'Is that the ship...?'
Whoosh—!
"What?"
"Who goes there!"
Akumo deactivated his concealment and propelled himself toward the vessel anchored at the harbor. Abandoning all pretense of stealth, he executed a powerful leap. The Amazones acting as sentries sensed the overwhelming pressure of his approach, but they were far too slow.
THUD—!!!
"Wha... what...?"
"The Elf you captured. Where is she?"
Traveling at a velocity backed by his true intent, there was no way for these guards to track his movements with their eyes.
"....."
'If this is an ambush—'
Slash—!
"Next time, it's your throat."
The sentries stood frozen, unable to utter a single word as they stared at the man before them. Not only had he closed the distance at a speed that defied perception, but in the blink of an eye, shallow lacerations had appeared on their arms. He hadn't even seemed to move a finger.
Step.
"I'm with the Loki Familia, but I have no particular interest in interfering with your ritual combat."
"Y-yes..."
Confronted by Akumo's expressionless delivery and his crushing presence, the women could only obey. They were dazed, their instincts screaming at them to submit.
"She's being held in that cave over there...."
Whoosh—!!!
The moment they pointed, Akumo vanished, kicking off the ground and surging toward the indicated cavern.
Tramp.
"Hmph.... I suppose I didn't need to go this far...."
—Sreeee!!!
"A few dozen Man-eating Flowers?"
As Akumo stood before the cave entrance, dozens of tentacles erupted from the earth while the flower-monsters revealed their grotesque forms.
"If you're here to disrupt the battle, turn back now!"
"I told you, I have no interest in interfering with your little fight...."
"Then leave—"
Squelch—!
"But then again, you shouldn't have caused such a mess."
"W-what...?"
Squelch—!
"Unleashing these monsters and..."
"W-wait a second!"
Squelch—!
"Plotting your schemes."
Squelch—!
"Did you really think..."
Squelch—!
"I wouldn't notice?"
Squelch—!
The Amazon guard couldn't believe the carnage unfolding before her eyes. These Man-eating Flowers were threats that even high-ranking executives remained wary of. Normally, only someone like Argana or Bache, who had reached Level 6, could slaughter them with such ease...
"In less than ten seconds...."
Clang—!
"Are you giving up?"
Step.
Akumo approached the Amazon who had dropped her weapon and placed the hilt back into her hand.
"If you've drawn your blade, then fight."
"....."
"Did you lack even that much resolve?"
"...!"
Swish—!!!
Stung by his rebuke, the Amazon gripped her sword tightly and swung with everything she had at the man before her.
Thud—!
"Not bad."
As she collapsed, she felt no shame. Soon enough—not even ten minutes from now—her current state would be the future for every Amazon inside that cave.
'If I could at least signal my location...!'
"Ugh...."
Lefiya was in a dire predicament. Numerous Amazon adventurers were stationed right in front of her. If she even attempted to begin a chant, they would immediately slit her throat to silence her forever.
'But still, in a moment like this....'
"[A single ray of light to be released, a bowstave crafted from the sacred tree]!!"
'You're only a true adventurer if you're willing to do something foolish!'
Using magic was a suicidal act, but her target was a minute crevice in the ceiling. Her objective was to let the brilliant light of her magic leak through that gap to alert her comrades to her position.
"[Thou art the master archer.]!!!!!"
Grip—!
"Lu... Mune!!!"
'Damn it, I'm too late—'
Before Lefiya could complete her chant, one of the Amazon women seized her by the collar and brandished a dagger. Just as the sharp edge was about to sink into her neck—
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!
"So you were all gathered here?"
Step. Step.
"!?"
'Mr. Akumo...? Why are you here...'
Slash—!
"I've cut your bindings. Go and notify the others that you're safe."
"Y-yes!"
Akumo immediately ordered Lefiya to escape the cave.
Whiz—!!!!!!!!
"Kuga (Kill)!!!!!!!!"
""""Uoooohh!!!!!!!!!""""
The Amazones, not about to let their prize go, charged simultaneously at Akumo and Lefiya. However...
CRACK—!!!
THWACK—!!!
The first two women to charge were struck by Akumo's fists and sent hurtling into the stone walls.
CRASH—!!!
BANG—!!!
THUD—!!!
The second wave of three had their trajectories forcefully diverted by Akumo's hands. He grabbed one by the ankle and used her as a flail to clear the others away.
Snap—!!!
Slash—!!!
Koom—!!!!
The third group found their weapons neutralized, severed cleanly by Balmung. One was headbutted, another had her arm incised to the point of incapacitation, and the third was knocked unconscious by the flat of his blade.
"W-wow....."
'He hasn't taken a single hit... He's taking them all down with one strike...!'
As Lefiya stood mesmerized by Akumo's combat efficiency, he told her to hurry, his absolute spatial awareness tracking the remaining enemies to ensure none targeted her.
"What are you doing? Move. There are still about twenty left...."
Dashing—!!!!
"Are you running away?"
Chilling terror—!!
Finding the Amazones attempting to flee, Akumo couldn't hide his disappointment. A surge of killing intent radiated from him, heavy and ancient.
