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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 211: Watch Closely. And Don't Tell Anyone.
"End this?"
Huten responded as if he'd heard something absurd.
"Surely you misspoke, Karzan."
Huten's attitude suggested he had nothing more to see.
"Your skills and mine exist in a complete hierarchy. Your talent is quite remarkable, but we're simply in different leagues."
Huten's black aura aimed at me like dozens of spears.
This feels like standing before an army with long spears. Even a highly skilled master would find it difficult to avoid becoming skewered before this.
"But why haven't your comrades come, Karzan of the Special Operations Division?"
Karzan of the Special Operations Division?
I almost laughed at this ridiculous misconception.
"You keep talking nonsense, but first of all, I'm not part of any Special Operations Division."
"Even so, you're still Grunewald's man, aren't you? Perhaps the duke's shadow?"
Of course, that wasn't true either.
'Who knows about the future though.'
"This bastard keeps trying to lead the interrogation."
I was simply bewildered by Huten's apparent consideration of "future matters."
"You're quite confident, you little piggie."
I cursed to provoke Huten while simultaneously raising an invisible sword energy using the Black Star technique. Very discreetly.
"Have you given up fighting? Not even raising your sword energy."
Huten didn't seem to notice the invisible sword energy, acting completely like a cat that had cornered a mouse.
'I've found one of your weaknesses.'
Arrogance and carelessness.
These are traits that remain difficult to discard no matter how harsh one's training has been.
'Let's test it, shall we?'
Today, my theme is stealth.
I intended to incorporate "assassin's martial arts" into my fighting style by elevating my concealment and utilizing invisible sword energy.
'Here I go.'
I combined Whispering Snow in the Night and Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path techniques to confuse Huten's senses while closing the distance.
Then, at a precarious distance just beyond sword reach, I launched my first attack.
"What?"
For a master, precise distance is essential. Huten stood motionless, watching the trajectory of my sword strike.
"?!"
In the final moment, his skin was cut by my extended invisible sword energy.
"...What was that just now?"
Huten frowned as he touched the blood flowing down his cheek.
"I didn't feel anything."
It was a moment when my invisible blade completely deceived his perception.
'If it had been just a bit deeper, he would have certainly reacted.'
The difference of a hair's breadth had suppressed his reaction.
"Is it some kind of invisible sword energy?"
"Sharp instincts."
This time, I returned Huten's own words to him.
'But if my opponent had been Ulbhild, this would never have worked.'
What does this mean?
It means that while Huten's demonic power is formidable, his energy sensitivity isn't quite as keen.
'Good.'
I recalled my conversation with Ulbhild.
"If you can properly add the Black Star principles, the two ultimate techniques. Shadow Flowing Phantom Sword and Moon Dance will demonstrate even more formidable power."
Above all.
"If you use the Light Star principle for maximum power, while concealing it with the Black Star principle."
"I'll be able to deliver a powerful attack with maximum force in the midst of natural exchanges."
Shadow Flowing Phantom Sword and Lonely Wave Yearning Moon.
In addition to these two ultimate techniques of the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship sword style, I had created a third ultimate technique called 'Moon Dance.'
'If I combine the Light Star and Black Star principles like this.'
Breaking through Huten's defense isn't impossible.
'But to strike at an unexpected moment, I first need to provoke his agitation.'
And I know one way to do that.
"Hey, junior."
"Why do you keep calling me junior?"
Huten seemed to sense something strange in the atmosphere and lowered his stance, preparing to attack.
'Not a chance.'
Perceiving his anxiety, I grinned and asked:
"How's Ivan doing?"
"...?!"
Huten, who had been smiling confidently throughout, was visibly shaken.
"You... how do you know that name...?"
"Curious?"
"Wait, could it be."
Just as he was about to say something.
'Moon Dance.'
I unleashed the ultimate technique I had been saving.
'Like a shadow's sword dancing under moonlight, with the mysterious principle of illusory swordsmanship.'
I added brilliance and stealth by combining the Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path footwork, Whispering Snow in the Night concealment technique, and Black Star principle.
Thus, the third ultimate technique created by adding Karzan's Five Stars to Grunewald's martial arts.
Slash!
It deeply cut half of Huten's face.
"AAARGH!"
It was a supreme sword strike that neither the black aura's defense nor Huten's martial prowess could block.
"You bastard, what technique is this?!"
Huten shouted with a grotesque appearance, his facial bone exposed.
"Well, you reacted somewhat at the last moment."
If he hadn't twisted his face, Huten would already be dead.
"You son of a- what is this?"
Huten, having suffered both unexpected information and an unexpected attack, stepped backward.
"Oh?"
Something seemed off.
"How dare you, HOW DARE YOUUUU!"
With his eyes rolling back, Huten tried to pull something from his clothes.
'Not so fast!'
I reflexively launched a slashing attack.
Crack!
But a black curtain rose at once to block my strike.
"Damn it!"
Meanwhile, Huten took out a small glass vial and swallowed its contents.
'That couldn't be...?'
Bad premonitions are often more accurate than good ones.
"AAAAARGH!"
With a thunderous roar, Huten's body began to writhe and swell enormously.
"What is that? Ugh, disgusting."
His skin turning a dark, murky color made him look just like a cockroach.
"Karzan, I will make you my companion to hell no matter what happens."
Even his voice had become thick and rough, like someone experiencing a late puberty.
"What are you talking about?"
I replied while cleaning my ear.
"Do you have separation anxiety? Did your parents leave you in the trash can? Why do you keep wanting me as your companion?"
At that, Huten seemed to lose control of his anger and rolled his eyes back.
"I'll kill you! Karzan!"
"Whoa!"
The black aura, responding to his rage, flew at me like a whip, and I hastily retreated.
CRASH!
