In less than a second, a flurry of slashes—far beyond the limits of what an ordinary person could perceive—ruthlessly reaped lives. Takashi Kuroda crouched slightly, setting Ryougi Shiki down before standing up and turning to face the towering figure before him. Slowly, he spoke, "So you've finally shown yourself, Araya Souren."
"Kill him! Araya, kill him now!" The desperate, dog-like howls came from Alba, who was writhing on the ground like a beaten cur, completely unaware that he would have already been on his way to the afterlife had Araya Souren not intervened.
"..." Araya ignored the raving Alba. Instead, he turned to face Takashi Kuroda, his gaze steady. Blood seeped from fresh wounds on his hands and body—marks left behind by Takashi's seventeen-fold slash.
Even my barriers couldn't catch him… What terrifying speed and agility. And despite the protection of my bounded fields and my tempered physique, he still managed to wound me. Araya Souren's thoughts darkened. Though their exchange had lasted only an instant, he had already sensed the overwhelming strength of the man before him.
Araya Souren, though unremarkable in terms of pure magecraft talent, was a master of bounded fields, possessing techniques few could rival. His signature creation, the Sixfold Realm of Stillness, was his pride and joy.
The Sixfold Realm consisted of: "Fugan" (Non-Interference), "Kongou" (Adamantine), "Dakatsu" (Serpent's Venom), "Taiten" (Heavenly Crown), "Choukyou" (Sutra Summit), and "Ougen" (King's Manifestation). These barriers, formed in both planar and three-dimensional structures, would instantly rob any living being that touched their lines of all kinetic energy.
But this time, Araya's masterpiece had failed spectacularly against Takashi Kuroda.
"Stop barking, Alba. This is between me and Araya Souren now. A loser should know how to behave like one—got it?" In an instant, Takashi hurled three Black Keys straight at the howling Alba. With his kidneys already skewered, Alba had no strength left to dodge. He could only watch as the three blades shot toward him, ready to nail him to the ground.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Araya intercepted the Black Keys, knocking them aside before speaking coldly, "Who are you, exactly? And why have you taken an interest in this girl?"
In truth, the moment Takashi Kuroda had taken Ryougi Shiki from the Ryougi household, Araya's hidden informant had relayed the news. Had it not been for the fact that Takashi had been holed up in Touko Aozaki's workshop—and that Araya himself needed time to prepare—he would have confronted this man who had ruined his plans much sooner.
But now, not only had Takashi left the Garan no Dou, he was even boldly wandering near Araya's territory. It was nothing short of a blatant provocation. No—more than that, it was outright arrogance.
Yet, as a certain motorcycle-riding warrior from the Moonlit World once said: Arrogance requires capability. The fact that Takashi dared to swagger around so openly meant he likely possessed strength to match his audacity.
What chilled Araya even more was the realization that Takashi might already know his goals and plans—hence why he was flaunting Ryougi Shiki right in front of him.
A man who knew Araya's plans inside-out and still acted this recklessly was no fool. That was precisely why Araya hadn't immediately revealed himself. After careful deliberation, he had sent Alba first, hoping to lure Takashi into the apartment complex and test his abilities.
But he hadn't expected the conflict to escalate so quickly—nor had he anticipated Alba being crippled with such ease.
"Who am I? Heh…" Takashi activated his [Savior of the Wicked] aura, unleashing a crushing pressure that bore down on both Araya and Alba. Even Touko Aozaki, who had just arrived in the distance, felt its effects—though Ryougi Shiki, whom Takashi had deliberately excluded, remained unaffected.
"My name is Takashi Kuroda. Age 20. Currently residing in Fuyuki City. Unmarried. I work as a private tutor, returning home no later than 8 PM each day. I don't smoke, and I drink only in moderation. I go to bed at 11 PM, ensuring a full eight hours of sleep. Before sleeping, I enjoy opening two bottles of champagne and doing 20 minutes of light 'exercise' to warm up. I sleep soundly through the night, waking up refreshed—like a baby. I never carry fatigue or stress into the next day. Even the old worm says I'm perfectly normal."
"…Hah?" Araya Souren found this self-introduction utterly baffling, but the oppressive aura radiating from Takashi was undeniably real, forcing him to stay on guard.
"Still don't get it? To put it simply, I have no grand desires. All I want is to live a peaceful life. I don't care for winning or losing—it only brings trouble and enemies. That's just the kind of contented person I am. It's my philosophy. But…" Takashi's voice dropped, his grin sharpening.
"If you force me to fight—I won't lose to anyone."
With that, he beckoned Araya forward in clear challenge.
Araya understood now. The message was simple: If you want a fight, then bring it. No more talking. No more schemes. The winner takes all—the loser gets nothing. That was the cruelest, most fundamental law of the world.
"Fugan! Kongou! Dakatsu!"
Araya unleashed his bounded fields, the lines surging toward Takashi. Though his opponent's movements were bizarrely swift, Araya had decades of combat experience. If he could adapt to Takashi's rhythm, he could trap and immobilize him.
But Takashi didn't dodge.
Instead, he activated two skills:
[Goddess's Favor B]
[Natural Body C]
Then—he charged straight into Araya's barriers.
Araya was stunned, but he didn't hesitate. His bounded fields coiled around Takashi, ready to bind him—
"Flash Step."
—Only for Takashi to vanish and reappear right in front of Araya, his fist already mid-swing.
"CRACK!"
This was a fist that could overpower Kirei Kotomine's Bajiquan—enhanced further by the Ruination's power. The impact sent Araya's massive body flying, his skull rattling from the force. His vision flickered, consciousness teetering on the edge of darkness.
What kind of human strength is this?! Even his reinforced body's barriers had been shattered.
"Flash Movement—Moonlit Feast!"
Takashi accelerated again, his fist morphing into a claw that tore through Araya's flesh. Blood erupted—only to be siphoned away, converted into raw energy that Takashi absorbed.
"T-This power… manipulating and consuming blood… A Dead Apostle?! But he's with the Holy Church—unless those Black Keys were looted from the Executors he killed?!" Araya's shock deepened as he felt his vitality being drained. Just what kind of monster have I provoked?
Even Touko Aozaki, watching from afar, felt a chill. A Dead Apostle? No… this is something else. Her curiosity burned brighter.
"Araya Souren. With skills like these, you still dared to covet what's mine? To scheme right under my nose?" Takashi's voice was icy. "Today, I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget."
"Relentless Assault—stack it up!"
Without even visibly summoning the Ruination's mist, Takashi relied purely on internal enhancements and the Goddess's blessing to pummel Araya into the ground. His fists became a blur, each strike faster than the last as his passive ability ramped up.
Every time "Feast" came off cooldown, he activated it—ignoring all resistance, draining Araya's life force to replenish his own stamina. The more he fought, the stronger he became. To Takashi, Araya's body was nothing more than a glorified punching bag.
"THUD!"
Finally, Takashi's fist punched straight through Araya's chest—and clenched around his heart.
"I know you've completed your 'Soul Egg.' Your true self is still hiding inside this apartment. Killing this body won't end you." Takashi's grip tightened. "But don't think that means I can't erase you for good."
He leaned in, his voice a whisper laced with menace.
"Consider this a warning. From now on, Ryougi Shiki is my disciple. Touch her—and you die."
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