Chapter 139: A Single Slash of Setsuna
Rovel's audacious, borderline-improper remark made Mobius's movements stutter to a halt.
The expression on her face was a fascinating, rapid-fire cascade of emotions. Initial shock gave way to a chilling blankness, which then abruptly ignited into a furious, crimson blush of shame and indignation.
The next thing he knew, the world was a blur of motion. With a grunt, Rovel found himself unceremoniously hurled from the laboratory, landing in a heap on the corridor floor.
The outcome wasn't exactly ideal, but as he lay there, a wry thought surfaced. At least he'd saved his 'little brother,' hadn't he? A grim victory, but a victory still.
A moment later, the laboratory door slid open. A flicker of hope sparked in Rovel as he looked up, thinking Klein might have come to help him. But it was not to be. Mobius's assistant simply stood in the doorway, her face a mask of professional indifference. Without a word, she silently hung a small plaque on the door before turning and retreating back inside.
She seemed to have made her decision, not sparing Rovel a single glance.
Pushing himself up, Rovel squinted at the sign. A few words were clearly inscribed upon it. To ensure he couldn't possibly misunderstand, they had even been written in the script of the Current Era.
'Rovel and dogs are not allowed inside.'
Well then. It looked like he wouldn't be getting back in there until the good doctor's temper had cooled.
Rovel climbed to his feet, brushing off non-existent dust from his clothes in a practiced gesture of preserving his dignity. He sighed, pondering his next destination. Hua? Brother Kalpas? Or perhaps Sakura?
After a brief moment of deliberation, he settled on Sakura. He was curious to see how the reunion between her and Higokumaru was progressing.
Focusing his senses, Rovel reached out through his connection to Jizo Mitama, feeling for the familiar, mischievous presence. He soon located them. Beneath the gentle cascade of petals from a cherry blossom tree, the two were chatting happily.
"Brother-in-law, you're here!" Higokumaru chirped, zipping over to Rovel's side and affectionately rubbing her tiny form against his cheek.
The title hung in the air, and a subtle twitch disturbed the serene line of Sakura's brow. She was Rin's older sister; hearing Higokumaru use that term for Rovel felt… peculiar.
"Do you have any idea you almost got me killed?" Rovel grumbled playfully, gently scooping Higokumaru out of the air and tickling her little belly.
"Ha… Hahaha… Brother-in-law, you didn't tell me either… Hahaha…" Higokumaru squirmed, breathless with laughter.
"…True," Rovel conceded with a grin. "But I'm still going to tickle you!" He continued to playfully torment the little spirit until she was begging for mercy.
"Thank you, Rovel."
Once the laughter subsided, Sakura's soft voice cut through the air. Her expression was one of deep gratitude. Having learned from Higokumaru what had transpired within the Sakura-Colored Samsara, she was deeply moved by his actions.
"No need for thanks," Rovel waved it off, trying to appear nonchalant. "Didn't you save my life, too?"
'It's not like I went in there only to help Sakura,' he thought to himself. He had also made a promise to Kallen to look after her.
"No, it is different," Sakura insisted, her gaze serious. "I only sent you for treatment. You saved Rin and brought her out of that unending nightmare. To me, the weight of those two deeds cannot be compared."
She bowed her head slightly. "If you ever need anything, so long as it does not violate my principles, I will do my best to grant it."
Rovel's eyes lit up. Seeing his chance, he didn't hold back. "…In that case, can you teach me your sword technique? I heard you have a move that freezes space itself. I want to learn that one!"
"A sword technique that freezes space…" A complex, unreadable look flickered in Sakura's eyes. That was her greatest trump card, a technique so swift that even an unprepared Kevin could not defend against it.
"Yeah! Is it okay?" Rovel pressed, his tone pleading.
"It is possible…" Sakura began, her voice hesitant. "But I am sorry. That move only reaches its maximum potential when paired with the blade, Frozen Naraka. Even if you learn the technique, the results may be… disappointing."
She reminded him of a crucial fact. The Frozen Naraka she held was merely a construct of data; the real blade had long since been lost to the fifty-thousand-year river of history.
"It's fine, as long as I can learn it," Rovel said, his confidence unshaken. He didn't mind at all.
'Frozen Naraka is an ice-attribute Soulium tachi,' he mused. 'There are ways around that.'
First, he could gather the necessary materials and commission Vill-V to forge a similar blade. Second, he could use his own Authority of 'Water' to augment the technique, freezing the surrounding space himself. And third… his father-in-law happened to possess a Plasma Kagehide. While it might not be on the same level as Frozen Naraka, it could certainly serve as a decent substitute.
"Very well," Sakura said, seeing his determination. "Since I have given you my promise, I will fulfill my word. If you wish to learn, I shall teach you."
She nodded, and then began the demonstration.
Sakura placed one hand on the hilt of Frozen Naraka. In the next instant, she vanished.
Rovel's eyes widened. There had been no warning, no flicker of movement, no ripple in the air. It was as if she had simply ceased to exist. Even his Sword Ki of Taixuan and his Clear Mirror Sword Intent, which could perceive the complex flow of battle, saw nothing. A complete void. It was as if a slice of time itself had been excised from the world around him.
By the time his instincts screamed a warning, it was already too late. A chillingly cold pressure touched the back of his neck. Sakura's fingertip was pressed against his skin.
Rovel swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out across his brow. He had thought that after merging with 'Taiyi,' the gap between him and the MANTISes would have narrowed. But now it seemed… he still had a very, very long way to go. He had been prepared, watching her every move, yet his body hadn't even had time to begin the process of Quantization.
"Phew…"
As Sakura moved her finger away, Rovel finally dared to breathe again, his heart hammering against his ribs. The raw, visceral feeling of surviving a fatal blow left him trembling slightly. He rested on the spot for a long while, waiting for his pulse to return to normal.
"Sakura," he said, his voice still a little hoarse as he turned to face her. "Does that move have a name?"
"For an assassin, such things are unnecessary," she replied, her tone even. "But if I must give it one…"
Her gaze grew distant, as if recalling a forgotten memory.
"A Single Slash of Setsuna, [Vientiane Avidya]!"
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