If it were outside the game, Natsunishi would know that striking someone's spine or vitals haphazardly could kill them.
But this was a game.
Lethal takedowns and non-lethal takedowns were as clearly distinct as the choice between clicking the "Left Mouse Button" or pressing the "F" key when behind an enemy.
He just had to follow the prompt lines and zones surfaced by the system. It was nothing more than choosing a red prompt or a blue prompt—at least, that's how it was for Natsunishi.
After his offhand remark, Natsunishi didn't stop. Instead, he transformed his body into a swift wind, flowing between several civilians.
Benefiting from the auxiliary vision and human body marker lines enhanced by his in-game Level 2 Medicine and Level 2 Anatomy skills, Natsunishi even had the leisure to choose different non-lethal takedown methods.
In the eyes of Dojima and the demon, Natsunishi's movements at this moment were incredibly precise and efficient beyond belief.
Against a civilian clutching a stone, a light hand-chop to the side of the neck sent them limp instantly. Against an attacker wielding a wooden club, he dodged a dull swing, swept their legs to ground them, and gave a light press to the back of their neck. Or, quite simply, a well-timed palm-heel strike to the chin sent a head reeling back into immediate unconsciousness.
Natsunishi's methods for dealing with these manipulated victims used no sword techniques or brute force whatsoever. It was pure precision strikes to the human body and joint control, combined with a little bit of assistance from the system skills "Medicine," "Anatomy," and "Insight."
The entire process took no more than three or four breaths, moving so fast that Itsuoki didn't even have time to control them.
"Bastard! You dare—ghuh..."
Itsuoki was both shocked and enraged. How could this newly arrived swordsman be so disregardful of the rules? He had completely ignored the safety of the hostages and acted directly. Wasn't he afraid that he would react and kill them instantly? Or was it that this kid didn't care about these people's lives at all?
He didn't even glance away when those people fell and hit their heads on the machinery.
The demon stared at Natsunishi, wanting to see a trace of weakness or hesitation on his face. However, all it saw was a nearly cold indifference, and an almost unmasked... excitement?
What was going on?!
This style of action—so calm it was chilling, so efficient it ignored others...
"Sir Swordsman," Itsuoki couldn't help but chuckle lowly, "You and I are actually the same type of existence."
Natsunishi: ?
"Guh-hahaha! We are both the kind of beings who exist to satisfy our own desires, longing to destroy everything before our eyes."
"I can tell that you don't care at all whether those people live or die."
"I can also tell that, compared to saving them, you are far more keen on slaying me... or rather, you simply crave the process of 'slaying' itself."
Natsunishi immediately argued, "Hold on, buddy. Your character model is completely different from mine."
A humanoid monster covered in tumors. A top-tier player model that could rank among the best in the entire Far East. Could they be the same?
"Rather than the life or death of others, you are more intoxicated by the pleasure of the kill, aren't you?"
Uh... that's true. After all, saving minor NPC extras is just something I do in passing, usually to unlock a perfect achievement.
"When you go to an unfamiliar place, you always think about smashing and hacking various objects to pieces, don't you?"
Hmm... that's not wrong either. After all, rummaging through chests and smashing pots to find treasure is basic player etiquette in an RPG.
"Even if they are humans, as long as they are your enemies, you will swing your blade without hesitation, right?"
Ah, well... when an enemy unit's name is red and their health bar is visible, who cares what race they are!
The demon had already seen the answer in Natsunishi's eyes. The anger on its face gradually dissipated, replaced by a twisted excitement, as if it had found a "kindred spirit."
"As I thought, you are just a murderer draped in human skin."
"It's just that I have already begun to release my desires at will, while you are still bound by those so-called morals and standards."
It used a magnetic voice to beguile Natsunishi: "What a waste, Sir Swordsman."
"You are different from those mediocre humans. Your eyes only hold the joy of battle and slaying. We are fundamentally the same!"
"Become a demon."
"I am willing to introduce you to those lords... with your aptitude, mastering a Blood Demon Art would be child's play!"
"You would obtain power far more direct and instinctual than Breathing Styles! Perhaps... perhaps you might even surpass me and join the ranks of the 'Twelve Demon Moons'!"
"An eternal body will give you endless time to pursue the ultimate combat techniques and joy. As long as you are willing and able, whether you slay humans or demons, no one will be able to set limits or condemn you."
On the side, Dojima looked at the silent Natsunishi with a bit of worry.
The Successor... surely he won't really be swayed?
The demon also closely observed Natsunishi's expression, trying to peer through the calm, unruffled mask for an answer.
However, Natsunishi merely muttered to himself, "This cutscene... is so short?"
Seeing that the opponent intended to give a long speech before the fight, Natsunishi had naturally chosen to skip. As a result, the animation ended after only a few seconds of acceleration.
Itsuoki: "..."
What did this kid mean? Had he misjudged him? He couldn't possibly be spacing out at a time like this, could he?
"Sir Swordsman, chances to obtain eternal life... don't come often."
Natsunishi ignored him. He returned the "Third Generation Kang-shi" to its scabbard and instead drew the Nichirin Sword "Duan Feng" hanging from the other side of his waist.
"I told you that slashing is useless against me, Sir Swordsman."
Several more tumors fell from its body, transforming into a larger circle of tumor-demon clones.
Itsuoki said with a hint of regret, "Since you've refused my kindness, then... die here."
"Slashing is ineffective?"
