Volume 1 Chapter 31 The Great Villain Of The World, Faces A Strong Enemy
──Tenhou's Perspective──
"...This strength is like a joke."
"...What is this enemy?"
Shouou and I use the 'Five Divine Steps' technique, 'Genbu Turtle Glide (Genbu glides on the ground and moves at high speed),' to create distance from the enemy.
The red-haired enemy in front of us is named Zeng Taiga.
He is the strongest warrior of the Jinkyo Tribe, appearing in 'History of Swordmaster.'
In the game 'History of Swordmaster,' there is a time limit.
If the heroes can't capture the capital of Aika Country within a certain period, the Jinkyo Tribe's army will attack from the north.
If we lose to them, it's a straight path to a bad ending.
Moreover, they are strong enough to kill the main character.
Among the Jinkyo Tribe, there are several characters of the highest class.
The one with the highest combat power is the red-haired general on a black horse, Zeng Taiga.
Gamers call him names like 'Bug Character,' 'Permanent Pattern Prevention Character,' 'Reset Recommended if Attacked First,' and 'Overpowered Lu Bu.'
The most troublesome skills are 'Siege Nullifier' and 'One Man Army.'
Normally, the side that surrounds the enemy has the advantage, but it doesn't work on him.
If you try to surround and attack, you will get a 100% counterattack.
'One Man Army' is a skill for breaking through enemy lines. Normally, movement stops if enemies are adjacent, but he just passes through without any hesitation.
He is literally an out-of-the-norm strong character.
But right now, it's ten years before the game starts.
The current age of that guy is 15 or 16. He's still growing.
But it's weird that even the Crown Prince and my older brother can't beat him. Plus, this guy is as big as an adult. Isn't the strength setting messed up!? This world!
Earlier, my older brother protected Crown Prince Rouen and almost got killed.
In the original history, my brother might have died here.
Crown Prince Rouen would get captured by the enemy... and probably become a hostage. If they take the Crown Prince as a hostage, it could be used for negotiations with Aika Country. They could ask for a ransom, and even take away territory.
As a result, Crown Prince Rouen would end up in a bad position and go wild.
"...I have to buy time for the two of them to escape."
I was able to take Zeng Taiga's attack thanks to Shouou.
She rushed over, and that distracted Zeng Taiga.
That probably weakened the attack.
But──
"Shouou. Please stay away."
"...No."
"This guy is dangerous! Didn't you see!? Even a group of us couldn't beat him!!"
"I can't leave Tenhou alone in a deadly place!?"
"Shouou!"
"If you really want me to run away, then I'll cut ties! I don't have to listen to someone I've cut ties with! So I'm fighting together. It's the same thing in the end! Will Tenhou choose to fight together after cutting ties, or fight together as friends!?"
"...I don't want to be cut off."
To be honest, I'm really scared.
Kou Tenhou (me) is the weakest character in 'History of Swordmaster.' Zeng Taiga is the strongest character.
If we fought seriously... there's no way I could win. If I'm not careful, I could be taken out in an instant.
But, if I'm with Shouou, I might be able to buy some time.
"Please lend me your strength, Shouou. I'll keep this guy busy until my brother defeats the other enemies."
"I understand."
"And then――."
I conveyed the plan to Shouou.
The enemy is strong. We can only win by using numbers.
I focus on Zeng Taiga in front of me.
The red-haired boy looks at us with cold eyes.
Holding a large spear, he seems to be thinking about what to do with us.
"...You're still young, yet you have that skill. You must be of high status."
I puff out my chest and shout.
"You are the son of the general of the Jinkyo Tribe... no, the child of a king? It must be true! No doubt about it!!"
"...Who are you?"
Zeng Taiga tilts his head.
I continue.
"I'm Kou Tenhou, the second son of 'General Skybear.' This is Sui Kaou, my Shikei. If you are a warrior who knows honor, then introduce yourself!"
"...Zeng Taiga. I am a prince."
Alright. I got his name.
Now I can call him by that name without worry.
"Zeng Taiga. So you really are the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe. Why are you with Enki?"
"...I have no need to tell you――."
"Got it! Enki is one of the criminals. He works for money. So, the Jinkyo Tribe hired him to get information about Aika Country. That's why you guys crossed the border! Right!?"
"Wow! Tenhou!"
Sorry, Shouou. This is a deduction using game knowledge.
Enki is a member of a crime organization. So, he'll do anything for money.
In the game, he sometimes appears as a member of the Jinkyo Tribe too.
"...This feels bad. How do you know so much?"
Zeng Taiga glared at me.
"...You don't look like a resident of Aika Country. What are you? Who are you!?"
He picked up his spear again.
Right after, the black spear moved at an unbelievable speed.
――Seriously. This is why the strongest characters are so annoying!!
"Tenhou!!"
"I got it!!"
I dodged Zeng Taiga's spear with 'Goshin Walking' using 'Genbu Turtle Ground Slide' to move quickly along the ground.
Zeng Taiga closed the distance immediately. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Are you strong!? Or weak!? If you're weak, it'll be obvious. Even if you're strong, it'll be clear. So... what are you? What are you!?"
"Don't get close to Tenhou!!"
