When I saw the red spear coming right at my face, my body reacted automatically, my nails sharpened.
The spear aimed at my head only grazed me thanks to my dodge to the right, but I tried to hit the face of the one who threw it at me.
In return, what I got was a kick to my right side.
That kick was so strong it made me cough up some blood and sent me flying 100 meters away.
A purple-haired woman was staring at me. She was as beautiful as Morgan, but I had developed charm resistance.
I squinted my eyes: "What do you want, woman?"
The purple-haired woman twitched her brow: "I was just curious about the one who called me old."
Ah, that: "So you're Scathach. Sorry, even if you dragged me here by force, I have a wife."
The damned woman showed no mercy and threw her spear in a throwing stance. When I saw that, I tried to run with all my might, but it was useless. The spear exploded.
That bitch dropped a nuke. I'm lying half-conscious on the ground, only alive thanks to my dragon scales. She stood above me and looked down, like I was the filthiest thing she'd ever seen: "Don't ever make fun of a woman's age again." If voices could kill, I would have died a thousand times right then.
I look at her with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception — and I can't see a single line.
They say she's already dead in the stories, and it seems like I'm in her domain now, too.
That must be affecting it.
When she saw my eyes, she was surprised, but before she could ask anything, I answered with a smile: "Alright, grandma, I won't mock anyone's age again, UMU."
Seems like I'm a master at pissing off women. Just as she tried to crush my head with her foot, I appeared behind her instantly and aimed for her heart. But she grabbed my wrist:
"Nice technique. You're an assassin."
I dislocated my wrist in a flash, pulled it back, and fixed it with a single move.
She's smiling, but I'm going for the ultimate kill, so I take a few steps back. She's standing right in front of me: "Show me what you can do."
(At this point, I recommend playing the track Kijutsu no Baire in the background.)
Behind me, the image of an imaginary snake appears. I walk slowly, like a predator hunting its prey. Not too fast, not too slow. Always the same rhythm. No sound.
This technique is called The Rhythm Echo.
Scathach looks like she's found an interesting toy.
My afterimages have surrounded her. It's almost impossible to tell which is the real one.
Suddenly, Scathach appears in front of me and throws her spear — but she hits an afterimage. The real me was on her right. I had gathered my reiatsu, shining like the sun, in my right hand. My reiatsu keeps increasing throughout this fight.
And my claw-like nails meet her spear. Sparks fly at the moment of contact, but I don't stop. I'm using my most powerful move.
I'm triggering mana explosions inside my body. Speed, power, endurance — all of them increase. I'm using an assassination technique called Snake Awakens.
My arm whips toward Scathach's face like a lash, but her spear blocks it. No matter where I aim, the spear stops it. I try to cut her almost 100 times per second, but every time, the tip of her spear deflects me. I see a spark of excitement in Scathach's eyes, but I'm smiling too. So what? My assassination techniques are getting more refined. I've been stabbed in the shoulder, the gut.
But who cares? We both just use our mana to power ourselves up. But before I can continue, I feel a spear at my throat. I raise my hands: "I lost."
My reiatsu had already approached Captain level. I understand why Aizen felt so alone.
Scathach's smile fades: "You're a good assassin. You've surpassed most. I know a few who could rival you."
She pulled the spear from my neck. I looked into her eyes; they almost pulled me in. But hell no, I won't fall for that: "Thanks. Coming from a God slayer like you, that's a solid compliment."
I can say she went easy on me. If I had used a few reiatsu-based moves, I might have stood a chance.
Then her face returned to normal: "Would you like to be my student?"
No, no, no, this shouldn't be happening. I calm myself: "Daga kotowaru."
Scathach doesn't understand, but she feels insulted. Before she can make a move, I say: "I refuse."
Oh, thank god, I calmed down.
Hmm, why is dealing with old women so hard? I felt something in my lower abdomen.
Hmmmm, what the hell? Is that a spear? I didn't even see it enter my body.
Scathach pulled the spear back: "You thought something bad," she said, and used a primal rune that my body healed.
Thank the gods, I'm healed.
But she's looking at me like I'm prey: "My name is Scathach. From now on, you're my student."
Is this woman insane? Stop, stop, don't stab me with that spear. "I'm King Lott. Whatever, I said no!"
Her grin widened: "Who said you could refuse?"
Damn this crazy woman — if I remember correctly, she slept with all her students. Nah, skip me.
Wait, don't lift the spear. I raise my hands and fall to the ground: "What do you want and what can you give me?"
She seemed to think for a moment: "If you have a wish, I'll grant it. In return… You must kill me."
I laugh — her smile completely vanishes. I activate my Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and point to my eye: "These eyes… these eyes can see the death of everything. But you are already dead, you are like a spirit, something like that. What you're asking is impossible. It's like asking a chicken to backflip. It can't happen."
Her aura rises. Her mana surges. She yells at me: "I know, I know! But I have no hope. I find students. I train them. But no matter what I try, I can't die. That's my curse. Damned curse… I have hope, but tell me, what can I do? I can see death in your eyes more than anything else. If you wanted, you could've destroyed the first spear I threw at you with those eyes. Why can't I die? Just why?"
Ohhh, I think I messed up. Should I go dig myself a grave? I turn around and try to leave. I have to get out of here somehow. But then a hand grabs my shoulder and punches me: "You suck at understanding women."
I spat the blood in my mouth on the ground. This is turning into some Chinese bullshit. This woman is savage: "The best friend is the one who tells you your flaws. And grandma, I can't see you as a woman."
Ahhh, this time I took a punch to the stomach.
I heard a "hmm" sound.
Then I found myself back in my office. My real body had entered the realm of shadows. The death aura there helped me understand and use my assassination techniques and eyes better.
Even though my wounds healed, my clothes were ruined. That woman is a menace. Hopefully, I never see her again.
Morning is coming.
I fixed my clothes with Magecraft. The sweat on my body disappeared, and I smelled good. But then something like a letter appeared in front of me.
On it, it said: Be ready, training begins.
How many times do I have to reject this woman? Last time she called me, I couldn't use my sword because I didn't have it with me. And a spear? Nah. I don't want E-rank luck.
If I'm gonna be like Romulus, that's different. The sun hitting me makes my body happy. I love this feeling of power.
My goal is to become Grand Saber. That would be fun.
Actually, as a dragon-type, my lifespan is very long. Even among dragons, I'm like a hatchling, but that's because of my bloodline's power.
I unlock my office. Look around — no one's here. But who tried to open the office door?
(This chapter was made entirely to introduce Scathach. If you liked it, leave a comment, your reviews, and power stones too.)