Chapter 49: Slay! Zank the Beheader!
Kobayashi held his longsword level, his focus sharpening. He would no longer be bound by mere swordsmanship; it was time to combine sword techniques and magic.
"A long stride forward into a horizontal slash, a two-handed grip on the sword to turn and follow with an upward slash, then turn the blade horizontal for a downward slam using [Sword Skill: Low-Angle Chop] to negate the recovery frames, and during that time, cast [Magic: Fire Arrow] with the left hand... Hehehe, young people are so straightforward. What joy! What joy!"
Zank the Beheader dodged all of the attacks while continuously spewing trash talk.
Kobayashi was not provoked into losing his rhythm or making his attacks sloppy. He continued to use sword techniques and magic at the same frequency, but no matter how he attacked or took cheap shots, he couldn't harm Zank. The sneak attack from before had already put Zank on high alert; he would dodge any attack he didn't understand ahead of time.
This mind-reading ability is unexpectedly tricky.
Kobayashi was a little frustrated.
It seemed the necklace Aqua gave him offered no resistance to mind-reading. It could even nullify illusions, and she had exaggeratedly claimed it could block mental attacks. Could it be that because mind-reading itself had no malicious intent, it couldn't be blocked?
However, he had a countermeasure.
"Your mind-reading ability is certainly troublesome, but I already have three ways to deal with it."
"Oh? You have three? What joy! What joy!"
"The first method is to shield my own mind and stop thinking, to use my body to unconsciously attack and defend. It's what martial artists often call the state of no-self."
Unfortunately, Kobayashi couldn't use this method. His mind had long since been corroded by the colorful world of his past life; he couldn't calm himself down enough to erase all stray thoughts.
"The second method is a bit more simple and crude."
"...Magic?"
"Bingo! You got it right!"
And that sentence was the last thing Zank was able to spy from Kobayashi's mind. After that, he couldn't perceive anything at all, only a vast void.
—[Magic: Mental Barrier]
The spell was originally derived to prevent enemies from using mental magic to control one's own mages, but since the mind was shielded, it could naturally nullify mind-reading.
"Alright, round two begins now."
Kobayashi licked his lips. Seeing Zank's expression become even more arrogant, his own fighting spirit soared.
The tables have turned!
Zank, who had been defending and counter-attacking, was the first to strike. His twin short swords moved at extreme speed, the thrusts and slashes forming an impenetrable wall. The slightest misstep would result in being torn to pieces, limbs flying.
Kobayashi was a little surprised. It seemed Zank wasn't just relying on his Teigu to act tough; he had some real skill.
But...
Kobayashi used his longsword to lock Zank's twin blades, then his left leg suddenly lashed out in a low kick. But Zank also raised his left leg to block. A follow-up right kick was also cleanly dodged by Kobayashi.
After the longsword and short swords separated, he immediately pressed down, forcing Zank's body off-balance and unable to exert force. But Zank saw it coming a step ahead. Instead, he took advantage of Kobayashi's unguarded lower body and kicked him away.
"This isn't working at all!" Kobayashi cursed as he climbed up from the ground.
"What joy! What joy!"
Zank tapped the Teigu on his forehead and said, somewhat boastfully, "[Precognition]. Even if I can't read your mind, I can see through your next move by observing the minute movements of your muscles."
"Who do you think you are, the Vongola Decimo?!" Kobayashi retorted loudly.
It seemed this wasn't going to work. He knew about the precognition ability and had hoped to be able to take him out after his mind-reading was weakened, but it was now clear that wouldn't be possible. His own swordsmanship was still in its infancy. There was no chance of defeating an enemy with superior swordsmanship who could also see his attacks coming.
Wait.
I don't need to fight him at all. To be precise, I don't need to fight Zank while he's wearing his Teigu.
Since the Teigu is the problem, why not just steal it?
Do you even understand the value of the divine skill [Steal]?!
"Hehehehehe..."
Kobayashi's smile suddenly became demonic. The fingers of his right hand at his side began to twist back and forth strangely, as if performing some kind of preparatory ritual. Although it looked like a useless, strange movement, Zank still sensed danger. This feeling was even stronger knowing that his opponent had strange abilities.
Kobayashi extended his right hand, aimed it at the Teigu, and shouted:
"—Take this! Stea—!"
"Kobayashi! Are you alright!"
"...Gak?"
The word got stuck in his throat. This feeling of wanting to fire (a skill) but being unable to was extremely frustrating.
Who interrupted my chant?!
Oh, it's you, kid.
Seeing Tatsumi rapidly approaching from behind, the corner of Kobayashi's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
As expected of a protagonist. Stealing the kill at a critical moment?
"Tatsumi, you've come at just the right time."