Natsunishi glanced at the Nichirin Sword in his hand, then adjusted the angle, letting the curved edge sit flush against his forearm. Rather than a katar, it looked more like an extended guard for a gauntlet.
He lowered his center of gravity slightly, striking a completely different starting stance.
While he could try striking with the flat of the Nichirin Sword or hitting with the back of the blade, he had always been a man who cherished his swords and didn't want his beloved blades to break. He couldn't bear to see his "Cut-Emperor," "Mellan-Choly," and that "Something" sword break...
Maybe one day he'd ask the blacksmith if they ever produced whip-swords or purely blunt Nichirin weapons.
But for now...
The rhythm of his Breathing Style became deeper and more powerful.
The concepts of Thunder, Water, and Wind receded like a tide, replaced by a heavier, more solid sense of majesty. It was as if Natsunishi had become one with the earth beneath his feet.
"In that case... I won't use 'slashes'."
Asauchi is ineffective? Then of course I'll release my true ability!
"Bankai: The Unseen Blade is the Deadliest—Shadow Style Blade!"
Stone Breathing.
Holding Duan Feng, he spoke nonsensically.
In the next second, the ground tiles beneath his feet cracked! He lunged toward the demon like a cannonball fired from a gun.
It wasn't any known Stone Breathing form. It was Natsunishi using his own skill, experience, and application of force logic.
It was a fist.
An iron fist carrying invisible energy, striking its head as hard as a collapsing mountain.
Clang-vroom—
A dull, heavy roar exploded, like a giant bell being struck by a massive hammer!
The demon's entire head instantly deformed, and it was sent tumbling backward, dragging its body along. Its viscous torso even rippled violently around the point of impact, spraying circles of slime.
What happened? Itsuoki briefly lost his memory for a second. But he recovered immediately.
A fist! This swordsman actually abandoned his Nichirin Sword and attacked him with his fists?!
The demon struggled to stabilize its body and launch a counterattack. But Natsunishi clearly wouldn't let it catch its breath. More rapid, heavier fists followed like a rainstorm.
Slashing was ineffective. But pure impact and penetration could not be resolved through "division."
Penetrating the body! Infused into the fist!
"Become a demon? Wouldn't that be a direct speedrun to the 'Bad End' route?"
He still wanted to clear the main quest through the normal process.
Punches, elbows, knees, slams... those small clones, barely knee-high, exploded one after another, turning into pools of slowly writhing, viscous matter trying to reform.
"Besides, if I become a demon, I won't be able to bask in the sun, right?"
Farming-sim players and slice-of-life players would practically cry themselves to death.
He turned his body, twisted his waist, and his right arm snapped out like a whip. A precise hook-punch slammed into the opponent's temple.
"Most importantly!"
Natsunishi's voice remained clear amidst the continuous sounds of impact.
"I am a staunch 'Human Federation' faction player, the type who instantly picks 'Human Supremacy' for both ethics and ideology!"
"How could I ever change classes to—an eccentric man-eater like you?"
Amidst the fierce assault, the demon's pupils trembled violently. Its consciousness was fading... If it didn't do something soon, it was certain it would be beaten into unconsciousness or a dangerous state of total loss of resistance by the opponent.
"Damned swordsman! Ghuh—I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Itsuoki roared, no longer splitting into small clones. Instead, he concentrated most of his power to grow an exceptionally large tumor clone.
"You won't be able to smash this one!!"
It stood before Natsunishi like a shield. Meanwhile, its main body, which had shrunk significantly, quietly deformed, squeezing toward the workshop door like slime.
This won't do. After talking big, I have to retreat immediately! it thought.
"Thinking of leaving?"
Natsunishi's "Insight" skill wasn't just for show.
His feet pressed into the earth, power rising from the ground; his waist and hips twisted like a drawn bow, and his whole being became like a tensed arrow released. He slammed his body into the center of that giant shield clone!
It was a fierce and violent "Iron Mountain Lean"!
An immense force erupted suddenly, and the meat-shield clone was forcibly smashed into an explosion of juice.
What the hell is this?! Itsuoki was completely stunned. He desperately increased his speed in squeezing through the cracks.
Once I survive, I will definitely find a chance for revenge! Accursed swordsman!
However, a hand wrapped in invisible airflow was faster than him!
Natsunishi's five fingers hooked like claws, precisely sinking into the viscous main body that was trying to slip away. It was a grappling technique! His fingertips tore open its skin, finally hooking into the gaps between muscle and bone that had not yet fully softened.
"Get back here!"
With a violent pull, Itsuoki was forcibly dragged back from the shadows. His face was filled with terror.
"No, you can't kill me! I'm not afraid of your slashes!"
Natsunishi's eyes turned cold as his elbow drove forward with his body.
MAN!
A plain, unadorned Heart-Piercing Elbow—condensing his entire body's strength and the clever force of multiple Breathing Styles—slammed squarely into the center of the demon's torso!
Heavy. Penetrating. Explosive. Flowing.
Holy s—
The demon's main body arched like a shrimp, its eyeballs nearly popping out of its face. Clutching its body, it collapsed completely onto the ground, its muscles and face twitching incessantly. It couldn't even activate its Blood Demon Art anymore.
No... Swordsman, where is your Nichirin Sword? Where is your dignity as a swordsman?!
"D-Dammit..." the demon gasped with difficulty.
"Even if you win... so what... my clones elsewhere... will immediately kill those hostages! You can't save everyone! Guh-haha..."
It waited to see anger or anxiety on Natsunishi's face. However, it was destined to be disappointed.