There were two of them: the Onmyoji woman holding Konoe in her arms, and a silver-haired boy who looked to be about the same age as Negi and me. Normally, one would focus their guard on the woman. Indeed, Negi and Kagurazaka were currently fixing her with sharp, piercing glares—no doubt fueled by the fact that she was the one physically holding Konoe captive.
But I was different. My psychokinetic senses—my Nendoryoku—were screaming at me, sounding a deafening alarm directed solely at that silver-haired boy. He's bad news. He's dangerous. It had been a long time since I'd felt a sense of dread this potent. If I had to compare it to anything, it was on the same level as the chill I felt whenever the Einst appeared.
"...Negi, Kagurazaka. Can I leave the Onmyoji woman to you?"
"Eh? Yeah, of course. That was the plan, we have to save Konoka-san... but Axel-kun, what about you?"
Negi nodded, though he turned a bewildered look toward me. Beside him, Kagurazaka's expression mirrored his confusion.
"I'm taking the silver-haired one," I said flatly. "Listen to me—no matter what happens, do not lay a finger on him. Stay away."
"Wait, why? Is he really that strong?" Kagurazaka interjected.
"Yeah. If I had to guess... he might be as powerful as Evangeline when she's actually trying."
"...Are you serious?"
Kagurazaka's voice hitched in disbelief, and Negi looked equally stunned. It was a weight they understood; both of them had sparred with Eva. They had seen her release a fraction of her true power, and that memory alone was enough to make my warning sink in.
"Unfortunately, I am. If you jump in recklessly, he might turn his sights on you too. Leave him to me and focus on getting Konoe back. As for Sakurazaki... well, if you get a chance to speak, tell her the same. Someone with her level of skill should be able to see how dangerous he is anyway."
"U-Understood."
"Axel... please, don't get hurt," Negi added softly.
"Yeah. I'll try my best."
Even as I spoke, I never let my eyes drift from the silver-haired youth. The psychokinesis within me was still shouting, demanding my full attention.
"Hmph!"
In an instant, I channeled mana into my legs. I closed the distance with Shundo, aiming a fist directly at his torso—or more accurately, his heart. The Onmyoji woman didn't even react. The boy didn't seem to, either. I would end this in one shot, putting everything I had into a blow that would shatter his chest!
Between my Level 9 Infight skill and my superhuman physical stats, this was the strongest strike I could currently muster. My fist lunged toward his heart, and then—
"Tch!"
Just before my knuckles connected with his left breast, a primal chill raced down my spine. I forcibly yanked my fist back, aborting the strike to leap away and put distance between us.
"Heh... so you noticed. You're quite good. Your transition in and out of Shundo is remarkably smooth."
The boy spoke with a flat, expressionless voice, yet there was a hint of genuine admiration in his tone.
As I listened, cold sweat began to bead on my back. Hovering right over the boy's left breast—directly over his heart—was a black, metallic, cone-shaped object that had materialized out of thin air. If I had followed through with that punch, my hand would have been skewered right through.
But the truly terrifying part was the speed of the magic. Even for chantless casting, there is usually a slight delay before a spell manifests. At least, that's how it is for me. This boy, however, had used magic with absolutely zero time loss.
"...I didn't expect to run into someone of your caliber in a place like this," I muttered.
"Heh. To be honest, I didn't think I'd meet a practitioner of your level in these lands either," he replied.
We both wore faint, superficial smiles, circling one another while searching for an opening.
"W-What is this? This newcomer is an incredible fighter... and that brat, too..."
I could hear the Onmyoji woman muttering in the background, but I couldn't afford to care. The person in front of me was a master who could take my life the second I looked away. I didn't have the luxury of being distracted.
The question was: how far could I go against him without using my "otherworld" skills, like Slime, the Spatial Warehouse, or my Psychokinesis? My contract with Konoemon stipulated I only use the techniques of this world, but I wasn't about to die for a contract. If my life was on the line, I'd break the rules in a heartbeat. But first...
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