“[Honoka]!” I shouted and drew out my left hand.

“Wh-what should I say at a time like this?” Honoka asked with a sudden flustered expression.

“H-huh?” I reacted with a puzzled face.

Right now, Ciana and the villagers are watching us after we told them that Honoka can now maintain her [weapon] mode. It is now past 5 in the morning and Ciana is standing before us when Honoka asked a weird question.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Before transforming, Ciana and Iwa say something, right?” Honoka continued.

“Something?” I followed.

“You know, Ciana’s ‘Leave it to me’ and Iwa’s ‘At your service’,” she further explained.

“So that’s what you mean,” Ciana commented with a strained laugh.

“Is that even necessary?” I asked to Ciana.

“It’s like…how can I explain it…just a whim I guess?” Ciana replied.

“How about you, Iwa?” I asked to the girl sitting on a chair with Ruby on her lap.

“M-me? The truth is…before, Master Dante ordered us to say ‘as you wish’ every time we transform so I got used on saying something before transforming. I just picked ‘at your service’ because I think that’s what a loyal [beast weapon] should say before transforming,” Iwa explained.

“You heard that. It’s not like saying some words is necessary. But if you really want to do it, then say something,” I said with a smile to Honoka.

“B-but…what should I say?” Honoka muttered, thinking.

“Hmmm. I don’t know. I’m not really capable of transforming into a [weapon] so I’ve never tried to think of one,” I answered.

“Then, if you became one, what are you going to say?” Honoka asked with a sudden interested expression.

“Let’s see…maybe…got it…I guess?” I asked while in thinking pose.

“That’s…plain,” Honoka remarked with squinted eyes.

“My bad if it’s plain. Just say something randomly so we can start sparring with Ciana,” I retorted with a pout.

“O-okay, say my name now,” Honoka said with a sudden serious face.

“[Honoka]!” I called and opened my left palm.

“I’ll definitely win!” she replied and became a pure black sword in my left hand.

(How’s that?)

That’s really like you. Let’s win this!

(Yeah!)

“So, should we start our spar now?” Ciana asked and unsheathed her dagger.

“Yeah,” I said and held my sword with two hands.

“But…something is bothering me,” Ciana muttered as she stares at [Honoka].

“What is it?” I questioned.

“Honoka’s level…is kind of weird,” Ciana followed.

Now that she mentioned it…

“I think she should be at least at level one but…” I whispered and looked at [Honoka].

(Is something wrong with me, Raiki?)

The truth is…I can’t explain it either.

“I can’t feel any power from her. It’s like…she’s at level…zero,” Ciana said with a puzzled expression.

(Zero?)

“Yeah. It’s like she’s not even a [beast weapon],” I followed.

“Does she have any [special attacks]?” Ciana asked.

“Yeah. Just one though. It’s [Flame Burst],” I responded.

“That’s amazing. She already has that strong attack in her early level,” Iwa whispered.

“So we won’t hold back and use that in our fight,” I said and smiled.

“I’m looking forward to it then. So, let’s start,” Ciana said and made a fighting stance.

“Here we go!” I said and sprinted towards her.

[Flame Burst] is a close-range attack. I need to lessen the distance between Ciana and I first.

“Your plan is really obvious,” Ciana said and dodged my first swing swiftly.

“Why you!” I said and swung [Honoka] around but she all dodged it perfectly.

“Better practice using a sword more, Raiki. Your technique is that of an amateur,” Ciana commented with a smile and jumped backwards.

After she landed, I felt an intimidating aura coming from her. She’s gonna…attack!

She then placed her left arm on her back and drew in her dagger, pointing up in the sky.

I immediately made a defensive stance and shouted, “Come!”

She then bended her knees and in an instant, she vanished.

(Wha--?)

Before I know it, she already delivered an attack on my katana in a flash.

“[Steel Thrust],” Ciana whispered with her feet still not touching the ground. Did she just…jump forward?

When her feet landed on the ground, I immediately lost my balance.

She’s too fast that it looks like she used [teleport] but she didn’t. That’s just Ciana’s max speed!

“With this, you lose!” she said and swung her dagger towards me.

I immediately prevented my fall by making my right arm an alternative footing. With my legs up in the air, I pivoted my right palm on the ground and landed a kick on the right side of her waist.

“[Counter Kick]!”

“Gahaa!” Ciana reacted out of pain.

She then jumped backwards and made a defensive stance with her dagger.

“[Wheel Blade]!” I shouted and jumped up.

“You can use that with a sword?” she reacted with a surprised expression after looking up.

“Looks like I can!” I replied and circled in mid-air like a rotating saw. I then landed on her dagger while circling as fast as I can.

“Ughhh!” Ciana reacted with clenched teeth as she tries her best not to get overwhelmed by my attack.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!” I shouted and rotated even faster.

Lots of sparks got created in our clash and after a while, my [physical attack] naturally stopped while I’m still in mid-air.

“A good defense is the weakness of your [Wheel Blade],” Ciana said with a smile.

