momentarily startled. Then he understood.

"Going all in, huh?"

Yuuki knew that if she kept running, she would eventually lose. So, she abandoned her evasive maneuvers, preparing for a final, desperate gamble.

This was a true do-or-die moment.

Rozen could sense the immense determination emanating from Yuuki at that moment—far stronger than before. It was as if she treated this virtual world as real, fully committing herself to the battle.

This Yuuki was even more like a true Sword Art Online player than actual SAO players.

Of course, Rozen was certain Yuuki wasn't one of the SAO survivors.

Otherwise, Kirito's Dual Blades would have ended up in Yuuki's hands instead of his.

But Yuuki undoubtedly regarded this virtual world as her home.

This realization gave Rozen an epiphany.

"I see…"

Narrowing his eyes, Rozen fell silent. His gaze toward Yuuki carried a mix of admiration and unexplainable sympathy.

However, this serious Yuuki made Rozen realize how he should proceed.

"I have to answer her with my own."

His opponent had gone all out. Playing around any further would be disgraceful.

Thus...

At that moment, Rozen raised the holy sword in his hand.

"Zing!"

A glimmering starlight enveloped Rozen's sword.

It was the glowing effect of a sword skill.

However, this wasn't an ordinary sword skill.

This starlight was unique, exclusive to Rozen within the current ALfheim Online.

It was the glow of one of Rozen's seven original sword skills—the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper. Unlike the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, or other vibrant colors of standard sword skills, Rozen's skills radiated this ethereal starlight, distinctively brilliant and beautiful.

In this instant, Rozen activated one of his original techniques.

The surrounding illusions dissipated without a sound.

They had lost their purpose.

Now that Yuuki had abandoned her reliance on sight and shifted to perceiving her opponent's movements through her other senses, confusing her vision was meaningless.

"Boom!"

Rozen's wings beat fiercely as he shot forward at high speed, resembling a jet leaving behind a condensation trail. The sound of wind roared as he charged straight toward Yuuki.

"Now!"

Yuuki's ears twitched slightly. Without hesitation, she snapped her eyes open.

Before this, she had already taken a stance.

"Zing!"

A dazzling glow erupted from her sword.

In that moment, Yuuki activated her sword skill.

It was her own unique, original technique.

"Haaahhhhhhh!"

Both the boy and the girl roared simultaneously, rushing toward each other.

One relied on Mind's Eye for insight.

The other relied on heightened Five Senses for detection.

With this, both their forms, distances, speeds, and positions were exposed to each other. Even the fastest reflexes couldn't improvise in this moment.

Moreover, their sword skills had already been triggered and could not be stopped. Ethereal starlight and dazzling brilliance engulfed the two swords, bringing the two combatants into an inevitable clash.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang—!"

Like tolling bells, the sound of their blades colliding reverberated through the air as the paths of their sword skills intersected multiple times, deflecting one another.

However, several attacks from both sides still broke through.

"Splurt!" "Splurt!" "Splurt!"

The sound of tearing echoed as their swords struck each other, leaving glowing wounds across their bodies. Bright streaks of damage effects illuminated the battlefield.

Both of their HP bars plummeted drastically, nearing critical levels.

In the midst of this, each completed a ten-hit combo.

"Haaahhhh!"

Yuuki, disregarding her plunging HP, let out another battle cry. Her sword, still glowing brilliantly, thrust toward Rozen.

The eleventh strike had arrived.

This was Zekken Yuuki's legendary eleven-hit combo.

Had Rozen been using Alioth, his technique would have concluded here, leaving him vulnerable to Yuuki's final desperate strike.

However...

"Zing!"

Rozen's holy sword continued to glow with starlight. Facing Yuuki's lightning-fast final thrust, he swung his blade downward with full force.

"Clang—!"

In yet another collision, Yuuki's eleventh strike was deflected by Rozen's eleventh strike.

"Wha…?"

Yuuki's eyes widened in shock.

And then...

"It's over."

The holy sword, glowing like a celestial body, rose and descended upon Yuuki.

Victory was sealed.