"[Gae Bolg]!"
That strike destined to pierce the heart was unleashed once more by Cu Chulainn.
Opening with his ultimate move—he had no intention of holding back.
The spear tip radiated crimson light before surging forward.
"!!"
WHOOSH!
It passed through Rikuo's chest, but that body twisting like smoke indicated—
"It didn't hit?"
Cu Chulainn furrowed his brow, unable to believe this.
This was his trump card that would definitely hit the heart upon release.
How could there be a miss?
"It seems your demonic spear couldn't find my true self."
The pierced figure dissipated as Rikuo's voice echoed around them.
"Hm? An illusion, is it?"
Holding his spear at the ready, Cu Chulainn realized what had happened.
"Behind you!"
Sensing the incoming blade, Cu Chulainn spun around and blocked it with his spear.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. Cu Chulainn now got a clear look at his opponent.
"I see—that was an illusion just now. What a slippery opponent."
Rikuo's elusive presence helped Cu Chulainn understand what had just occurred.
"[Kyouka Suigetsu]... If you can't find the real me, your Noble Phantasm has no room to work."
Pressing close and locking Cu Chulainn's spear in place, Rikuo spoke softly.
This had been quite the gamble on his part.
He'd bet that Cu Chulainn's [Gae Bolg] required correct targeting to activate.
Even with its guaranteed hit effect, if facing an enemy whose whereabouts were unknown, it surely couldn't target the void.
If you don't even know where I am, how could you possibly have your Noble Phantasm lock onto me?
Rikuo's approach was exactly this—and his [Kyouka Suigetsu] was designed precisely for baiting out attacks.
Making the opponent think they'd landed a hit when they hadn't. Real and false intertwined, impossible to grasp—that was [Kyouka Suigetsu].
"Moreover, as long as I stay in close combat with you, you can't release it either."
"Hahaha!! Good, you've got a solid understanding, kid."
Hearing Rikuo's words, Cu Chulainn burst into laughter.
But then his expression darkened, his tone turning serious.
"But... do you really think you can beat me in close combat?!"
That swift motion of raising his spear to deflect the demon blade was lightning quick.
"!"
By the time Rikuo reacted, his opponent had already swung the spear butt toward him.
WHOOSH!
But that lack of solid contact made Cu Chulainn furrow his brow again.
Like a mirage, the spear passed through Rikuo's waist, only causing ripples.
"[Kyouka Suigetsu]..."
As its name suggested, unless Cu Chulainn could see through this technique, he couldn't pose any real threat to Rikuo.
'Heh, but there are still ways.'
If attacking proactively wasn't effective, Cu Chulainn had another method to catch his opponent.
He stood in place, spear ready, observing his surroundings.
Exhale...
CLANG!
Light pressure from the air brushed against him. Cu Chulainn detected the flow of energy—the sound of a blade swinging toward him.
Keenly positioning his spear along the blade's trajectory, he countered with even greater speed, thrusting his free fist forward.
"!"
Rikuo was momentarily stunned. Without hesitation, he leaped backward, his figure becoming visible.
"You found the trick that quickly? What sharp battle instincts..."
Wearing a cautious expression, Rikuo addressed Cu Chulainn.
Before his attack even connected, the opponent had already pinpointed his position and struck preemptively.
This wasn't someone who could be underestimated—his combat experience was rich indeed.
"Heh, it's not that impressive. Right now I can't reliably tell where your real body is. But once I adapt, opportunities will come."
Shifting from defense to offense wasn't difficult for Cu Chulainn.
As long as he aimed for the moment Rikuo attacked, he could counter. That would be enough.
After all, to hit him, Rikuo would have to materialize. Striking faster during that opening was the key.
Cu Chulainn was quite confident in his agility and footwork.
'What a fine opponent.'
Rikuo was growing increasingly pleased. The spearman before him was far stronger than any youkai he'd encountered before.
To have such a battle—what fortune.
SWISH!
CLANG!!
CLASH!!
"Rikuo looks like he's on the back foot."
The spectators watched the two exchange blows with great interest.
"That spearman is really something. Fast movements, stable footwork, no wasted openings, and fierce offense. He's far stronger than that Bankotsu we met before..."
Inuyasha had an even more visceral sense of it than the others.
Facing that guy, even wielding Tessaiga, he probably couldn't keep up—he'd have to force the opponent back with wide-area attacks like [Wind Scar].
"What's wrong, Kagome?"
"Nothing, just wondering—if Heroic Spirits are famous people, who might Lancer be?"
"How could you possibly guess that without a name?"
"No, that Noble Phantasm he chanted sounds familiar somehow... But he's definitely not Japanese. Ugh, I can't remember foreign history that well!"
Clutching her head, Kagome thought of her neglected studies and felt a headache coming on.
'I should look it up when I get back.'
With that thought, she suddenly became interested in historical figures.
"Still, he's putting up quite the fight. Even without that technique, Lancer's spearmanship is formidable. Rikuo has no choice but to press forward despite knowing he'll get countered."
Such a pure close-quarters duel—they hadn't witnessed anything like it in a long time.
PAK!
THUD!
CLANG!!
Barely deflecting the thrusting spear, Rikuo had no time to relax. [Kyouka Suigetsu] helped him evade many attacks, but that didn't mean he could let his guard down.
So strong.
That masterful spearwork was incredibly taxing to handle.
"Hey! Don't just focus on defending—come at me! Surely you've got more than this?"
Advancing step by step, Cu Chulainn awaited his opponent's counterattack.
"You're right... I do need to be more careful against you."
The ghostly image of a youkai appeared behind him—a girl in a pure white kimono.
Rikuo's aura transformed dramatically in an instant.
"Oh?"
Sensing the chill, Cu Chulainn instinctively dodged the incoming blade.
The trajectory froze into frost, standing suspended in the air like a frozen rail.
"Interesting. What is this?"
That bone-piercing cold couldn't possibly be produced by an illusion.
Moreover, the changed appearance and surging presence indicated his opponent had undergone a significant power boost.
Cu Chulainn had never seen anything quite like it.
Hearing the question, Rikuo maintained that bewitching expression as he spoke.
"Just a unique technique of us half-youkai. Its name is..."
"[Matoi]!"
"Now, let's begin round two."