A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 682 - Part 45

His movements were precise and consistent, as if he had practiced them millions of times until they were perfected. Moreover, his speed and brute strength weren't solely due to his trained physique: much of that skill came from his advanced flow method, which far surpassed mine.

Somehow, he concentrated all his mana into his limbs to perform explosive movements, reaching his maximum speed in milliseconds, which surpassed most people's reaction time. Combined with his precise strikes, the result was a lethal attack that almost no one could dodge or even notice.

With my original physique, I could never have replicated that technique. Such an excessive amount of mana would have destroyed my door or my limbs as I tried to channel the energy. But now, I no longer had that limitation.

"My best option is to mimic his flow method to match his speed."

Taking advantage of having some time, I went out into the garden to practice my movements using the swordsman's flow method. Not wanting to rush things, I did a mental simulation first, recalling each and every loop in which I fought him.

Sitting on the grass, I replayed his movements in my mind until I remembered them clearly. Then I began to recreate them with a very small amount of mana, which I gradually increased.

At first I stumbled quite a bit with my own body, since I wasn't used to having so much speed and lightness: so I adapted so as not to put too much force on my limbs.

I fell and crashed quite a few times, but by the time Otto arrived, I'd gotten a decent grasp of the technique. It was good to have come to the mansion early.

"What are you doing here?" Otto inquired. "Have you already negotiated with the assassins?"

"Yes. For now, they're on our side. You should take the carriage somewhere else, because if you leave it here, it will probably be destroyed."

"Huh!? Why!?"

I pointed to the spatial rift that began to form at that very moment, located a few meters away.

"That's why."

"WHAT THE HEEEEEEEEECK?!"

Once again, the swordsman appeared. To my relief, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Otto was quickly running away with Patrasche.

The doppelganger drew his sword and walked in my direction, seemingly in no hurry to begin the duel. Keeping a close eye on his every move, I also advanced toward him.

"I wonder what kind of life you had to become so strong." I said as I took my daggers. "I guess I'll find out when I kill you."

As silent as ever, the swordsman raised his sword and began to channel mana; I saw his limbs tense before he moved and clearly heard the ground crunch beneath his feet.

I quickly followed suit, charging at him almost simultaneously. Our weapons clashed with a metallic clang that sent sparks flying, and we both recoiled from the impact.

Adjusting his stance, the swordsman moved his head slightly, seemingly surprised that I matched his speed.

It should be noted that up until that moment, I had never managed to block or cancel any of his attacks.

"What's wrong? Is this your first time seeing a power-up?" I asked with a mocking smile, though my heart was pounding with nerves. "Be careful when the opening starts playing..."

The Doppelganger ignored my provocation, brandishing his sword in the air. I moved aside just in time to avoid the dimensional rift that appeared right where I was standing.