"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash."
Akimi calmly used Water Breathing to deflect the attack, then looked toward the source of the sword skill.
Standing under a large tree was Kexo, holding an unusually shaped one-handed sword.
He watched Akimi and the others with a mocking expression.
"I didn't expect you foreign adventurers to actually notice something was wrong," Kexo twirled his sword and said in a disdainful tone.
"But it's just a minor interruption—it won't affect the outcome of my plan at all."
Hearing such confident—almost arrogant—words from Kexo, Akimi honestly felt a little amused.
If it were just a regular mission with only him and Asuna, he might've been a bit wary.
But now, there's someone with a "cheat" standing beside them.
If a real fight breaks out, he could just let the cheat-like Heathcliff—who has a "no-death" hack—fight it out with Kexo, while he and Asuna just hang back and spectate.
"Even if you're just a small interruption... in a complete and elegant score, a sudden interlude is never welcome—so, let's make a small correction."
As he spoke, Kexo pointed his sword toward the closest person— Akimi.
Well, so much for Akimi's plan to slack off.
But holding onto the belief that "the one who strikes first gains the upper hand," Akimi charged forward the moment Kexo pointed his sword at him.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
The moment Akimi spoke the sword skill's name, his Nichirin Blade was already closing in on Kexo.
But Kexo was, after all, the lord of the largest town on the 25th floor—not some throwaway mob who could be defeated in a single blow.
Clang!
With just a casual swing of his strange long sword, Kexo effortlessly deflected Akimi's attack.
Feeling the massive force coming from the clash on his Nichirin Blade, Akimi frowned slightly and immediately retreated out of Kexo's attack range.
Then, without saying a word, he shot a look at Asuna and solemnly focused on Kexo, who was holding his sword with a contemptuous expression.
"Such a feeble struggle," Kexo mocked.
Hearing those words, Akimi narrowed his eyes and slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade.
"Water Breathing, Zero Form - ..."
"Nigerundayo!!" (Let's get outta here!!)
And in the next instant, Akimi turned and ran in the direction he and Asuna had come from.
Asuna made the same move immediately.
"LOL, risking your life for an unknown reward when you have little chance of winning — isn't that just being an idiot? To put it more bluntly: is a little reward really worth throwing your life away for?"
On the other side, the one who had originally raised his sword to intercept the attack on Kexo was stunned upon seeing Akimi's actions.
But he quickly came back to his senses, sneered at the backs of Akimi and Asuna, and raised his left hand, which had several rings on it.
One of the rings began glowing with a red light, and then — centered on Kexo — a hemispherical barrier with a radius of fifty meters expanded outward, engulfing everyone within it.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
The Nichirin Blade slashed toward the barrier with tremendous force, but when the edge made contact with it, absolutely nothing happened — not even a scratch?
Akimi stared at the thin red barrier and slowly tightened his grip on his blade.
He turned to Asuna and said:
"Asuna, use your strongest skill. Let's do it together."
"Mm."
Hearing Asuna's response, Akimi didn't hesitate any further.
Gripping the sword with both hands, he poured all his strength into another attack on the barrier.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
"Neutron Impact!"
But even the combined force of Akimi's full-power strike and Asuna's five-hit combo only caused a faint ripple across the barrier — nowhere near enough to break it.
Kexo, standing not far away, watched them with amused interest and mocked:
"Muda muda! This is a high-grade item granted to me by the demon lord of the labyrinth zone! As if you low-level pests could break it so easily!"
Realizing there was no way to break the barrier in a short time, Akimi gave up trying and whispered to Asuna:
"Let's use a teleport crystal."
Then, both of them retrieved a crystal from their inventory.
"Teleport — Panareze (Main town of the 24th floor)."
System Message: Teleport Crystal – No response.
Well then, classic.
Just like always — teleport crystals never work when you need them.
"Heh, trying to escape with a teleport crystal?" Kexo sneered upon seeing Akimi and Asuna's actions.
"Within the range of this magical barrier… crystals are completely disabled."
In Aincrad, magic does exist, but players can't use it.
However, according to the elves, the players' inventory system is a type of magic called the "Art of Illusory Tomes."
Hearing Kexo's words, Akimi silently put the teleport crystal back into his inventory.
Then he and Asuna calmly walked over to stand beside the three members of the Knights of the Blood Oath.
Akimi stared at Kexo for a moment, then turned to Heathcliff — who had been silently watching the scene — and said:
"Hey, how about… we team up for now?"
But Heathcliff neither agreed nor refused.
He simply smiled calmly and continued looking in Kexo's direction.
"Well, if you're not saying anything, I'll take that as a yes." Akimi lightly tapped the hilt of his sword against Heathcliff's shield and added,
"Here's the plan: me, you, and Asuna will take the offensive. Your two teammates provide support. Sound good?"
"Since you've already made up your mind, Mr. Tomioka, let's go with that." Heathcliff finally replied.
---------------
Exclusive access : 150+ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz