Chapter 101: - One Who Received Murderous Intent
Rin endlessly and elusively swung the two daggers in his hands. On the other hand, Yanagi could only be on the defensive–No, he was in an even more difficult situation that couldn’t simply be described with just those words. If there were a suitable word to describe the situation, undoubtedly it would be none other than ‘Trampled'.
His back, flanks, legs, and shoulders were shredded by the daggers Rin brandished as if Rin was carefully and deliberately reducing Yanagi’s HP little by little.
In the midst of that, Yanagi subconsciously cursed.
"Continuous transfer in no time! And sword attacks of extreme speed that have transcended the concept of speed! Is this the power you’ve hidden, Amane Rin!"
It’s an abnormal ability that could even reach the top of all skills depending on how one uses it. Opposing such power, even speed, which was the only thing that Yanagi could surpass that of Rin was mostly meaningless.
There was only one thing that Yanagi could do against Rin's onslaught. It was figuring out where Rin would appear by constantly activating [Enemy Detection], and narrowly avoiding fatal injuries in a less than a second gap between Rin's transfer and attack.
However, even if he was able to avoid fatal injuries, each blow from Rin precisely reduced Yanagi's HP.
The remaining HP he has was already about to drop below 50%. And it was being reduced at a rate that surpassed that of the decrease of maximum HP due to the effect of [One-Winged Flight].
(At this rate I will be killed without being able to do anything! There is no other way to overturn this situation except to find a time to counterattack… But!)
The dagger with a yellow sheen that Rin held in his left hand was reflected in Yanagi's sight.
(I have to consider the counterattack from the opponent too. If it was just an attack using daggers, I should be able to do something about it somehow, but if a magic attack was included in the options, surely it will be impossible for me to respond. If I can at least erase the option of using magic from his hand…!)
Yanagi desperately racks his brain, looking for a plan to overcome this situation. But right after that,
"Shi…!"
"___!"
Yanagi's leg was caught by a protrusion on the ground causing his speed to be slowed down sharply.
In a battle of this level, even such a small mistake can be fatal. And naturally, Rin didn't miss that chance.
With a dagger in both hands, Rin approached Yanagi directly from the front to deal a finishing blow. It was likely because he doesn't need to transfer any more.
Facing that, Yanagi stopped and prepared to confront it. However, Rin, who saw Yanagi's response swiftly altered his course of action.
"–Release"
"Wha!"
A widespread magic attack was fired at Yanagi who stopped moving to confront the dagger attack. A dazzling bolt of lightning runs through the sky toward the upper body of Yanagi. And it was impossible for Yanagi to evade that attack at this timing_or should have been.
However, in such a desperate situation, Yanagi smiled a little.
"_-You took the bait!"
"tsu!?"
With an astonishing reaction speed, Yanagi bent his body down and evaded the lightning by a hair's breadth.
However, that was natural. Because, from the start, being caught on a protrusion on the ground or even halting his movement after that were traps to draw out Rin's magic attack.
With this, Rin should have no magic attacks left anymore. Therefore, with that conviction, Yanagi rushed toward Rin at a high speed. And under normal circumstances, he should have been able to attack Rin with that.
"_Time Zero"
However, Rin still has an ace up his sleeve. Due to the instantaneous transfer, Rin's figure disappeared from Yanagi's eyes.
But due to the constant activation of [Enemy Detection], Yanagi quickly figured that Rin had appeared behind him.
"Even idiots will know if it was repeated!"
Even that was exactly as Yanagi had calculated.
From his experience of enduring Rin's onslaught, Yanagi knew that Rin will definitely transfer to his blind spot. That's why, he was able to react to that in an instant.
He swiftly rotates his body and swung his dagger with that momentum. There is no way Rin could predict that Yanagi who had only chosen to defend or evade before would make a counterattack here!
However, the dagger that he swung based on those thoughts, cruelly could only slash the air.
"_–Ha?"
At that moment, Yanagi saw that just about 2 meters ahead, Rin who was at the place where his dagger couldn't reach, was pointing the dagger with yellow sheen toward him.
"Release"
"Gha,UAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Then, a bolt of dazzling lightning struck Yanagi who was still in the midst of turmoil, causing heat that burns his body and a mighty electric shock to assault him, dropping his HP below 20% in a blink of an eye.
