Volume 6 Chapter 29 Gateway To Hell
Shikin and I collided head-on, without any tricks.
Shikin's entire body is a weapon. His fists could pierce mountains, and his kicks could split a river in two.
And he strikes with a flexible body and impressive skill.
He seems to switch between offense and defense effortlessly, disrupting my attacks when I try to attack and countering my defenses when I try to defend.
His fighting style is unlike any magician I've faced before.
In battles in Asteris, magic skills have a significant impact, for better or for worse.
Even someone like Larkan primarily relied on magic in combat. Only a master could attempt to surpass magic with physical skill alone.
So, Shikin's strength clearly deviates from the Asteris style.
He enhances his body through a magic skill called "Mukyuren (Infinite Forge)" and fight using unarmed combat.
Because of this, I can't underestimate Earth's magicians either.
I finally understood that in this situation.
A world where mystery has been forgotten and failed to develop magic. But on the other hand, it has achieved astonishing progress in other aspects.
"Lost in thought?"
Shikin asked, right next to me.
At the same time, my body felt as though it were melting. Skillfully enough that it could be missed even when focused on, my power also dissipated from the depths of the bones.
Uh-oh.
'Unraikuseiden (Stormbeat Thunderstrike).'
In an instant, a lightning-fast piercing strike flew towards me.
Released without even stepping forward, the blow gouged my flesh alongside the armor. From nothing to existence. Moreover, as if to demonstrate the magnitude of the drop, the floor cracked beneath Shikin's feet.
──Ggghh
His technique, by switching between relaxation and tension, it generates power from within his body. I understand it in theory, but the scale is incomprehensible. It's like a normal human being told to avoid bullets or lightning.
It would be better if there were a more easily understandable preparatory action, but he attacks from any position, making it difficult to deal with.
Now, I create distance and prepare myself again. Shikin doesn't chase after me, but claps his hands while looking at me.
"Fantastic. Have you become able to dodge that move now?"
Shut up. It's clear that I haven't dodged it. My flesh has been torn apart.
The wounds themselves can be covered with armor and stopped from bleeding using magic power. It's the same technique as creating armor within the body.
Even so, the pain and the lost flesh won't return.
Well, I guess it's a trade-off.
"'Indeed, carrying a load of a thousand years does make one somewhat numb, huh."
"What?"
Shikin tilted his head and realized it. The sensation of blood flowing along his neck.
When he touched it, there was a small cut on his neck. It was far from being a fatal wound.
But a wound is still a wound.
Looking at the blood on his fingertips, Shikin smiled more than ever before.
"...So you managed to land a hit while avoiding my technique. And you even managed to make me bleed through my magic."
"'To say I 'landed a hit' would be presumptuous. But if I understand the nature of your magic, I can find a way.'"
If I think of it as killing a person, I cannot kill. Killing a person, cutting through steel, cutting through magic. They all seem the same, but they are completely different. There is a necessary power, a way to wield the blade, a way to channel magic power, and a suitable approach.
"'If you claim to bear the weight of a thousand years, it's a simple matter. I will cut through everything.'"
No matter how much of a monster he may be, a person is still a person. If blood flows, the heart beats, and the brain gives commands.
Therefore, there is no reason that cannot be defeated.
In "My True Name," there is nothing that cannot be cut.
"..."
As Shikin wiped his neck again with his fingers, his flawless skin appeared.
He naturally had the ability to regenerate. After all, he was a human who could freely change his body, so there was no surprise now.
"My Master. Let me give thanks. You gave me a perfect opponent for my training. So, I can progress to greater heights."
"'You can perceive it as a battle or as training, it's your choice, but the next strike won't be gentle.'"
"Yes, that's right. Let us ascend to higher heights together."
Shikin, who had been fighting naturally until now, sank down.
——Boom!!
Three sounds overlapped.
The first sound was the sound of Shikin kicking the floor, the second was the sound of someone stepping sideways, and the third was the sound of a clash between a spinning kick and a sword.
I leaned my elbow against the sword's belly and took the impact with my whole body.
But my body was blown away while defending.
What kind of strength would allow that to happen?
I immediately tried to regain my posture, but the counterattack came faster than that. Shikin chased after me at the same speed as I was blown away.
Strikes were coming at me. Because I couldn't take a perfect stance, my body was destabilized with each blow I received.
This is bad. If I stop moving my legs, I'll be tortured.
So, I moved my legs with all my strength, attempting to manage the distance by jumping every time I received an attack.
But Shikin wouldn't allow it. He steadily stepped into my range and dealt damage.
Hey, I'm not a ball. Stop dribbling as you please.
I received a horizontal swipe with a sword against his hand chop.
Normally, I would have been completely overwhelmed, but this time it's different.
The hand chop lost its momentum just before touching the sword and collided slowly because my "Muon (Zero Sword)" weakens its power through a rain of magic power.
Then, I continue from this close range while using "Mikatia (Storm Sword)" and weaken it.
In response of this, his magic power becomes more agitated. However, at that moment, Shikin's hand chop changed its form as if timing it perfectly.
Riding the waves of magic power, his arm twists and coils like a snake.
(A joint technique in this position!?)
It was too late when I realized it. His movements were impossible for a human arm, and my shoulder was pinned down by his arm.
The armor tightened like a vice, rendering me motionless.
What kind of strength is this guy!
'Dokuryuu Shoki (Venomous Dragon Demons)'
Immediately after, everything spun around.
No, I was thrown by Shikin, starting from my arm. It had already surpassed the realm of throwing techniques and transformed into something else.
My organs were crushed by centrifugal force, and my sense of balance was thrown off. I couldn't tell which way was up or down, and my body twisted and turned.
Moreover, this guy throws punches while attacking. The fist that flies on me while I'm in a state without a proper sense of balance is harder to avoid than heavy rain.
"'...!'"
Fortunately, after a few moment, I was released.
But my whole body hurts, and I don't even know what situation I'm in.
——Moreover, it will take a while for my sense of balance to return. However, I close my eyes and focus all my nerves on sensing magic power.
Just like my body moves faster than my thoughts.
I feel a tremendous amount of magic power from below. No wonder the air time is long when it's thrown into the sky.
This increase in magic power... The next move will be a big technique.
With my eyes closed, I turn my head towards the direction of the magic power. Naturally, my feet point towards the sky, and a moment later, I land on the ceiling.
Crack! The sound of bones and cracks running through the ceiling. Fragments of shattered figures fall like rain.
An even greater tremor struck the entire room.
The magic power of Shikin, which had been compressed in his body, was released and spread like fire.
Yotsuji, sorry. Please protect yourself.
When I open my eyes, Shikin is looking down at me in the inverted world.
"Let me keep dreaming, Yuusuke."
The magic power takes shape.
It was as if a collective of anger and injustice embodied in the form of Man-eating fiend (Akkirasetsu). At the center of it all, Shikin clenched his fist.
And a voice could be heard.
――Time flows swifter than an arrow, life more delicate than morning dew. Through the countless arts of wisdom and means, I now reclaim a lost day, without lament for the hundred years I may yet live.
"Indeed,"
'Jigoku Kishukusho (Infernal Fiend)'
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