The Water Magician

"I understand, let’s accept that I can't catch Ryo's movements. But if I become rigid, it won't matter if I get slashed! [Full Body Armor]"

"Full Body... Armor?"

Ryo tilted his head slightly at Garwin’s words.

However, there was no time to think.

With a leap, Garwin initiated another round of consecutive strikes.

Ryo dodged them all.

And then, one strike.

Clang.

But the sound that echoed wasn’t the sound of flesh being cut, but rather the sound of Murakumo being deflected off something hard.

"Does 'Full Body Armor' mean making your whole body as hard as armor? What a muscle-headed way to deal with things!"

"With this, it doesn't matter where I get slashed."

Ryo was astonished, while Garwin smirked.

Indeed, Garwin’s bracers and greaves could stand toe to toe with Murakumo.

Since they were created by Garwin’s magical power, it made sense to cover his entire body with that… It's the principle behind it.

"Then, you should have done that from the start. Why now?"

It was a valid question Ryo had.

The first reason that came to mind was that it couldn’t be maintained for long.

The supply of energy is a limiting factor that follows everything.

The next reason is that it is inconvenient to use.

If it becomes hard to move, then constantly maintaining it isn’t feasible.

Those two reasons were the first that came to mind.

In battles in the kingdom, Ryo had the impression that Garwin’s magical power was almost inexhaustible unless he used a special method like [Calorie Stealing Steam].

Considering that, the latter reason seemed more plausible than the former.

To confirm...

"I have no choice but to test it!"

This time, Ryo began the sword fight with a leap.

However, the offense and defense quickly switched, with Garwin attacking and Ryo defending.

That was just as Ryo had anticipated.

Garwin, whose weapons were his hands and feet.

Smaller weapons are easier to maneuver. This means he could take the initiative and continue attacking.

Thus, unless he considered the distance, it was natural for Garwin to attack while Ryo defended.

That was where Ryo’s learning ability shone.

Ryo dodged Garwin's consecutive attacks.

And then he was certain.

(Indeed, the speed of his successive strikes has decreased compared to when he only had bracers and greaves.)

He observed more closely.

(Ah, the armor at the joints inevitably interferes with each other and slows him down. I understand now.)

Of course, he still could not think of a way to break through that.

However, problem-solving occurs one step at a time.

"Observe, analyze, execute."

He had observed.

He had analyzed.

Now, for execution... to pierce with his sword.

Where to pierce?

"In any era, in any world, the weak point of armor never changes."

That’s right, it's the joints.

But, of course, Garwin, who generated the [Full Body Armor], understood that.

Therefore, even with Murakumo, it would be difficult to land a slash.

Then...

Ryo thrust forward.

Garwin dodged and followed up with an upward punch.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Ryo jumped back to create distance.

Using the distance he gained, he aimed for Garwin's right elbow, which had extended upward with an uppercut...

And pierced it with Murakumo!

Even if there’s no gap to cut, there’s still a hole to thrust.

"Ugh..."

Garwin let out a pained voice as he leaped backward.

Demons do not die. However, that does not mean they do not feel pain.

Of course, the injured elbow would heal immediately.

"It seems that [Full Body Armor] isn’t perfect after all."

"You bastard, Ryo."

Ryo declared with a smug smile, inciting Garwin’s anger.

Naturally, he had only managed to injure Garwin's elbow by exploiting the gap in the armor.

It was far from a decisive blow that would determine the outcome of the battle.

However, those who fight have hearts.

There are ways to damage the heart and lower combat ability without inflicting physical damage.

"The gap between us has widened over this last year."

"You little..."

"The more we fight, the more that gap will widen. Right now, the wounds are still shallow. Withdraw your forces and, as promised, do not attack again."