"You wretches, who slit the throats of incapacitated women without mercy.... do you lack even the courage to face someone stronger than yourselves?"
The Amazones froze in their tracks.
"And to think, I've only been using non-lethal force."
"Are you truly members of the Amazon race? Or am I dealing with coddled little girls?"
Gritting teeth—!
"Are you frustrated by the truth?"
Step—!
"Then fight right now, you hags!!!!!!"
"""""!!!!!!!!""""""
Stung by his roar, their warrior instincts were ignited. Every Amazon lunged at him with weapons, fists, and lethal intent.
BANG—!!
BOOM—!!
SLASH—!!
THUD THUD THUD—!!!!!!!!
Heads were grabbed and slammed into the ground by the hands of an overwhelming power. Bodies folded under his punches; waists were broken by his kicks. Yet, despite the one-sided subjugation, a few began to smile. Because the face of the man who was answering their 'sincerity' with his own did not view this bloody struggle negatively.
'It's been a while since I've had a brawl like this~'
"I spend too much time on typical adventures, but I do enjoy a blood-soaked fight like this occasionally!!!"
K-BOOM—!!!!!!!!
"Whew...."
'Thirty-five of them, plus the Man-eating Flowers. All neutralized....'
Whoosh—!!!
The supreme warrior then moved toward the ship visible from the cave entrance.
CRASH—!!!!
"Gah...!?"
On the ship, Argana and Tione were locked in a death match. Both were escalating their momentum as they bled, their grips tightening with every wound received.
"Ku... ha... hahahahat!!!!"
"What the hell is so funny!!"
"We're both getting stronger!!! Whether I kill you or you kill me! My blood and your flesh will mix, and we'll live on together!!!!"
"Shut up...!!"
Argana was laughing like a maniac, genuinely overjoyed as she faced Tione. Furious at the sight and reminded of the horrific customs of Telskyura, Tione gritted her teeth and renewed her assault with even greater violence.
BANG—!!!!
WHACK—!!!!!
THUD—!!!!!!
"You, at least...!!!!"
'I will kill you myself!'
KABOOM—!!!!!!!
"....?"
'What...!!'
"Where are you looking!!!"
Whoosh—!
But suddenly, Argana's eyes were fixed on a single point.
When Tione turned to follow her gaze, she saw Akumo standing on the shore, silently observing them.
"....Akumo?"
'Why is he here....'
Blink. Blink.
"....He's gone...."
'A... hallucination...?'
Tione thought it impossible and rubbed her eyes, but when she blinked again, Akumo had indeed vanished from the shore.
"Tione, what's taking you so long?"
"!?"
'He was definitely on the beach just a second ago...!'
"....I'm going to kill her regardless...!!"
"You can kill her or not, do whatever you like..."
Whoosh—!
"But why don't you do it while you're actually in your right mind?"
In an instant, Akumo's voice whispered into their ears. Neither his figure nor his presence had been visible until he spoke, but now they could feel it with visceral intensity.
The feeling of him watching them.
"Don't interfere in our fight!!"
"I'm not interfering."
Akumo spoke with an utterly detached, flat tone.
"But let's get one thing straight."
"Do you really want to die? Or do you want to kill?"
At those words, Tione's movements froze.
"I...."
'Do I want to kill...?'
"I just.... hate these customs...."
"I wanted to protect my daily life... with Tiona... and the Loki Familia...."
Hearing her answer to his question, a faint smile traced Akumo's lips.
"Did you hear that? Finn."
"Yes, loud and clear."
"Captain!?"
"What are you doing? Let's go protect it. Together with me."
"..."
The murderous intent born from the struggle evaporated from Tione the moment she saw her Captain's smile. Then, it clicked.
Her Familia could protect itself, even without her sacrificing everything. What she truly desired wasn't to take a life, but to preserve what she loved.
"Wait... Tione!!! Where do you think you're going!"
"You can have the victory, Argana."
"What...?"
"I don't care who wins this death match anymore!"
".....Krrruuughh!!!!!"
'You dare...! You dare defile our ritual combat...!!!'
Infuriated by Tione's nonchalant dismissal, Argana lunged at her. But she immediately felt it.
Akumo had been standing behind her the entire time.
'I... didn't sense his presence....'
"Are you a brawler, or a warrior?"
"....."
"A true warrior understands their opponent's emotions through the exchange of blows."
"Nothing is more important than the fight...!!"
"And is that why you abducted a child with no will to fight?"
"Ugh..."
"From that moment on, you were nothing more than a fool intoxicated by blood."
Argana was speechless.
She loved to fight. That was why she had killed and grown stronger in Telskyura. But that impulse had grown uncontrollably, eventually targeting those outside the tradition.
That wasn't the kind of fight she loved anymore. It was just empty entertainment.
Clench!
"I'll be your opponent. Fix your stance."
"....."
'My... opponent....'
Tight grip!
She could feel it.
The man before her was strong. She might not be able to win.
Thump—!
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!
Thump—!
WHAM—!!!!!!!!!
Was that why her heart was racing so fast?
Whether it was because of the exhilaration she hadn't felt in ages or something deeper in her instincts, she didn't know yet.