Volume 3 Chapter 18 The Great Villain Of The World, Intervening In The Issues Of Foreign Races Ii
"──Are you going to get in my way?"
I heard a voice.
A cold, emotionless voice.
It was probably Zan Teiei's.
"I'm taking on a job. For the greater good, I've decided to kill a few. If you interfere, I will consider you something that needs to be killed."
I couldn't tell where the voice was coming from.
This is the forest. The voice echoed between the trees.
It felt like it was coming from all around the forest.
He was using a voice filled with 'ki' to hide his location.
Can a top-class assassin do this?
I activated my "Five Divine Steps" and used "Byakko Tiger's Flash Step."
I headed toward the place where the throwing knife had come from earlier.
Zan Teiei should be there, but──
Clang!
"──Tch!"
A throwing knife flew down from above.
I quickly dodged and looked up. But Zan Teiei was nowhere to be seen.
All I could see were 2 throwing knives flying in an unnatural path.
The knife that came straight at me changed direction in mid-air.
It was now surrounding me from both sides──what the heck is this!?
The knives flew through the trees like birds or insects.
They weren't flying in a straight line. They were taking strange curves and zigzags.
Zan Teiei was changing the course of the throwing knives. Can he really do that?
"He's throwing knives while changing their trajectory. No wonder I can't find him."
I understand now why Master Raikou had such a hard time.
Rather, it's amazing that Master Raikou managed to protect Suuki and Reki while being targeted by this guy and a poison arrow user, and she only got a scratch herself.
...Can I do the same?
Protect the village messenger and Suuki's sister, while also keeping Touri and Reki safe, and capture Zan Teiei... such an incredible feat.
If I could do that, would Master Raikou praise me?
Would Shouou and Seirei get mad and say I was being reckless?
Anyway, I can't leave Zan Teiei alone.
I need to defeat them here to increase the Jinkyo Tribe's allies and prevent the collapse of Aika Country.
So──
"Master Raikou, Shuu-sensei... I'm going to use that technique."
I crouch down in the grass and take a deep breath.
I listen closely to the presence around me.
I sharpen my senses.
──The flow of air.
──The movement of 'ki' in the surroundings.
──Presence. Light. Temperature.
I become a mirror that reflects everything.
Then I activate 'Four Fiends Technique: Chaos'──'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
The effects of 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' were taught to me by Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei.
──'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' becomes a mirror that reflects the world.
──It reflects myself, the enemy, and everything else, allowing me to grasp it all.
──Then I can attack and evade based on that.
──It's hard to explain in words. Try to capture my movements while facing Yokumai.
These are Master Raikou's words.
──The 'Four Fiends Technique' is strong. Some, like 'Kyuuki,' can take away combat power in one hit.
──'Chaos' is meant to counter that.
──That's why there's a technique called 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' to understand the enemy's movements.
──To avoid other 'Four Fiends Techniques' and attack in the gaps.
These are Shuu-sensei's words.
Listening to the two of them, I practiced 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
Thanks to that, I was able to activate the technique.
"──'Chaos: Mirror of Shadows Reflection'"
When I activated the technique──I felt like I had become invisible.
It was like standing in mid-air, looking down at myself.
I could understand the surrounding situation clearly.
'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' makes you disappear and becomes a receiving-only technique.
From sounds, presence, and the flow of 'ki,' I could grasp the situation around me.
For example──
──Swish.
Right now, the throwing knife thrown by Zan Teiei shook the air.
The knife seemed to pass over my head──but then it fell straight down.
The knife was wrapped in his 'ki.' That was controlling its movement.
I move forward with 'Five Divine Steps.' I dodge the flying knife.
At the same time, I hear faint footsteps coming from the left front.
This isn't from Touri and the others.
Touri is hiding behind a tree a little distance away, praying for my safety.
"I can't see the enemy. I'm just a burden," she says in a voice that sounds like she's about to cry.
Reki is holding a short dagger, trying to protect Touri.
The villagers and Suuki's sister, Raiha, are with them. The 4 of them are outside of Zan Teiei's attack range.
I listen closely to Zan Teiei's footsteps.
I hear faint footsteps from the left front.
He's there... no, that's not right. That's a decoy.
He's throwing small stones on the ground to create fake footsteps.
His real body has already moved.
I can tell he's coming this way.
The flying knife wielder should be bad at close combat, but he's different.
His flying knives can change direction freely. The closer he gets, the harder they are to dodge.
And the special move of Zan Teiei from the game 'History of Swordmaster' is──
"──You're in my way. Die."
I hear his voice.
At the same time, 8 flying knives come flying at me, surrounding me.
"I know, Zan Teiei. It's 'Flying Dagger: Eight Trigrams Strike!' "
"──What!?"
Zan Teiei lets out a surprised voice.
That's how I completely grasp his location.
'Flying Dagger: Eight Trigrams Strike' is Zan Teiei's special move.
Even though it's a projectile, its range is short, but its power is high.
Eight flying daggers surround the enemy, cutting off their escape. They pierce all the vital points of the body, ensuring a certain death.
Can this technique be dodged by the weakest character, Kou Tenhou?
The worry crossed my mind for just a moment.
There's no time to think. The opponent is top-tier. If I hesitate, I'll be killed in that gap.
I learned how to deal with projectiles from Master Raikou.
Actually, I saw it.
A long time ago, when Seirei was almost kidnapped in Hokurin.
Master Raikou shot down all the weapons thrown by the hidden weapon user, Enki.
I'll imitate what he did.
I don't know if I can do it. I'll just try!
"──'Suzaku Flame Dance'!"
I knock away the flying daggers coming from both sides with the spinning slash of 'Suzaku Flame Dance'.
"──'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King'!"
I jump up and swipe away the daggers above me. I dodge the daggers aimed at my feet.
Two of the daggers change their trajectory in mid-air.
They aim for my feet. They plan to attack the moment I land.
I increase my time in the air with 'Five Divine Steps' and 'Suzaku's Gliding Claw'. I adjust my landing timing.
I step on the daggers that fell to the ground and dash forward with 'Byakko Tiger's Flash Step'.
"────What!?"
The enemy's presence shifts. But I won't let them escape.
Zan Teiei turns his back to me. He hasn't given up on killing the messenger.
I gave up on hiding my location and ran towards the villagers and Raiha Taiga.
I chased after him using 'Five Divine Steps' with the 'Byakko Tiger' technique.
'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' had him completely locked in.
I could sense his presence──his movements──even his breathing.
──He was about to throw a flying knife.
──I unleashed a thrust technique from 'Five Divine Swordsmanship.'
──Just before the knife was released, my blade touched the back of his hand.
──I stabbed. Pierced through.
And then──
"Ugh... ah, ahhh!"
──Zan Teiei let out a suppressed scream, just like a true assassin.
After confirming that Zan Teiei had fallen, I released 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
This technique consumes 'ki' quickly.
On top of that, my head hurts. The heightened senses are putting a strain on my brain.
Using it for a long time is tough...
But it's not over yet.
"I've heard your rumors. The assassin from the underworld, Zan Teiei."
I pointed my sword at Zan Teiei.
Zan Teiei didn't respond.
He just clicked his tongue.
"You're from Aika Country, right? Why are you in the territory of the Jinkyo Tribe? Attacking the moderates means your employer is Zeng Taiga?"
No reaction. Well, that's fine.
I'll ask Touri to use the Pressure Point Technique on Zan Teiei.
After sealing his movements, I can call the moderates.
If they are opposing Zeng Taiga, they might know about Zan Teiei.
While thinking about that, I called out to Touri.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)