Aiko's eyes flew wide open; a bead of sweat slid down her skin.– Is that thing… an iron golem? But… it's huge. Even an S-rank adventurer would be in trouble facing one of those… she whispered.
In the sky, the slime floated impassively.– Attack, it ordered coldly.
The ice golem didn't wait any longer and threw a brutal punch. Ronin dodged with a backward leap, but the colossus didn't stop; each charge made the ground tremble like a drum. Even so, Ronin moved calmly, measuring the rhythm of every attack.
Aiko stared at him, open-mouthed.– Is he dodging as if it's nothing?! she exclaimed.– How is that possible…? Even an S-rank adventurer would be in trouble. Is he really class A? she thought in astonishment.
– You can do it, Ronin! Beat him! Jotaro shouted from behind.– Yeah, give that bastard what he deserves for hurting Jotaro! Kira added.– Hey, Kira, just cheer him on… murmured Jotaro.
The colossus raised its arm and, with all its might, unleashed a devastating blow. Ronin planted one foot on the ground, eyes fixed on his enemy.– Shadow Slash, he said serenely.
His figure vanished in a blink, leaving behind a dark trail. The golem's fist struck the ground, raising a cloud of frost and earth, but Ronin was no longer there. A black blade flashed in the air like lightning.
When the cloud cleared, Ronin appeared suspended just behind the colossus's head, his sword still extended to one side. The golem's arm cracked, splintering until it fell to pieces while the shadow of the slash vibrated in the air.
– That's it, you've got him! Jotaro shouted.
Ronin raised his sword, ready to cut off its head.– Shadow Slas… he began, but stopped when a bolt of lightning struck down on him. With a swift motion he cut through the lightning, lifting his gaze toward the slime floating in the sky.
Taking advantage of his distraction, the golem turned and delivered another blow. The impact hurled Ronin to the ground; he rolled uncontrollably, raising dust until he hit a tree. When the dust cleared, he was leaning against the trunk, head low and blood dripping from his nose and forehead. His sword lay at his side.
With silent effort, Ronin picked it up, stood, and fixed a cold stare on the charging colossus.– Spectral Step, he whispered.
He disappeared in a dark trail and reappeared walking behind the golem. It tried to turn to strike him, but its arm cracked and broke like the first. Seconds later, the colossus's legs shattered. The golem fell heavily, unable to move.
– He already beat it? He beat it like it was nothing! Aiko murmured.– That's it, I knew you could do it! Jotaro exclaimed.– Incredible, he really beat it! Kira said.
Ronin kept walking as if nothing had happened. Above, the slime watched him as it slowly descended. When it was close enough, Ronin slashed horizontally at surprising speed, but the slime vanished. He looked up: the slime was above him, wielding a copy of Jotaro's sword.
The clash of the two swords triggered a shockwave that cracked the ground beneath them. Ronin pushed against the slime, which stepped back. Both lunged at the same time, crossing attacks faster and faster.
They leapt back and then rushed again, colliding with such force that the ground completely broke apart.
The slime narrowed its eyes. Ronin retreated just before another lightning bolt struck where he had been. The slime lunged at him with the sword forward. Ronin dodged by jumping to the right, but the blade grazed his face, leaving a wound.
The slime increased the speed of its attacks. This time Ronin dodged with difficulty, stepping back. He stumbled on a rock; the slime tried to thrust. Ronin bent backward, avoiding the blow and, without hesitation, pronounced:– Shadow Slash.
The slime's sword shattered. It jumped back. Ronin straightened up, intimidating. He dashed forward at stunning speed, but the slime dodged all his attacks while retreating.
The slime clapped its hands and two trees lunged at Ronin. He cut them before they hit, but more trunks kept flying at him. He dodged some and split others while advancing. Suddenly, a fire arrow appeared in front of him. Ronin blocked it just in time.– An arrow? he murmured.
