Volume 3 Chapter 43 Kou Tenhou And Zeng Taiga, Settling The Score I
──Tenhou's Perspective──
"KOU TENHOU, DIE!! MY ENEMY, DIEEEEEEE!!"
So fast.
I don't even have time to use 'Five Divine Swordsmanship.'
I'm barely managing to block the rapidly coming strikes.
And each hit is heavy.
Just with my left arm, this is tough.
Zeng Taiga really is a character with a broken strength setting!
"...You block well. As expected of my enemy."
Zeng Taiga laughs with a fierce expression.
...He's enjoying this.
Since he's the strongest character, he probably has some extra confidence in this fight.
The only reason I can even fight Zeng Taiga alone is because of the 'White Kirin Sword' Master Raikou gave me.
The 'White Kirin Sword' allows 'Divine Energy' to flow through it. The 'ki' energy merges with me, who only has 'Divine Energy.'
Because of that, my sword's striking power is strong and heavy.
That's why I can clash swords with Zeng Taiga.
Even so... it's not equal. I'm just managing to block his attacks.
Even without his right arm, Zeng Taiga is strong.
Plus, he can read my movements.
When I try to circle around to his right side, where he has no arm, Zeng Taiga jumps like a horse and rider combined. He quickly moves to my side. Instead, I end up in a blind spot.
Zeng Taiga's fighting skills are incredibly amazing.
──Seriously.
He doesn't need to get the 'Four Fiends' technique, chaos.
He shouldn't need to team up with the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' either.
He can aim for the top with just his own power.
He could have waited ten years and then invaded when Aika Country was in chaos.
But still──
"Why did you team up with the Golden Feather Syndicate, Zeng Taiga?!"
I block Zeng Taiga's sword and deflect it with my sword filled with 'ki' energy.
I was about to unleash my thrust technique──'Kirin's Horn Thrust' but I stop.
Right after that, Zeng Taiga comes at me with a 2-hit combo.
He deflects my attack and then tries to deliver a deadly slash to my neck.
I was able to dodge it because I stopped my attack.
He really has no openings... this guy.
"You are strong. Even without the power of the Golden Feather Syndicate, you could have made the Jinkyo Tribe a great nation."
I keep my eyes on him and continue to question him.
"Then why did you rush to invade? Why did you hurry into battle?"
"I have no interest in discussing this with you."
"You invaded Aika Country with just a few people, and in the end, you lost an arm. Even so, you were fooled by the words of a suspicious organization and even went after the Bokou Tribe. Why are you going so far to follow the Golden Feather Syndicate!?"
"I'm not looking for answers. Just fight in silence, my enemy!!"
"Is this invasion also the will of the Golden Feather Syndicate!?"
I ask.
Zeng Taiga doesn't answer.
He just swings his sword at me.
I barely manage to block it and swing my sword back at him.
Of course, he dodges it easily. A counterattack comes. I can't avoid it and take the hit. My horse whinnies in fear from the heavy blow.
As we slash at each other, we move away from where our allies are.
Just as planned.
My goal is to separate Zeng Taiga from the Jinkyo Tribe unit.
In the meantime, Shouou and Haku-san will gather the unit to defend this place. They will set up a defense and hold back the Jinkyo Tribe unit. Then, we will wait for reinforcements from the fortress.
The fortress has a Seirei pigeon delivering messages.
Until the reinforcements arrive... probably in less than an hour.
I just need to keep Zeng Taiga busy and keep running away.
I thought it would work out somehow, but...
"...My horse is already at its limit."
Zeng Taiga's attacks are strong and heavy.
The impact is affecting my horse too.
The horse is breathing heavily, and its pace is getting uneven because of it.
After the horse collapsed, I had no choice but to fight while jumping around using 'Five Divine Steps.'
It worked before, but... back then, Shouou was with me.
I could attack while switching with Shouou and take breaks to gather my 'ki.'
Now, I can't do that.
I have to fight alone using 'Five Divine Steps' and 'Five Divine Swordsmanship.'
It's tough to keep that up for an hour...
"...Still, I have to do it."
I can't let Zeng Taiga go to my brother.
Besides... I'm the one who pushed him into this.
I contacted the moderates of the Jinkyo Tribe and spread the message, which made Zeng Taiga come to the front lines.
So, it makes sense for me to fight him.
Of course, I won't just fight with martial arts!!
"Zeng Taiga! You puppet of the Golden Feather Syndicate!"
Provocation. Insults.
Observing the enemy and analyzing the situation.
I'll use anything I can.
The opponent is the strongest character. Can I afford to be picky about my methods?
"The strongest war god is being controlled by a mysterious organization, and look at this mess. The soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe must be really annoyed! And you even let your subordinates escape! You!!"
"Shut up! Do you understand the Heaven's Fate?!"