Ships caught in its path were destroyed.
"Why are you destroying innocent ships? What a waste."
"Shut up!"
I activated my concealment technique and returned the way I came. In other words, I ran away.
'That bastard's eyes aren't normal.'
He must have consumed something that amplified his strength, as the power he momentarily displayed was truly terrifying.
'Damn it. The great Karzan...'
It was a bit embarrassing, but that's okay.
Because sometimes...
'Running away may be shameful, but it helps.'
***
How long had I been running?
"Seriously persistent."
Since Huten was rampaging and destroying everything in his frustration, tracking the pursuer's position wasn't particularly difficult.
"Come out! KAR-ZAN! Come out right now!"
"Geez, this madman. Just like Ghir."
As I was clicking my tongue, Skella's red bat flew in from the distance.
[Master.]
"Hmm?"
[Shall I help? With my concealment technique, it wouldn't be difficult to stall until he tires himself out.]
"Well, that's true, but it's fine."
I stroked the back of the bat's head with my thumb and then sent it away.
[Master!]
"I appreciate the thought. But this is my fight."
Besides, I had no intention of ending the fight so emptily.
"Huten, are you done throwing your tantrum?"
I reappeared before Huten after confirming that his movements had slowed and that his aura, which had been blazing like oil-fed fire, was diminishing.
'This kind of rampage usually has a time limit.'
So waiting quietly for his self-destruction would be the easiest method, but...
'That won't do.'
I still had more to extract from Huten.
"Stop running and fight me!"
With the drug's effect seemingly wearing off, a somewhat calmer Huten blocked my retreat with his black aura whips and charged at me.
'Oh, you used your head a bit.'
But he misjudged my intentions.
'You'll use that power to block my retreat? That's actually welcome news.'
I surrounded my body with the energy of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique, and then...
Thump!
I activated the Light Star power to push my physical abilities to the extreme.
'And awaken my energy sensitivity and intuition.'
At this moment, my skill clearly surpassed the 6th tier barrier.
SWOOSH!
I directly faced the incoming sword strike of immense power and countered it.
CLANG!
Huten's sword was helplessly deflected.
It was a perfect defense, possible only by reading the opponent's intent and predicting the sword's path in advance.
"Tsk!"
The bewildered Huten launched faster and stronger attacks, but I was able to evade and deflect them all as if I could see the future, moving in advance to resolve his attacks by dodging and flowing around them.
To explain this in one sentence.
'I've deciphered Huten's martial arts.'
I smiled, feeling a thrill running up my spine.
"You made a mistake, Huten."
SLASH!
Huten, with his side now cut by my counterattack, retreated.
"Impossible, how?"
To his disbelieving gaze, I replied:
"I've roughly understood it. Your martial art."
"...Nonsense."
That's a typical response.
Indeed, the sword technique Huten displayed was so profound and abstruse that the expression "ancient demonic art" wasn't an exaggeration. Even I had considerable trouble with it.
'However.'
Karzan's special ability overcame it.
Moreover, the current Huten was faster and stronger than before, but he was employing a rougher and less meticulous sword technique.
"If it's hard to believe, shall we confirm it once more?"
"Hiss!"
Huten, having lost his reason, attacked again.
But this time, I more easily handled his attack and planted my fist into his chest.
"Ugh!"
"Your chest is open, junior."
"Grrrk."
Huten retreated with a phlegmy sound and stomped the ground hard.
"Damn you."
Huten's eyes were bloodshot.
"Take this!"
This time, giant, sharp tentacles flew at me.
'I expected this.'
What would be Huten's next choice after realizing he couldn't handle me with his sword?
'Nothing but trying to overpower me by force.'
Because that's the only advantage he has left.
However.
"How can I thank you enough."
Seeing Huten's black aura flying toward me, I extended my left hand defenseless.
'Please!'
Of course, this was quite a gamble for me too. If I failed, my arm would be torn off.
'But if it succeeds, it's a jackpot.'
And I've always been strong at gambling.
WOOOONG!
Sure enough, my left hand began to readily absorb Huten's black aura.
'Success.'
"Hehehehehehe."
I happily accepted the vicious and strange energy of the demonic art. My blood vessels felt a bit sore, but this level of poison didn't even register in my body.
"...Urp."
After absorbing all the black aura, I let out a victory burp.
"Thank you for the meal."
Now, be gone.
I unleashed the Flowing Cloud Thunder Fist technique to return Huten's attack right back at him.
BANG!
Huten flew back with a drum-like sound and spat blood.
"Damn it, what did you just do now?"
I clicked my tongue at Huten’s staggering figure as he tried to stand.
"You're still standing? Impressively tough."
But that seemed to be his limit.
"BLECH!"
Looking at Huten vomiting blood, I declared.
"This is as far as it goes, Huten."
"Ha, hahaha."
He laughed dejectedly and then looked up at me.
"Don't mistake this for your victory, Karzan."
“Now that’s a novel load of bullshit.”
"Hehe, I've fulfilled my mission. While your eyes were fixed on me, 'treasury' is already being plundered. So…"
I cut off Huten's head without listening to the rest of his words.
"Too much chatter, you fool."
THUD!
Huten's headless body collapsed forward.
"About to die yet still acting smug thinking you got one over on me, I can't stand that."
Having crushed even his final mental victory, I looked down at the dead Huten's face and removed my mask to show him.
"Watch closely. And don't tell anyone."
In Huten's empty eyes reflected the face of a beautiful man, like a fairy.
Of course, that's me.
"My name is Allenvert. You never figured it out, even at the end."
...But Huten's wide-eyed severed head didn't answer.
'Probably in the last moment, he tried to distract me with nonsense, then use an illusion technique to escape.'
But such cheap tricks don't work on me.
"Mission failed, Huten."
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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