The camp's details sharpened.
About a dozen individuals loitered with divided attention. Some inspected their high-tech weapons, while others milled around the docking stations spaced around the perimeter.
The entire scene unfolded in vivid detail as Arthur rapidly dissected their setup.
Those mechanical backpacks some members were wearing had wires and circuits beneath the frames.
'Interesting…'
Then he saw something more: lightning chakra dominated the design of their equipment.
Every second passed indicated an unnatural flow of chakra pulsating through their circuits.
Impressive, to say the least. Each backpack looked as if it could amplify the wearer's offensive capabilities. It was no wonder a monk like Chiriku was having problems with them.
But there had to be a flaw somewhere.
Continuing his quick assessment, Arthur eventually spotted two distinct rooms somewhere deeper in the camp. They were large with cables snaking between them and a ground-level docking station outfitted with fixtures resembling oversized chargers.
That had to be their technology's weakness: they needed to be charged. And from the looks of it, many of the occultists were headed inside to do just that.
A brilliant idea took root in Arthur's mind.
With a final sweep through the camp, he retreated back through the trees before returning to Chiriku.
"Did you find anything?" the monk anxiously pressed.
"Yes… There's two docking stations they're using to recharge their weapons. Without sufficient energy powering them, they're left vulnerable."
"So if we take out these stations—"
"We take out their means of fighting."
Chiriku's eyes widened in disbelief. Not only was he impressed at how Arthur single-handedly deduced all that information—from their strengths to their vulnerabilities—he was equally amazed at how quickly it was done.
"You're quite the genius, brother!" Chiriku praised.
Arthur rejected the admiration quietly, knowing that he didn't need it. Deep down, he was aware that he could defeat every last one of them on his own, regardless of their energy weapons.
But collaboration was crucial here—not just for the temple, but to help him refine his skills.
More importantly, he understood the severity if word got out that a powerful monk was within the country's borders. Such news would alarm the Leaf Village, causing Ryugetsu to become famous. But if this mission was accomplished with the help of an already-powerful monk, then Ryugetsu's name would be overshadowed by that monk.
"Brother Chiriku, I need you to distract their camp on the opposite side while I disrupt their station."
"If you need help, I won't hesitate to come by your side."
With their plan set in motion, the two separated.
Arthur was seen creeping closer to the heart of the camp. Few guards were posted nearby, yet they were nothing he couldn't handle.
'Smoke jutsu…'
Serpentine threads of smoke engulfed his body as he slipped between trees. Then, with a few more careful movements, he crossed the threshold directly near the first docking station.
Two guards lounged nearby, oblivious to his presence.
"The energy in these things—it's incredible," one guard exclaimed. "Never used anything like it."
"Agreed. Only a matter of time before we break through those monks' defenses!"
Arthur didn't miss the implication; they would likely make their move again soon, and if he delayed, he wouldn't get another great chance like this one.
Suddenly, there was a loud pounding noise from far away. Chiriku had made his move.
Now it was Arthur's turn.
'Smoke style: smokescreen…'
A cloud erupted forth around him as a whirlwind of obscuring mist enveloped the entire docking station.
"What the heck?!" both guards screamed.
In just seconds, they were entrapped in confusion, and their shouts went unheard as they struggled against the sudden onslaught of smoke.
Arthur didn't waste any time attacking their charging unit with blasts of smoke.
Bang-bang-bang!
The energy-eager apparatus easily shuddered as the wiring fizzled on impact.
The two guards frantically clawed their way through the smoke yet remained ignorant of where to strike. Before the smoke could fully dissipate, Arthur darted toward the second docking station, still hidden among the swirling mist.
Occultists were swarming everywhere now.
"Hey! Our charging station's on fire!" someone shouted.
'Smoke style: smoke fist…'
Before the occultists could react, a powerful fist made of smoke bombarded their second station.
Boom!
The structure exploded in a shower of sparks and shrapnel.
Cries erupted from the remaining members as they witnessed their entire rig fall apart.
"It's the monks! The monks are attacking!"
"But from where?!"
Adrenaline coursed through Arthur like wildfire, invigorating him as he sprang away from the wreckage.
'Smoke style: smoke dance…'
With only his legs turned into smoke, he whipped around their camp with a katana in hand, leaving trailing clouds behind him.
"I see one!" an occultist shouted.
"Stop him then, ya idiots!"
Members still with their backpacks on pressed a button, causing loud energy to purr. And when they raised their hands, streaks of lightning bolts shot forth at Arthur.
Zap-zap-zap!
His form blurred as he glided to dodge. Lightning was fast, but the occultists were slow.
When he entered their space, he waved his arm, slicing two members at once. The blade sang with him brandishing it left and right while he glided in circles.
"I can't track his movements!"
Arthur was enjoying the thrill of this fight; he was being the predator he was meant to be.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked past him, illuminating his features in an ominous glow. The members' eyes widened in disbelief.
"He's faster than our lightning!"
But Arthur knew he hadn't done what they thought; he had only read their strategy, knowing exactly where the lightning would pass through before its release.
Using their confusion to his advantage, he twisted and turned, turning with extraordinary grace as his slashes made them more frantic.
Splash-splash-splash!
Their blood splattered on the ground with each swing.
Lightning flashed again, but he was already slithering high and low while the rush of electricity whipped over his head. Then, in a swift arc, he slashed three more members' legs, crumbling them to the ground.
"You won't get away with this!" Lightning charged in the member's palms, but Arthur merely slithered again, flowing seamlessly past the oncoming bolt of energy that shot by him. Then, slash! "Argh!"
Arthur remained expressionless from their struggles to grasp his tempo. He was simply too elegant for them, too graceful in his movements.
With another slithering twist, he sliced through many more approaching members as their eyes widened. His steel met flesh, disarming their weapons before they could even draw out their energy.
"Can't you idiots do anything right?!" a more burly member screamed. But when he tried to form a lightning attack, his weapon lost charge. Now he was fearful. "Screw this!"
Arthur saw that same occultist actually running away. So with one fluid movement, he performed a follow-through smoke fist that sent the member sprawling, leaving him incapacitated and gasping for breath.
The other members watched Arthur's back turned toward them.
"It's just one monk!"
"Attack him together!"
The instant they lifted their hands, their devices all sputtered and died simultaneously.
✟
"Lost power?" Arthur mocked, slowly facing them. "That's too bad…"
A few more minutes later, there were no more members left standing.
Arthur used his Crimson Gaze to verify where Chiriku was. From what he saw, the monk had taken down about a dozen monks already. But what he had done to one dozen, Arthur had done to three.
That was thirty-six occultists, all with advanced technology, slaughtered in their home base.
Their devices could have surely given an average shinobi a hard time. But Arthur's bold plan to use their weakness against them prevailed.
Now their blood soaked the ground, and many groanings could still be heard from those who took a serious beating.
Arthur slowly reformed his legs as he tipped his head back to watch the textured flames reflect off his face.
What a truly terrifying man.