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Himura, her face pale, couldn't help but be startled as Ishikawa Katori's aura abruptly changed, his entire being radiating killing intent.
Although she had sent people to investigate Ishikawa Katori's information after their last conflict, knowing that an 'Everything Store' existed in West 38th District that would 'do any job for money,' Ishikawa Katori's unhesitating acceptance of the commission still made her feel somewhat incredulous…
After all, not long ago, Ishikawa Katori and she were still adversaries.
But then she thought, Daimaru, the former leader of District 79, also died at his hands, yet he then turned around and helped the people of District 79 fight her.
His wavering stance was truly admirable!
"Are you a Shinigami??"
In the center of the field, Goto looked at Ishikawa Katori with cold eyes. As a follower of the great villain of West 80th District, Goto's personality was rough yet meticulous, and his gaze was sharp.
The stranger in front of him had clearly just used Kido.
And those who could use Kido were basically Shinigami. If not necessary, he did not want to be an enemy of a Shinigami, especially now that his leader and Nishijin Ori of West 80th District were both gravely injured.
Moreover…
Commission fee?
In their conversation, these three words were what Goto cared about the most. The reason he didn't immediately attack this sudden intruder was precisely because of these three words.
Seeing that Ishikawa Katori didn't answer, but instead his gaze gradually turned cold, Goto frowned: "Whether you are a Shinigami or not, as long as you hand over the two people behind you to me, no matter how much Himura promised to give you, I can give you double!!"
Money, in West 80th District, was the most worthless thing.
Although this sounded a bit strange, it was the true situation in West 80th District.
In an area with no shops, no entertainment, and no material needs, what use was money to them?
To buy food, to buy clothes?
If they had the concept of 'buying,' they wouldn't have gathered in West 80th District.
Goto's words made Himura's face change, and she quickly looked at Ishikawa Katori in front of her.
"Don't…"
Before the words could leave her mouth, Ishikawa Katori, who was in front of her, disappeared. This scene made Himura's face change, and her body instantly tensed up.
Disappeared again!?
Seeing this, Goto's expression also tensed, and his spiritual pressure, comparable to that of a High Level Seated Officer, burst forth.
No matter what choice the opponent made, he would not relax his vigilance. Even if the opponent killed Himura and the other person now, he would not relax his vigilance.
What's more…
He could clearly feel that the opponent's killing intent had already locked onto him!!
Money was important, but compared to money, Ishikawa Katori valued the experience points Himura provided him more.
The surrounding environment became blurry, and a few meters' distance was covered in an instant.
But just as Ishikawa Katori was about to close in and use Hakuda to attack Goto…
A sudden change occurred!!
A strong gust of wind howled, though it was extremely faint, but under the crisis awareness developed over centuries of living on the edge of life and death, Goto reacted immediately, spiritual pressure erupting from the long blade in his hand, forming a tangible glow as he slashed horizontally.
This slash was like a flash of lightning, leaving a sky-blue arc in the night sky.
Hmm?
In the direction of the long blade's slash, Ishikawa Katori's figure materialized out of thin air.
The moment he appeared, Ishikawa Katori's toes touched the ground, and he retreated, the long blade covered in powerful spiritual pressure almost grazing his chest.
After Ishikawa Katori stood still, his eyes shifted slightly, glancing at his chest. He saw that his front lapel had already been cut by a blade mark. If his reaction had been a split second slower, his chest might have already been sliced open by that attack!
This made Ishikawa Katori's expression turn somewhat grim.
Since learning Shunpo, this was the first time he had been seen through in combat, even having his potential location predicted in an instant.
No!
Rather than being seen through, it was more that the opponent's rich combat experience allowed him to react instinctively.
Combat instinct!
This was a reactive awareness that could only be gradually developed by those who lived on the brink of life and death for years, and it was also what Ishikawa Katori lacked the most.
Careless.