...Again with the Heaven's Fate.
Heaven's Fate──meaning, the fate given from above.
If the game's story is correct, Zeng Taiga is destined to invade Aika Country, and Kai Yougetsu is fated to defeat the tyrant and the treacherous minister.
Kai Yougetsu's catchphrase in the game was "Heaven's Fate."
So was Kai Shuujaku's.
Maybe those involved with the Golden Feather Syndicate believe in Heaven's Fate.
But──
"Open your eyes, Zeng Taiga."
"──What did you say?"
"What do you mean by Heaven's Fate? You're in this mess because you believed in that nonsense!!"
I glare at Zeng Taiga and shout.
"Because you believed in Heaven's Fate, you lost an arm and your subordinates ran away. Now you have to aim for a comeback with a surprise attack like this. You're the leader of the Jinkyo Tribe. If the leader has to risk everything for a comeback, that's already the same as defeat!!"
"──You!"
"Killing me here won't change the fact that you've lost."
"Shut up!!"
Clank!!
I block the incoming attack with the White Kirin Sword.
I keep shouting.
"Did Heaven's Fate make you happy!?"
"I said to be quiet!!"
Zeng Taiga swings his sword.
I block it.
Right after that──my horse trembles beneath me.
The horse is at its limit. I can only take one or 2 more hits.
I can't buy time with conversation anymore.
"...And it felt strange."
The recent attack was heavy for the horse.
But for me, it wasn't. I surprisingly managed to take it easily.
What is this?
It feels light for me, but heavy for the horse... does such a thing exist?
I took a deep breath on the horse and sharpened my senses.
Right after that, I felt Zeng Taiga's attack──
──a rough, poisonous 'energy'.
It felt similar to when I fought Kai Shuujaku.
Is this... the 'Poison Ki' technique of the Four Fiends?
Zeng Taiga has mastered 'Kyuuki' and is using 'Poison Ki' in his sword technique?
So that's why the defense unit couldn't resist...
The 'Kyuuki' technique devours the opponent's 'energy'. The one who takes the sword strike becomes weak. The horse tires quickly because of that too.
'Poison Ki' doesn't affect me. I have a lot of 'Divine Energy'.
But the aftereffects of 'Poison Ki' are affecting the horse.
That's why my horse is getting weaker.
Then──
"I tell you, Zeng Taiga! Your Heaven's Fate does not exist!!"
As I shouted, I charged towards Zeng Taiga's right side.
Thinking I would surprise him from the side without arms, Zeng Taiga's black horse jumped. The horse and rider moved as one, making a small leap to circle around to my side.
But I was no longer on the horse.
I kicked off the saddle and jumped with 'Five Divine Steps'.
"'Five Divine Swordsmanship'──'Suzaku Dive Strike'!!"
"──!?"
As I fell, the sword of the 'Suzaku bird' cut Zeng Taiga's arm.
But it was shallow.
The sword only lightly grazed his arm.
Zeng Taiga brushed away the blood that flowed down, looking annoyed.
He didn't seem to feel any pain.
"Did you give up on your horse? Are you that desperate?"
"I had no choice. The horse was at its limit."
In response to those words, my horse stumbled.
It really was at its limit. I'm sorry for pushing it too hard.
"Is it just the horse that's at its limit?"
"...I wonder."
"To think that a desperate attack would only give me such a scratch. It doesn't match the wound on your leg."
"......It's fine since it ended up being just this much."
I replied while holding my leg.
I had been hurt too.
Zeng Taiga reacted to my 'Suzaku Dive Strike.'
As I cut his arm, he also slashed my leg.
Both were light injuries, but... I got cut on the leg. The slight pain was getting in the way of my movements.
"If I kill you, everything will go back to normal."
Zeng Taiga declared, holding his sword.
"I will reclaim the title of the strongest and, as fate dictates, become king. You will be the first to be sacrificed, my enemy, Kou Tenhou!!"
"Fate won't go as you wish."
I readied my 'White Kirin Sword.'
"Because I'm the greatest villain in the world."
"...What?"
"I am the great villain who twists the fate of this world. I will destroy the fate you believe in with my own hands. I will stop any future that follows fate, no matter what it takes. You will never become king!!"
"That's nonsense!"
"The fate is already distorted. Yet, you followed fate, and that's why you failed."
I tell Zeng Taiga.
"You shouldn't have learned the 'Four Fiends technique, Kyuuki.' You should have just fought with basic sword skills. If you had done that, I wouldn't have been able to match you."
"That's ridiculous! What are you saying──."
Zeng Taiga's expression changes as he starts to speak.
His left hand, which was holding the sword, begins to tremble slightly.
The confident smile disappears, and he glares at me with eyes full of anger.
"...W-What is this trembling? What have you done to me!?"
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