“But…my blade is now touching your dagger!” I replied with a smile.

“Oh no!” Ciana panicked after realizing my plan.

“[Flame Burst]!!!” I shouted.

Ciana closed her eyes and braced herself for the [special attack].

“…”

“…”

But my feet landed on the ground without any explosion happening.

(I…can’t use it!)

“What?” I reacted and Ciana pointed the tip of her dagger’s blade on my nose.

“…”

“You…what was that all about?” Ciana asked with furrowed eyebrows while pouting.

“C-Ciana wins!” Iwa announced.

Ciana then sheathed her dagger and said, “You held back again.”

“I’m fighting seriously,” I replied and Honoka transformed back.

“It’s my fault, Ciana. For some reason, I can’t use [Flame Burst],” Honoka explained.

“Now that’s odd. Maybe your strange level is related to it,” Ciana commented while thinking.

“It’s just my guess but maybe it is because of her [ability],” Iwa said after getting near us while carrying Ruby in her arms.

*ruuu!*

“[Ability]?” I repeated.

“There are lots of strange and undiscovered [ability] so maybe that’s the reason why she can’t use her [Flame Burst] and why her level is zero,” Iwa followed.

“So…how can we know my [ability]?” Honoka asked.

”I think you should consult a [weapon specialist]. I’m sure that every Empire has one,” Iwa answered.

“But first…you two have to gather ingredients in the [Harlequin Valley], right?” Ciana reminded.

“We forgot! We’re going!” we replied and both of us hurried back to the house.

“I wonder what kind of [ability] she has,” Iwa muttered.

*ruu-ruu-ruuu*

“Well, maybe they can discover it on their own. All we can do is to wait,” Ciana responded with a smile.

After that, Honoka and I went to [Harlequin Valley] to gather some ingredients like usual.

“Raiki…” Honoka called with a sad expression.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Sorry. It’s my fault that we lost earlier. ‘I’ll definitely win’…I can’t even make those words a reality.”

“[Honoka]!” I shouted and drew out my left hand.

“H-huh?” she reacted with a surprised face.

“[Honoka]!”

“Y-yeah!” she replied and transformed into a red light but immediately transformed back after bouncing off my palm.

“Wh-what just happened?” she asked with a puzzled expression after returning to normal.

“One more time! [Honoka]!” I shouted with my hand still drew out.

“Raiki…”

“[Honoka]!”

“I-I’ll…definitely win!” she replied with a sudden serious expression and transformed into a katana in my hand.

I then stared at the blade and said, “Now that’s the Honoka I know.”

(…)

“Even if the chance of winning is zero, I still want you to say that because…if you don’t believe that you’ll win, we will surely lose in that battle. So just by hearing those words, that you’ll definitely win, it gives me the strength to not lose,” I said with a serious face and smiled afterwards.

(Sorry about that, Raiki. Next time, I’ll definitely win.)

Yeah. I will surely make that a reality as your [wielder].

Suddenly, two fast objects got thrown to our direction. I immediately swung [Honoka] twice to change their trajectory. The two knives then hit the grassy ground.

“Who’s there?” I shouted and made a fighting stance with my sword.

“Not bad, [soldier],” a girl suddenly said with a smile while standing on a tree branch.

It is a girl wearing a green bandit outfit.

She then jumped down and brought out four knives, two each for her hands.

“Hey, what was that for?” I shouted with furrowed eyebrows.

(Raiki…this girl is dangerous.)

“Why did you attack me?” I asked with intimidating eyes.

“Relax, [soldier]. I’m not here to kill you,” she continued without her smile disappearing.

“Then, what are you planning to do with those knives?”

“How about you look at my necklace,” she said with a confident smile.

I then looked at her chest and saw two voluptuous bumpers.

(Raiki…you pervert…)

I-it’s not like that! I just happen to see those on the way! Anyway…there’s a ring on her necklace. Isn’t that…the [Archer Ring]?

“So you’re a soldier too,” I said after seeing the proof of defeating [Sagittarius].

“I’m exploring this Valley to find strong opponents and I saw a 5th rank soldier so I decided to greet you,” she explained, still smiling.

“Now, that’s what you call a warm greeting. So you want to fight me as a fellow soldier,” I said and made a smile.

“So… are you accepting my challenge?”

“Yeah. But…where is your [beast weapon]?”

“These knives are enough to beat you,” she replied with an arrogant smile.

“Now that’s what you call confidence. What’s your name?”

“I don’t give my name to weaklings,” she replied and threw four knives towards me.

I immediately jumped up and dodged them.

“Too slow!” she said after appearing behind me in a flash.

She’s fast!

She then kicked me from behind and I flew away from its strength. I then slid on the grassy ground and stopped after my body hit a big rock. The impact of my collision to the rock formed big cracks on it.

(Raiki!)

I immediately stood up and held [Honoka] with two hands.

“She’s…really strong,” I said and made a fighting stance.

(Raiki, are you alright?)

“Yeah…somehow.”