Shouou unleashed 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' with 'Suzaki Dive Strike (Suzaku Bird Dives to Hunt Its Prey).' Zeng Taiga bent his body to dodge the downward slash.
I immediately jumped up and landed on the back of a nearby horse.
Using that as a base, I activate 'Form of Kirin.' I unleash the thrust technique 'Kirin's Horn Thrust' (Kirin's Horn Is Not a Weapon. It Strikes Down Evil Only with Its Shadow).
My sword clashes against Zeng Taiga's spear.
After the impact, Zeng Taiga steps back.
...Huh? That felt strange.
It's like my 'ki' energy flowed through the sword and hit Zeng Taiga...
And it seems like the power of my technique is increasing...?
Speaking of which, this world has the 5 elemental attributes.
Metal beats wood, wood beats earth... that kind of thing. The attributes cycle through wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
But that's just a little flavor. It only boosts attack power by about 10%.
Yet... I'm still holding my own.
Plus, Zeng Taiga's arm is shaking. It really feels like my sword is working.
"Shouou. What about the 5 elemental attributes?"
"I know about them."
"Can you try using a technique that has 'Mutual Enhancement' against my attack? If I'm the Seiryuu dragon (wood), then you should be the Suzaku bird (fire). If I'm the Byakko tiger (metal), then you should be the Genbu turtle (water)."
"Will that really change anything?"
"It's just a bit of comfort, but..."
"Got it. If it's what Tenhou says, I'll trust you."
"Please. Then――."
Shouou and I get ready with our swords.
Around us, horses without riders are running around.
If we use them as a base, we should be able to fight enemies on horseback too.
I remember when Master Raikou helped me before.
At that time, Master was running on the wall using 'Four Divine Steps.' It was the same when we were playing tag in the dormitory garden. Master moved around freely, like a person with no weight at all.
'Four Divine Steps'――no, 'Five Divine Steps'――has that kind of power.
If that's the case, maybe we can do the same thing too.
"────What are you guys? Can small fries block the path of a hero?!!"
Zeng Taiga shouted with a broken voice, his eyes wide open.
He is the strongest character in 'History of Swordmaster.' He probably never doubted his own strength.
He easily defeated Crown Prince Rouen and almost killed Kairyou-Aniue――yet here he is, being held back by me and Shouou. It must be hard for him to understand.
"You little ones from Aika Country!!"
Zeng Taiga's spear picked up speed.
Shouou and I dodged in the shape of the Genbu turtle from 'Five Divine Steps.'
The Genbu turtle's technique, which has both snake and turtle forms, keeps the enemy from realizing our true position.
If you think it's right, it's left; if you think it's up, it's down. We mix reality and illusion to focus on dodging.
For a moment, Zeng Taiga's spear slowed down. I immediately unleashed my technique.
"'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King!!'."
I released the technique of the Seiryuu dragon――one of the 5 elemental attributes of wood.
The sword I swung grazed Zeng Taiga's body.
"'Suzaku Flame Dance (Suzaku dances grandly with flames)'."
The tree produces fire. And the Suzaku bird represents the fire element.
Shouou's sword hits the armor of Zeng Taiga. It leaves a mark.
"'Kirin Horn Thrust!!'."
Fire burns out and creates earth――bringing the Kirin to life.
My thrust hits his spear. The arm of the one who blocked it starts to shake slightly.
"'Byakko's Assault (Byakko Charges with Unrestrained Power)'."
The earth ripens into gold――giving birth to the Byakko Tiger.
I can tell without looking. Shouou's kick hits him in the chest.
"'Genbu's Twin Attack (Turtle and Snake's confusing continuous attack)!!'."
Gold cools into water—creating the Genbu Turtle.
The power of the technique increases. 'Ki' energy makes my sword tremble.
I unleash a 2-hit combo of slashes and strikes.
Unable to withstand the shock, Zeng Taiga's horse whinnies.
"──What? Who are you guys!?"
Zeng Taiga shouts.
Shouou and I do not answer.
In silence, we become the Seiryuu Dragon, the Suzaku Bird, the Kirin, the Byakko Tiger, and the Genbu Turtle.
There's no need to match the timing of our techniques.
Shouou perfectly knows when to use her technique and when she wants me to use mine.
It feels as if the boundaries of our bodies have disappeared.
Maybe this is what 'Beast Body Guidance' was aiming for.
To guide each other and create a connection.
To change into various divine beasts together.
In a place that one person can't reach, 2 can get there.
'Beast Body Guidance' and 'Five Divine Steps' and 'Five Divine Sword Techniques' might have such meaning.
"That's disgusting. You guys are disgusting!!"
I can hear his voice.
"In the legends of my ancestors, there are no beings like you. No one can defeat me, Zeng Taiga. So why do you exist!?"
"I don't care!!"
"I'm me. I'm the one Tenhou found!!"
My 'Kirin Horn Thrust' slashes through his armor.
Shouou's 'Byakko Fang-Claw Attack' injures his leg.
Zeng Taiga's black horse is scared. He desperately grabs the reins as he loses his balance. His stance is breaking.
And then, my 'Genbu Turtle' sword cut off Zeng Taiga's arm.
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