The slime, with a bow of fire, shot arrows at great speed. Ronin blocked one, but the impact made him step back. Several more approached; he whispered:– Shadow Slash.
He cut the arrows, which exploded instantly. The slime focused on the smoke, but Ronin appeared behind it, trying to decapitate it. However, the ground erupted under his feet and hardened like stone, forcing him to retreat.
The slime pointed a finger; masses of earth rushed toward Ronin. With a jump he dodged the first and ran over the rest, cutting another in two with his sword. Two more ambushed him from the sides. Ronin jumped:– Shadow Slash.
He split both and the one he was using as a platform. The slime opened its hands; from its glowing palms emerged copies of Jotaro's sword. With a gesture, it sent them flying at Ronin. He deflected them as he kept running. Just then, he lunged at the slime with a downward slash wrapped in darkness:– Abyss Slash.
The slime vanished before the blow landed. Ronin searched and found it floating in the sky. He prepared to jump, but the conjured swords reappeared to attack. He struck one aside, but the others came at him. While he fought and dodged, the slime snapped its fingers.
One of the swords transformed into a copy of Jotaro, glowing yellow. Ronin dodged it, surprised.– Damn… he muttered.
The other swords also turned into clones. The copies charged at Ronin. He blocked the first, dodged the second, and made two clones hit each other. But one rammed his chest, making him spit blood. A close-quarters fight began; Ronin took hits to the chest and could barely block. He tried a horizontal slash, but the copy ducked and hit his abdomen. His sword broke.
Sweating, Ronin opened his eyes. The copy struck his face, making him step back. He wiped the blood from his nose and lunged at it, but it vanished in sparks: in its place was the slime, which evaded his strike with an aerial spin.
– Twilight Slash! Ronin exclaimed.
The slime blocked by grabbing the broken sword and hurled him into the trees. Ronin crashed through six trunks before hitting the ground. Weakly, he stood up. The slime appeared in front of him, grabbed his head.– I'll finish this now, it said.
With the other hand it struck his abdomen. Ronin spat blood onto its face. The slime kept hitting him. It delivered a final blow; upon impact it released his head, and the swordsman's body was flung like a broken doll through the air as an invisible gust shook the atmosphere around him.
Ronin smashed into a massive tree, opening a hole in its trunk. Amid dust and splinters, he opened his eyes just in time to feel the slime grab his head again and, mercilessly, hurl him skyward.
Spinning out of control, Ronin barely saw the monster appear beside him, grabbing his arm to slam him back to the ground with devastating force. The impact made the earth crack, creating a crater and making Ronin bounce, spitting blood before gravity claimed him again.
He had no time to fall. The slime caught him once more, this time by the head, and dragged him across the ground at full speed, plowing it like a living plow.
Jotaro, Kira, and Aiko stood petrified, mouths agape, unable to believe the brutality they were witnessing.
The slime dug its feet into the ground, stopped abruptly and, with a sharp motion, lifted Ronin and hurled him like a sack. The swordsman bounced again and again across the terrain, leaving a trail of torn earth until his body reached the edge of a cliff.
With his gaze lost and body destroyed, Ronin felt time slow. The slime, relentless, lifted its leg and, in one swift movement, brought it down violently on him. The blow sent Ronin straight to the bottom of the abyss.
Below, the princess of Xylonia's carriage halted at the sight of Ronin's body falling, raising dust.– What was that?! a guard shouted.– Don't stray from Her Majesty! another ordered.
When the dust cleared, they saw Ronin motionless. He raised his head with difficulty.– Don't move! a guard shouted, lifting his sword. If you dare approach the princess, we won't hesitate to strike!– Run… Ronin whispered, trembling.
Suddenly, the slime fell from the sky in the same place, raising another cloud of dust. When it cleared, it was crouched before Ronin. It seized his head, and Ronin's furious eyes met it; the slime smashed his head into the ground, knocking him unconscious. One guard stepped back in fear. The slime heard his step and turned its gaze toward them.