“If you’re expecting to be at an advantage because you have a [beast weapon], then, you’re completely mistaken,” she said and brought out one knife for each hand.

“I know that!” I shouted and covered the distance between us in a flash.

“What the—” she reacted with a completely surprised face.

“[Steal Thrust]!” I said and delivered the attack on her knife.

*crack*

“!”

I managed to destroy one of her knives with my newest [physical attack] so she immediately jumped up on a tree branch.

“That’s quite amazing, [soldier],” she commented and made an amused expression.

(Raiki, when did you learn that from Ciana?)

I just imitated her form and somehow pulled it off for the first time.

“But…I have lots of knives so destroying one is futile!” she shouted and another knife appeared on her right free hand.

Those knives…I wonder where is she storing them. Are those unlimited?

She then jumped towards me and swung both of her knives.

“[Twin Slash]!”

“Haaah!” I shouted and swung my sword to defend against her attack.

After the clash, lots of sparks got created. Seeing that our strength is just even, both of us jumped backward and smiled afterwards.

“I know that you’re still a lot stronger than this,” she said and held the knives she’s holding more firmly.

“You too,” I replied and held my katana to waist height.

Then, both of us charged towards each other and continued the exchange of attacks.

*clang*

“Haaaah!”

“Haaaah!”

*clang*

The clash of our blades continued for minutes. Neither of us is letting the opponent see an opening.

Honoka, can you now use [Flame Burst]?

(I think I still can’t. I just can’t feel any power within me yet.)

Then, all we can do is to defend on my [physical attacks].

“Haaaah!” I shouted and swung [Honoka], destroying the girl’s knife.

She immediately brought out another knife and swung both on my sword.

*spark*

Just as I expected, even though she’s clearly stronger than me, I can equal her because I have a [beast weapon].

“Not bad, [soldier],” she said while putting all of her strength in both of her knives to overpower me.

“You too!” I replied while trying my best to overpower her.

“If you’re planning to destroy all of my knives, it’s really useless!” she shouted and finally overpowered me.

“Wha—” I reacted with a surprised expression.

(Raiki, watch out!)

[Twin Cross]!” she shouted and swung both of her knives on the center of my armor.

(Raiki!)

I somehow managed to maintain my footing and made a defensive stance with my katana.

“That armor is quite tough. And here I thought that attack will pierce through you just like that of those other 5th class soldiers’.”

“This battle is not yet over,” I said and swung my sword but she dodged it by jumping up. She then threw her two knives towards me.

“Haaahh!!!” I shouted and swung my sword twice, destroying both of her knives.

“I wonder how many knives do you have left?” I asked with a smile.

“Too many for you to count!” she said and brought out four knives, two on each hand.

Now, I’m sure of it. Those knives are really unlimited.

(Raiki, how is that possible?)

I don’t know but I have a plan.

The girl then threw four knives at once and I jumped up to dodge it.

“How foolish!” she said and jumped forward towards me.

A knife then appeared on both of her hands and slashed [Honoka] using those.

“Haaaaahhhh!!!” I shouted and slashed both of her knives, making her let go of those.

“!”

“Sorry!” I said and swiftly slashed her body multiple times.

“What?” she reacted and both of us fell on the ground in a kneeling position.

(Don’t tell me…)

Afterwards, her clothes got blown away in pieces, leaving only the bandage that is wrapped around her bust.

(You pervert!)

“It’s a misunderstanding! Look!” I replied to Honoka and pointed at four knife sheaths on a belt wrapped belowe her chest. The belt has four green gems on it.

“So you finally noticed it,” she said and stood up, not embarrassed even though her upper body is almost naked. “This is a [monster weapon] called [Mugenia]. It produces unlimited knives according to my will.”

A [monster weapon] just like my [Raiden], huh.

“And this kind of weapon is extremely rare. Rumors even say that no one can make these kinds of weapons anymore,” she continued explaining.

“That’s not tru—”

“Remember, don’t mention to anyone that I’m the one who made [Raiden].”

I forgot. Arjen said not to tell anyone the fact that he made [Raiden]. I wonder why.

“Is something wrong?” the girl asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“Anyway, it’s your win, [soldier],” she said with a smile and turned her bare back to me.

“I…see,” I said and averted my gaze while blushing.

“My name is Aria. You?”

“A…my name is Raiki,” I replied with a smile.

“Raiki, huh. I’ll remember that,” she whispered and disappeared in a blink of an eye. Before I know it, she is now jumping away from tree branch to the next.

“That girl is really strong. I only won because she didn’t use a [beast weapon],” I muttered with a serious look.

(More like you only won because you stripped her naked.)

“I-I don’t have a choice! I just want to know if her knives were really unlimited,” I retorted, embarrassed.

(Jeez.)

Honoka then transformed back and said, “We...really won, right?”

I then smiled and replied, “Yeah. And we’ll win our next fight too, I’m sure of it.”

Then, Honoka nodded with a cheerful smile.

After our first win, Honoka and I went back to the village, clearly stronger than before.