Volume 4 Chapter 28 The Great Villain Of The World, Attacking Kozan's Base II
──Tenhou's Perspective──
I stumbled into a really dangerous place.
Touri and I split up from Heki Nei-san and the others.
We climbed the mountain first and observed the enemy's movements from the trees.
With 'Five Divine Steps,' I can jump through the air.
I was able to avoid the traps on the ground with that.
Heki Nei-san's niece, Fuu Senkou, predicted where the traps might be.
So, I just had to carry Touri and jump over those spots.
The traps were probably set by the bandits.
I could tell because there were no traps in the air.
Those who can't use the walking technique can't set traps in the air.
That's why we could climb the mountain.
My job was to scout around the top.
If there were a lot of bandits, I would go back and regroup with Heki Nei-san and the others.
If there was no one, I could just return without needing to investigate.
If there were only a few bandits, I would signal Heki Nei-san with a whistle. That was the plan.
If there were only a few enemies, we wouldn't be ambushed.
Heki Nei-san could slowly climb up while disabling the traps.
Then, after I regrouped with Heki Nei-san and the soldiers, we would all capture the bandits at once.
...That was how it was supposed to go.
"I can't believe the enemy boss is attacking his own bandits..."
"Hou-sama."
Touri murmured beside me.
"Those 2 are abnormal. It seems like they have absorbed so much 'ki' into their bodies that one person can't handle it. Normally, their bodies would break down, but..."
"Maybe... they're using a technique to control it."
"I think it's a technique similar to the 'Four Fiends' technique, 'Kyuuki'."
"...I thought so."
"...They're dangerous opponents. Please let Touri help you too, Hou-sama."
"That's too risky."
"It's fine. Recently, Touri has been learning the Pressure Point Technique──'Finger Control Art'──from mother."
Touri, who used to be weak, became healthy by practicing the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' with us.
She gained enough strength to learn the Pressure Point Technique's 'Finger Control Art.'
So, she started receiving guidance from Shuu-sensei and has been training alone since coming to Toukaku of Eastern Town.
──That was Touri's explanation.
"Also, Touri has been watching mother's techniques since Touri was born. I remember all the Pressure Point Techniques."
"All of them!?"
"Yes!"
Now that I think about it, Shuu-sensei said that Touri has talent in martial arts.
So, she must have been watching and memorizing Shuu-sensei's techniques all this time.
That knowledge and a healthy body might have brought out Touri's talent.
"I can only use the 'Flowing Water' technique for now, but I'm confident in that!"
Touri said with a serious expression.
"So, please let me help you, Hou-sama!!"
"Understood."
Touri was determined.
If not, she wouldn't have come along.
Besides, the opponents were people who controlled abnormal 'ki.'
If Touri, a genius in guidance, was there, she might understand the enemy's techniques.
"I'll hold off the enemies until Heki Nei-san and the others arrive. In the meantime, Touri-san, please observe the enemies. I want you to find out what techniques they are using and what effects they have, and then tell me."
"Yes, Hou-sama!"
Touri smiled widely and nodded.
"Now, Touri will share what I've figured out. The skin of those people has turned a vivid color, and judging by their bloodshot eyes and rapid breathing... I think they are activating their bodies with a large amount of 'ki.' The enemies might be moving faster. Be careful!"
"Thank you, Touri."
I was glad to have Touri with me.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have understood anything about the twin martial artists.
The twin martial artists... are not characters from the game 'History of Swordmaster.'
Of course, since this is ten years before the game starts, they might look different.
But... I'm confident they are not characters that appear in the game.
I've mastered that game quite a bit.
Even I, who am not very knowledgeable, have no memory of the twins──Ryo Ken and Ryo Kon.
So, I think they don't appear in the game.
Also, the only character that uses 'Five Divine Steps' and 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' is Master Raikou.
The only other one is the heroine, Sou Ouka, who uses the Suzaku bird's techniques.
There are no characters related to 'Hidden Five Gods' either.
