"You'll show me huh?"
The Noble Squire Noritsugu smiled.
Around us, the murmurs grew. More Martial Artists had woken up and arrived at the clearing now. Squires and Apprentices stood at the edges of the light. No one intervened. No one stepped forward.
They were just watching.
Good.
That was exactly what he wanted.
"You attacked first," he said calmly, dusting his sleeve. "Everyone saw it."
Fucking liar.
I didn't correct him.
My breathing was slow. Measured.
Despite the rage stirring within me.
"This isn't a war anymore fool," he continued. "This is a personal dispute."
His eyes gleamed. "And now… I'm allowed to kill you."
So that's it.
State-sanctioned wars banned death. The worst thing that could happen were deadly injuries and even those were rare and heavily penalized.
This fucker just wanted justification... and he had it now.
He reached for his saber.
Then paused.
THUD.
A few brows rose when he planted it into the ground instead.
Metal sank deep into sand and stone.
"I won't even use it," he said lightly. "I've seen you fight today you loser." His gaze swept over me, dismissive. Arrogant. "Your attacks are much like an insects."
He raised his hands.
They were flat. Fingers straight. Palms angled slightly inward—like blades.
Martial intent sharpened.
The air around his arms shifted.
"Shit" someone muttered. "He's dead."
He disappeared like a blur.
Circling around me on the ground and on the air, his arms swung.
The first slash came out of nowhere—an invisible blade.
The air screamed as more passed, carving a shallow line across my shoulder. Blood sprayed. Thankfully, these small cuts barely hurt.
I twisted away as another slash came from the opposite angle. Then another. Then two more.
I couldn't see him properly, he was quick enough that all I could see were his afterimages.
Every swing of his hands released compressed air, sharp enough to cut flesh, fast enough to punish hesitation. They came in arcs, in feints, in layered patterns meant to herd me where he wanted.
I sprinted towards him, but it was futile. For the first time I couldn't match my opponent's speed.
I dodged. Rolled. I tried predicting where he would strike. Sadly I couldn't. I lacked experience.
Sand exploded around my feet as invisible blades struck.
I tried to block one, however upon impact, the air seemed to wrap around my arms as the air cut straight into my face.
Bad idea.
My forearm and my cheeks screamed as blood burst from a fresh gash, skin split cleanly.
I staggered back.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"See?" Noble Squire Noritsugu said conversationally. "You're so fucking weak, you can't even touch me!."
He slashed again.
I ducked, but still, another cut opened along my ribs. Warm blood soaked my side.
My vision narrowed.
Focus.
He kept talking as he fought.
"My Martial Path is Evasive Blades," he said. "How are you liking my wind blades? It's based on the simplest form of combat from the Saber School." He smiled. "However, I alone was smart enough to make it invisible and usable at a distance. How is it? How is my Illusion Saber Art?."
Fucker liked talking about himself... but he wasn't wrong. He was powerful.
My breathing was heavier now. My steps slower. Cuts covered my arms, shoulders, torso. None fatal yet the bleeding was too much.
His fighting style reminded me a lot of Mikan's, except he was much more refined, much faster, much cleaner, and the projectiles were invisible.
How did Ringo counter it?
I planted my feet and raised my arms.
The next air blade slammed into me like a battering ram.
I flew back, skidding across sand, coughing blood.
So much for that.
Noble Squire Noritsugu shook his head. "You really thought you could block that?" He clicked his tongue. "Pathetic."
He sped up.
Slashes layered over slashes. The air itself felt hostile, cutting from every direction. I dodged left, right, forward, backward. It felt like walking in the sea and trying to dodge every wave.
"What's the issue? I thought you'd show us your Martial Path?" He laughed.
I refuse to give up.
My legs burned.
My lungs screamed.
Blood dripped into my eyes.
Still, I stared at him.
Always at him.
The crowd shifted.
Some faces looked especially uncomfortable now.
Others looked amused.
A few—pitying.
"Poor kid," someone whispered.
"He should just beg for mercy at this point."
"Noble words are law... but this peasant doesn't need to die, right?"
Noble Squire Noritsugu noticed.
His attacks slowed.
Toying now.
"You see?" he said loudly. "This is what happens when peasants forget their place." He gestured at me. "Remember, He attacked me, Yamaguchi Noritsugu. I'm merely defending myself."
A few nods.
I swayed.
Still standing.
Still watching.
He frowned slightly.
"...Get that look off of your eyes, you peasant scum."
Just a little more.
He finally lunged at me and swung his arm.
This one was different, way thicker, stronger and faster.
I let it hit.
The blade tore across my chest, pain exploding outward, knocking the breath from my lungs. I staggered but and collapsed on all fours.
Fuck, it's even stronger up close.
The Noble Squire's smile widened.
"You think there was a chance at close range?," he said.
He kicked me from the side. "Fool!"
finally.
Blood dripped from my chin as I looked at him.
"You're an evasion specialist, right?" I muttered weakly.
The crowd went quiet.
Noble Squire Noritsugu tilted his head. "Thank you for stating the obvious, peasant."
I wiped blood from my mouth.
"Do you know what happens if you let your opponent catch you?," I said hoarsely.
He froze as he felt it, something wrapped around his leg.
My tail.
I give him a bloody, toothy grin. "You ready?"