Because his first opponent was Daimaru, a villain who had the spiritual pressure of a 'High Level Seated Officer' but whose actual combat strength could only barely compare to a Low Level Seated Officer, Ishikawa Katori had always, deep down, somewhat underestimated the so-called villains of Rukongai, subconsciously believing them to be weaker than Shinigami of the same level.
The brief contact just now, however, made Goto realize that not everyone was like Daimaru, possessing spiritual pressure but not knowing how to use it.
This discovery caused a look of solemnity to flash in Ishikawa Katori's eyes.
After all, strictly speaking…
Whether it was Himura, or Goto, or even Ishikawa Katori himself, their spiritual pressure intensity was at the same level as Daimaru.
Without the advantage in technique, Ishikawa Katori naturally lost the right to underestimate his opponent.
What's more…
When both sides were evenly matched, these villains often held a greater advantage in life-and-death struggles because their sense of death was extremely keen, and their combat experience could be described as extremely rich!
"Die! Kill him for me!!"
Goto's previously suppressed killing intent completely erupted at this moment, but if one observed closely, they would notice a deeply hidden trace of apprehension beneath his murderous eyes.
He dodged it!!
His previous slash was not just a casual swing; he had used the swordsmanship his leader taught him. It seemed simple, but it contained extremely high-level techniques.
Although he didn't expect to end the battle with that one slash, being easily dodged still made his heart sink.
Very strong!
Although the opponent gave him a very naive feeling, like those useless people who first arrived in West 80th District, when he fought, he gave off an extremely dangerous feeling.
At Goto's command, the dozen or so people who had been waiting, poised for action, simultaneously charged towards Ishikawa Katori with murderous intent.
The night instantly became incredibly grim.
The dense killing intent even cast a reddish hue over the moon.
Ishikawa Katori, who had been standing still, suddenly looked up.
Realizing his misconception not only didn't make Ishikawa Katori timid, but instead made his blood run hotter.
What if his combat techniques were strong?
What if his combat experience was rich?
What if his combat instinct couldn't compare?
This, instead, was true combat, just like his first struggle with Daimaru. Ishikawa Katori didn't dislike this kind of battle, which felt like he could die at any moment.
Ishikawa Katori suddenly raised his head, his spiritual pressure fully unleashed. The sky-blue spiritual pressure gradually turned deep blue due to its extreme density, and finally even faintly revealed a strange purple hue.
That face…
At this moment, it was no longer indifferent; instead, it conveyed a peculiar, eerie, and terrifying expression, as if he were smiling yet not smiling.
He didn't dodge, nor did he activate Shunpo. Instead, like a Lunatic, he strode forward to meet the dozen or so people armed with swords and blades.
Crazy?
This action made everyone pause, but then they all let out a sinister chuckle, their sharp weapons simultaneously attacking Ishikawa Katori.
The first to strike at Ishikawa Katori's face was an axe covered in spiritual pressure. The sharp axe blade, enhanced by spiritual pressure, gleamed with a chilling light. If this blow connected, even with spiritual pressure enhancing his defense, Ishikawa Katori's head would undoubtedly be split in two.
And just as the axe blade was about to land on Ishikawa Katori's face, Ishikawa Katori, who was stepping forward, moved.
His foot slid backward, like ice skating, causing his body to twist, letting the axe blade pass close to his chest.
Seeing this, the axe-wielder was not surprised. He didn't expect Ishikawa Katori to stand idly by and let himself be chopped. Almost simultaneously with Ishikawa Katori's dodge, he rubbed his thumb and four fingers on the axe handle, shifting the axe blade from a downward chop to a horizontal slash, passing close to Ishikawa Katori's chest.
At the same time, the attacks from the others arrived simultaneously.
Some aimed at Ishikawa Katori's head, some at his chest, and others horizontally slashed at his waist… Various weapons, attacking from all angles, sealed off all of Ishikawa Katori's evasion space!
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