My 『Star Crusher』(Uppercut)  scores a direct hit on Vergil’s chin.

『Star Crusher』 is a quick move with formidable power, worthy of its high skill level requirement.

However, it’s challenging to use due to its extremely short range.

But in critical moments, 『Star Crusher』 has the destructive power to reverse the course of battle in a single blow.

Moreover, the attack abilities of the 【Martial Arts】 skill include an effect that adds the VIT value of your status and from the correction value of the each piece of armor equipped on the body that affects VIT to your STR.

In this case, the VIT correction of the 『Dragon King’s Gauntlet』 equipped on my arm, which is 【VIT correction +1000 against arm attacks】, is added to my STR.

In addition to this, thanks to 『Ability Release』 and 『Physical Enhancement【Extreme】』, multipliers were applied to my STR and VIT, enhancing them.

It goes without saying how much power this has.

However, even though Vergil had lowered his waist in preparation for 『Tsubame Gaeshi』 there was a significant height difference between he and I.

Moreover, I was in a greatly unbalanced posture due to dodging the 『Tsubame Gaeshi』 at the last moment.

The 『Star Crusher』 I forced out from there lacked the usual momentum.

I launched 『Star Crusher』 at full arm’s length.

Judging from the shock transmitted to my fist, I figured that it was not enough to stun Vergil.

At the same time as the direct hit of the ability, I activated 『Shadow Flash』 and withdrew from the scene.

Vergil: “Heh, Heheheh…”

Arata: “…”

Blood drips from the corner of Vergil’s mouth as he chuckles.

Even if its power had decreased, the damage from 『Star Crusher』 should not be underestimated.

Moreover, he has been attacked on his chin, a vital point on the human body.

Yet Vergil’s fighting spirit was not diminished at all.

Vergil: “Your response to my 【Iaijutsu】, the high level of your 【Martial Arts】 skill, your instantaneous judgment… Wonderful! Wonderful, Arata!”

Arata: “I’m honored by your praise.”

Vergil exclaims in admiration at my efforts.

I respond with a quip.

But, contrary to my words, I was not at ease.

Further use of 『Ability Release』 and 『Physical Enhancement【Extreme】』 would deplete my ST, so I had no choice but to deactivate them.

Moreover, these two abilities require a significant cooldown time before they can be reused.

I cannot use them again during this duel.

Now, how am I going to beat him…?

Vergil: “I must apologize. I have been serious until now, but not at my full strength.”

Arata: “I could say the same.”

Vergil: “Hehehe… Arata, you never cease to entertain me. From here on out, I will put my entire soul and all the power I possess into this!”

With Vergil’s roar, his red pupils split vertically.

Vergil: —『Dragonification』

An ability exclusive to the Dragon Newt tribe.

It enables a significant enhancement of the status, and the use of special abilities like 『Dragon’s Breath』 and 『Dragon’s Claw』.

His dragon scales on his arms and cheeks spread across his body, and the horns on his head and dragon wings on his back grow larger with a creaking sound.

It’s probably going to be tough to fight Vergil, who has used 『Dragonification』, without any buffs.

…I have no choice.

I take out the  『 Sharp Sword 【Kurikara】』 from my inventory and take my stance—

Aya: “STOP! Stop it! The duel is over!”

Aya jumps in between Vergil and me.

Vergil: “Don’t stop me, Aya. It just about to get interesting.”

Aya: “What do you mean ‘fun’? Please consider the damage to the surroundings!”

Damage to the surroundings?

…Ah.

With a quick glance around, I understand what Aya is talking about.

The devastated state of the square.

There are multiple claw marks from 『Gale』 on the ground.

The armor that was set up as a magic target is knocked down or cleanly bisected, in a disastrous state.

As for the adventurers who had gathered as spectators, all of them, though to varying degrees, have some kind of injury.

Vergil, who seemed considerate of the surroundings at the beginning of the duel, seems to have neglected that consideration as he got carried away.

The Adventurer’s Guild has suffered the most.

All the window glasses facing the training field are shattered.

Probably, it was the impact of when I blocked Vergil’s 『Tsubame Gaeshi』 with 【Kurikara】.

Vergil: “…Well, it can’t be helped. Can we call the duel a draw?”

Arata: “Yes, let’s call it a draw.”

Vergil, looking slightly displeased, undoes his midway 『Dragonification』 and sheaths his large sword.

I also release my stance and put 【Kurikara】 back into my inventory.

A rather anticlimactic conclusion.

But, it may have been for the best.

If we had continued the duel, one of us would have been seriously injured, or even killed.

Vergil and I acknowledged each other’s efforts and left the training field.