"Right?! I sensed something was wrong and came running right away! Good thing I was in time!"
No, I meant that in a different way.
Tatsumi had completely misunderstood.
But Kobayashi couldn't let him get involved. He subtly blocked him with his body and said, "Tatsumi, stand back."
Tatsumi said excitedly, "It would be better if we fight together, right?"
"No. Have you forgotten the iron rule of battles between Teigu users?" Kobayashi scolded him.
That's right!
Tatsumi remembered. A battle between Teigu users with killing intent would inevitably result in one side's death.
No wonder he's been standing in front of me this whole time. He was trying to protect me.
Tatsumi was deeply moved.
But the real reason was that he didn't want him to steal the kill. Kobayashi was very interested in the Teigu [Spectator: Five Sights Omnipotence] and naturally wouldn't let Tatsumi interfere.
Tatsumi, however, was puzzled. "Wait a minute, if it's a battle between Teigu users, why isn't Miss RyuZU here?"
My dear Watson, you've found the crucial point.
"That's what he said."
Kobayashi looked up at the beautiful automaton standing under the moonlight above and said loudly, "It's your turn to take the stage, RyuZU."
"I am not a Teigu, but an automaton. Please do not be mistaken, Master Tatsumi. But you are putting on a rather unsightly display, Master Kobayashi. To be unable to deal with a mere insect... my evaluation of you is about to be lowered."
RyuZU's cool, sharp-tongued voice came from above.
Kobayashi shrugged helplessly. "Yes, yes, that's why I can only ask for your help. Can you do it, RyuZU?"
"Yes. As you command, Master Kobayashi."
RyuZU floated down from above, her evening gown not disheveled in the slightest, as elegant as a noble lady.
"I don't think I told you the third method, did I?"
Kobayashi also revealed a wicked smile, the same as Zank's. "How strong a Teigu is, aside from biological types, generally depends on the user. In other words, humans have limits, but humanoid Teigu do not!"
Mind-reading? RyuZU has no mind!
X-ray vision? RyuZU is full of gears!
Precognition? RyuZU is faster than him. Even if he foresees the attack, he can't possibly dodge it!
"My master rarely asks for my help. This is a great blow to me as his attendant. Therefore, I wish to complete this request perfectly."
RyuZU held the hem of her skirt with both hands, curtsied elegantly, and said with a sharp tongue, "Therefore, could I trouble you to die?"
"A humanoid Teigu... What joy! What joy!"
Zank couldn't help but laugh wildly, saying excitedly, "What does it feel like to cut off a Teigu's neck? Let me confirm it for myself!"
With that, he took a large stride and charged forward.
Two futuristic-looking scythes flashed out from under RyuZU's skirt, making one marvel at the mysterious, vast space that a girl's skirt could hold.
Clang—
High-tech versus cold weapons. The scythes and short swords clashed passionately in the night sky, their speed increasing, sending countless sparks flying and disappearing.
Compared to Zank, who was constantly dodging and swinging his arms, RyuZU, who stood in one place and attacked only with the scythes from under her skirt, was far more elegant.
"What joy! What joy! So this is a humanoid Teigu?"
In that moment, Zank felt that he had broken through his own limits. With the help of his Teigu, he had already surpassed the limits of a human.
But it was still not enough!
"Master Kobayashi is waiting. Let's end this quickly."
RyuZU's speed suddenly jumped several levels. Coupled with the fact that she had no human joints to hinder her, she was far superior to Zank, constantly attacking and forcing him into a steady retreat.
"Hah— hah—, what joy! What joy!"
Zank panted heavily. Everyone present knew that he was at the end of his rope.
RyuZU slowly walked forward and said with a sharp tongue, "In the end, you are just an insect. Even with a so-called Teigu, you are just a slightly stronger insect. A mere Teigu is far inferior to my performance."
Her competitive spirit is surprisingly strong.
Kobayashi clicked his tongue under his breath. Is it because I'm always talking about how great Teigu are in front of her? I need to pay more attention to her feelings.
"Alright. Since there are no new performances, you should just exit the stage. This is the most basic etiquette for a clown, is it not?"
"A clown... am I?"
RyuZU's sharp tongue almost made Zank lose his composure.
Unfortunately, she couldn't care less about his feelings. She moved at extreme speed, performing a gorgeous and dangerous dance around him, her twin scythes flashing with a brilliant and fatal light. Even though Zank resisted with all his might, it was to no avail. He could only let the wounds on his body increase as his stamina was continuously drained.
Finally, under RyuZU's high-speed slashes, his head flew high into the sky.
"Is this my end? What joy! What joy!"
The beheader died by beheading. It was probably the most fitting divine punishment for him.
(End of an book)