So──
"──We will join those who bear Heaven's Fate."
"──We will master our skills and step onto the stage of history."
Hearing the words of the Ryo siblings... it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.
"I think it's impossible to stand on the stage of history."
I said.
Because I defeated Zeng Taiga, it's possible that the flow of history has changed.
But... I still feel like these guys won't appear in the game.
They weren't on the protagonist's side, nor on Aika Country's side, or the Jinkyo Tribe's side.
That means──
"Are you being used by the Golden Feather Syndicate?"
""────!?""
When I said that, the twins' boss widened his eyes.
"Are we being deceived? What are you talking about!?"
"That's an unpleasant statement. You deserve to die a thousand deaths."
"The reason is simple. What you're doing is too suspicious."
According to Touri, they are using techniques similar to 'Four Fiends Technique: Kyuuki.'
And just now, they said something strange.
──Your meals were managed by me and my master, to make the 'ki' easier to eat.
──Your 'ki' becomes our strength.
This means that in 'Hidden Five Gods', the Ryo siblings had their meals managed to create 'ki' that was easy to consume.
The bandits, unaware of this, were treated like livestock.
It really seems like they were conducting some strange experiments.
"'Cloud that crushes its own kind!!"
"The disciple who harmed Master Bakkai will be killed."
"Master Gyoun regretted hurting Bakkai."
I said.
This is something I must convey for Master Gyoun's honor.
"After hurting Bakkai, Master Gyoun abandoned martial arts. He learned medicine to save people. Master Gyoun probably wanted to heal Bakkai."
That's the kind of person Master Gyoun is.
That's why he is still respected by Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei.
"But Master Gyoun could never meet Bakkai again. So, he went into the mountains to become a hermit. I think he wanted to somehow help Bakkai by becoming something beyond a human."
I said.
The Ryo siblings paused for just a moment.
But they quickly shook their heads and said,
"It doesn't matter. We will take revenge for our master."
"We will stand on the stage of history and become heroes! As members of the organization──."
"Zeng Taiga, who believed in the Golden Feather Syndicate, is dead. The dual-wielding sword subordinate has escaped."
Once again, I will tell them the truth.
"They just use people and throw them away. The Golden Feather Syndicate only believes in their own Heaven's Fate. Teaming up with those guys... attacking people, attacking Heki Nei-san's family... don't cause any more trouble for our master!!"
"──Not worth listening to."
"──Die, disciple of 'Cloud that crushes its own kind'!!"
The Ryo siblings come at me with their weapons.
Looks like I didn't even buy myself some time.
To them, I'm just the grand disciple of Bakkai's enemy. They won't listen to reason.
"Touri, get away!"
"Yes!!"
The Ryo siblings are getting closer.
Their moves are wide, so I can see them coming. It's the 'Kirin Technique' and the 'Genbu Turtle Technique.'
In that case──
"'Seiryuu Transformation'!"
I use 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' to deflect their swords.
*Clang!*
"...Did we just get our attacks blocked!?"
"...Unbelievable. We've never had trouble coordinating before."
The Ryo siblings are stunned.
Yeah, I'm surprised too.
Their attacks are rough.
But I didn't think I could deflect them so easily.
For a moment, I remembered training with Shouou.
And then... I realized I was deflecting both of their attacks.
I always train with Shouou in 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' and 'Five Divine Steps.'
Sometimes we have mock battles, and sometimes we practice coordinated attacks.
So, I can tell what kind of combo attacks the users of 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' are going to do.
Their movements are fast, but way more clumsy than Shouou.
I can see what techniques they're trying to use, and I can read their movements.
So── I can respond!
"────gah!"
"──Ryo Ken!?"
One of the twins shouted.
I felt the impact. I knew my sword had cut their arm.
But... this guy is tough.
It felt like I was cutting through iron.
Even though I landed a hit, only a little blood trickled from their arm.
I cut them with my sword, but it hardly did anything. What is this...?
"Could it be... Iron Body Ki Technique!?"
Iron Body Ki Technique is a martial arts skill.
It lets you harden your body for a moment by circulating 'ki.'
I thought the twins were users of that technique, but... no, that's not all they can do.
""'Starving Beast Guidance'.""
The twins intertwined their arms and locked eyes.
In an instant, they exchanged 'ki'──
When that was over... the wound on the arm faded.
The blood that was flowing had stopped.
"──Heroes don't die."
"──Heroes get back up again and again."
...They can heal wounds that quickly?
What the heck.
Is it even possible to use a game character's healing skill in real life?
'Iron Body Ki Technique' and 'Super Recovery' were skills that the game protagonist Kai Yougetsu had.
To be precise, Kai Yougetsu's technique isn't just 'Iron Body Ki Technique,' but 'Super Iron Body Ki Technique'── which is an upgraded version of 'Iron Body Ki Technique.'
Kai Yougetsu has high defense. On top of that, when he activates 'Super Iron Body Ki,' he can greatly reduce damage from swords, spears, and arrows.
Using that, he was cutting through the enemy formation.
It was truly a heroic performance.
'Iron Body Ki' can be used by other characters too.
But, it consumes a lot of 'ki' energy, so it can't be used for a long time.
However, Kai Yougetsu originally had a high amount of 'ki' energy.
He could use the upper version of 'Super Iron Body Ki' for several turns.
Plus, even if he took damage, he could manage it with 'Super Recovery.'
Other characters need time or treatment to heal their wounds, but Kai Yougetsu naturally recovers. Of course, it takes some time.
Still, he couldn't completely block Zeng Taiga's destructive power.
Kai Yougetsu said he gained 'Super Iron Body Ki' and 'Super Recovery' through effort and talent, but... is that really true?
The 'Four Fiends' technique, 'Kyuuki,' has a skill that strengthens oneself using 'ki' stolen from others... did Kai Yougetsu learn that? Is that why he is so strong?
These twins are also users of 'Kyuuki'... can they use the same technique?
Or are they test subjects... and will Kai Yougetsu gain their results... from now on?
Either way, it's still a serious situation.
"Could it be... that he is blocking the entry of 'Divine Energy' with 'Iron Body Ki'?"
'Four Fiends Technique: Kyuuki' is like a deadly poison for its user.
The person who created Kyuuki probably knew that.
That's why they included 'Iron Body Ki' and 'Super Recovery' as part of the technique.
With 'Iron Body Ki', your defense becomes stronger.
It can stop 'Divine Energy' from entering your body.
But if it still gets in, you can use 'Super Recovery' to cancel it out.
It's like how antibodies protect against viruses in my original world.
Kyuuki doesn't just control 'Poison Ki'.
There are even more advanced techniques.
...I really can't let these guys escape.
If they spread this technique... the whole continent will be in chaos...
"Hou-sama."
Suddenly, Touri came up to my side.
She leaned in close to my ear and whispered.
"Touri has been watching the movements of the two 'ki'. And I've noticed something."
"Noticed something, you say?"
"About the movements of their 'ki'..."
Touri is a genius.
She's a master of guidance and has been learning Shuu-sensei's medical skills for a long time.
So... she might see things that I can't.
"────That's what it is. Did I help you?"
"That's enough. Thank you, Touri."
The enemy is a pair of twins with regeneration abilities.
On our side, there's me, who can use swordsmanship decently, and Touri, who excels in defense and observation.
In a game, we would be at a huge disadvantage, but this is reality.
If we use our brains, we can manage somehow.
If I have the information from Touri, I might be able to nullify 'Super Iron Body Ki' and 'Super Recovery.'
"Before Heki Nei-san and the others arrive... I need to take down at least one of them."
"──We, who stand on the stage of history..."
"──We will kill the family of the 'Cloud that crushes its own kind!'."
So, I decided to take down a martial artist with defense and recovery abilities.
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