What the hell?
What just happened?
Why would he receive this much damage like this?
Why was Rin able to release another magic attack?
(Don't tell me_)
What entered Yanagi's mind was a very crazy answer. However, he couldn't think of any other answers.
(_Did he absorbed the magic that he just released by the transfer earlier!?)
A dagger that plunders magic and transfer magic. That was a tactic that only possible due to possession of these two powers which deviated from normal. And Rin was able to put that plan into action easily.
(–This monster!)
Rin's physical strength, weapon, skill, and even thinking far surpassed Yanagi.
–After all that happened so far, Yanagi finally recognized this fact.
And Rin approached such a Yanagi to deal the finishing blow, this time for sure. Yanagi also no longer has the power left to confront him head-on.
(I'll admit it, Amane Rin. You are definitely stronger than me–But!)
Following up with a decision, Yanagi powerfully threw the dagger in his left hand, which passed right next to Rin.
However, that was fine. Because, from the start, Yanagi's aim was exactly someone behind Rin.
"tsu!?"
The girl who sees the dagger rushing toward her–Amane Hana widely opened her eyes. Looking at that reaction, Yanagi laughed a little.
(Amane Rin, I knew that you are stronger than I am. However, this is not a match but a real battle, and the one who survives is the winner. My bad but the victory is mine!)
Now that it has become like this, even if he had to give up the unique skill that Hana possessed [Stock]–in other words, even if he had to kill Hana who wasn't designated as the target of [Plunderer], there was no problem. Because for now, killing Rin was his highest priority.
However, Yanagi thought it was extremely unlikely that Hana will die first.
(You definitely won't let your sister die! You will definitely try to protect your sister from that dagger using transfer! At that timing, I will rain you with the best attack I had! In other words, the thing that kills you will be your foolish brotherly love!)
Yanagi powerfully kicked the ground and rushed toward Hana to attack Rin when he appeared using transfer.
However, promptly after that, an unbelievable scene entered Yanagi's eyes.
"_–Hana!"
"Un!"
Responding to Rin's call, Hana holds her arms in front of her body.
*Clank*
Right after that, along with a high-pitched sound, the dagger was easily deflected by Hana's arms.
"The hell?!"
Yanagi was familiar with that scene.
(Don't tell me this girl, his sister, has the same barrier as him too!?)
The reason why Rin wasn't damaged by Yanagi's onslaught was that Rin was protected by an invisible barrier.
To think that his sister would also activate the same thing, there was no way Yanagi could predict that!
Due to shock and turmoil, Yanagi stopped thinking for a moment. But that moment for sure became a fatal mistake that couldn’t be recovered.
"_Time Zero"
Then, the final moment of the battle finally arrived.
◇◆◇
By using time zero, Rin transferred in front of Yanagi whose movement was stopped due to the turmoil. Then, he looked straight at his enemy.
"Amane Rin…!"
Against Rin who suddenly appeared before him, Yanagi swung the dagger in his left hand with a startled expression.
However–
"You made a mistake."
"Wha?!"
–Faster than that, the Flashsword that Rin raised slashed Yanagi's left arm, causing his grip strength to be lost, and the dagger he held danced in the air.
Anger, hatred, and murderous intent. In a cold voice that forcibly suppressed all of those emotions, Rin said.
"You made a move against someone that you shouldn't have,"
Saying that, Hana's smile comes to his mind.
Subsequently, Rin pulled Greed in his left hand like a bow. In those series of actions, Rin amassed all the emotions he suppressed inside him and–
"That’s why, I will never forgive you!"
–Unleashed everything.
"__!"
Yanagi somehow tried to defend from that attack but, it's already too late.
A sword flash of extreme speed that easily surpassed the speed of the sound flickered. The blade cut through the air, and–
–Deeply pierced Yanagi's heart.
"G-gha!"
As Rin pulled the dagger out of Yanagi's heart, blood spilled from Yanagi's mouth and his body slowly collapsed on the spot.
Yanagi, who was lying on the ground, displayed an expression as if he recognized his defeat. And Rin, who looking down at such Yanagi, tightly gripped Greed that just pierced Yanagi's heart and quietly said.
"–It's my win"
Thus, the death battle between Yanagi and Rin ended with Rin's victory.