"Clang—!"
The crisp sound of metal colliding echoed through the third-floor corridor.
The sparks ignited by the friction between the sharp blade and the scythe's handle shone exceptionally bright in this night, illuminated only by the moonlight from outside.
Because he was concentrating his entire spirit, Leo could clearly see that his long sword had carved an incredibly distinct notch into the Guard Zombie's scythe handle—a feeling that one more slash could snap it in two.
—It's feasible!
Gathering all his strength once more, he brought his hands down forcefully, slashing towards the Guard Zombie. This time, he aimed for the exact same spot as the first attack, attempting to destroy the Guard Zombie's weapon first.
However, while his plan was good, the Guard Zombie's reaction was faster.
Although the Guard Zombie no longer possessed rationality, her combat instincts responded instantly.
Relying on a physique far surpassing Leo's, she pulled the scythe down faster, causing the scythe's blade to slash towards Leo's neck.
If he let her continue the slash, Leo would lose his head again!
Helpless, Leo could only choose to defend. The long sword that was originally slashing towards the scythe handle followed the momentum to parry upwards to the left, barely intercepting this blow from the Guard Zombie.
—She really is troublesome!
Realizing that he was about to fall into a situation where his momentum would decline and exhaust, Leo abandoned the arrogant idea of a no-damage clear.
Right now, he could only trade injury for injury!
Thinking this, he used the recoil from the collision with the scythe blade to desperately slash horizontally towards the Guard Zombie's eyes.
At the same time, the Guard Zombie's slash came down again, but because it had been obstructed by the long sword earlier, the direction of the slash shifted from Leo's neck to his left arm.
The next moment, both sides achieved results!
Leo's left arm was sliced open by the sharp scythe, revealing the white bone within. After sputtering out, fresh blood flowed down his arm.
The Guard Zombie didn't fare well either. Leo's long sword slashed her eyes blind—it was only because she instinctively tilted her head back that her entire head wasn't sliced open by Leo's long sword.
Simultaneously, the purple thunder took the opportunity to wreak havoc on her head, causing her various senses to be greatly affected.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"..."
The Guard Zombie, whose vision had plunged into darkness, could now only frantically wave her scythe at everything around her, carving one slash mark after another into the walls of the third-floor corridor.
But unfortunately, she didn't touch Leo even once.
"Phew..."
Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air tainted with the scent of blood, Leo couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
To be honest, if even this couldn't defeat the Guard Zombie, then he would really have to consider leveling up the tachi.
Of course... he still had to level it up!
Feeling the blood constantly draining from his left arm, he understood that the gap between him and the Guard Zombie was still too large.
It could only be said that he was lucky this time, seizing the opportunity to cripple the opponent's senses.
But if he had to do it again, he might not necessarily be able to achieve it.
Covering the slashed wound on his left arm with his right hand, he used [Honkai energy] to staunch the bleeding.
However, 5 points of [Honkai energy] was still too little. After stopping the bleeding, he realized he only had the opportunity for one more slash infused with thunder.
And after waiting for the Guard Zombie to wave blindly for a good while, he finally found his chance.
Focusing his mind and breath, he tried to retrieve the feeling he had when he slashed at the Homu Sword Sage earlier.
The only pity was that he had only applied his own strength in the latter half of that strike; the first half was still controlled by MEI. Otherwise, he believed he could definitely have unleashed this slash faster.
However—
"Swish!"
Seizing the opening, the long sword infused with purple thunder was unsheathed once more.
But perhaps facing a life-or-death crisis, or perhaps Leo was still a bit too slow, the Guard Zombie actually reacted. Before the long sword could slash her neck, she used the scythe handle to block in front of herself again.
Only—
"Truly a treasured sword!"
Even though Leo's strength had weakened because he was using only one hand, because the spot he slashed was exactly the notch carved earlier, he actually sliced right through. Like cutting tofu, the blade followed the momentum and slashed onto the Guard Zombie's neck.
The next moment, a head exquisite as a doll's flew up, yet not a single drop of blood sprayed out.
[Imaginary Energy +77!]
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed before time seemed to flow again from a frozen state.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Leaning against the wall and gasping for air, Leo looked in disbelief at the headless Lord Guard Zombie, who was still frozen in place.
—I probably won't forget you for a lifetime, Lord Guard Zombie!
"Are you alright?"
Seeing the battle end, Raiden Mei hurriedly emerged from the long sword.
At this moment, she was merely a spirit body; she could touch Leo and pick up some small special items.
—But that was all!
After all, she was a deceased spirit and naturally could not participate in combat.
"Do I look like I'm alright?"
Smiling weakly at Raiden Mei, Leo showed her his immobile left arm.
"Uh..."
Not expecting Leo to take the opportunity to play the victim, Raiden Mei couldn't help but twitch her lips and say, "Clearly I said it was up to you earlier, but you were the one unwilling to do it."
After speaking, she crossed her arms and slightly averted her gaze from the playful look Leo cast her way.
However... since he still has the energy to joke with me, presumably the problem isn't big.
Seeing this, she felt completely relieved about Leo.
"Let me see what the loot is."
Seeing Raiden Mei ignoring him, the rested Leo walked towards the Guard Zombie's remains.
Only now did he discover that the Guard Zombie's body and the head not far away were turning into ash bit by bit.
—No Defeat CG? Negative review!
Of course, having said that, it was hard for him to have any thoughts about a Dullahan... that would be a bit too grotesque!
As the Guard Zombie's body completely dissipated, he saw a badge on the ground—
[Badge: Fast]
[Description: The crystallized wish of a track-and-field girl.]
[Effect: Slight increase in movement speed.]
[—Faster, run faster! I must run out of this hellhole!]
"So it was just fast movement speed?"
After reading the badge's function, Leo's expression was somewhat complex.
Originally, he thought the Guard Zombie had high overall Agility, but now it seemed it was just fast movement speed.
But thinking about it carefully, if the opponent's attack speed had been as ridiculous as her movement speed, he might not have been qualified to stand on the same stage as her at all.
—It makes sense!
Coming back to his senses, he pinned the badge onto the phantom of the yellow rabbit doll suit behind him, and he could clearly feel his movement speed improve.
Just as well, with only one arm remaining, he had no intention of continuing to fight. He just wanted to use this life to go down to the second floor and check the situation.
As for using [Reset]?
He now had no desire to fight Lord Guard Zombie again!
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