"Hmph. Security Minister, don't underestimate us. I admit you're strong, but don't look down on us."
Bulat bristled at Haruki's use of the word "punishment" to describe their fight. To him, it wasn't just arrogance—it was an insult to a warrior's pride. His voice rang out loud and firm, eyes locked on Haruki with defiance.
Tatsumi, standing beside him, didn't speak, but his clenched jaw and furrowed brow made his anger clear.
"Oh? Interesting. So you're angry. Then show me the strength that deserves my respect."
Haruki's voice was calm and detached, his gaze steady as he observed them.
"Lord Haruki, allow us to assist you."
Seeing Haruki about to take on both opponents alone, the Three Beasts stepped forward with concern.
They knew Haruki's strength—perhaps even greater than Esdeath's—but Liver couldn't ignore the fact that Bulat was no weakling. More importantly, Haruki was still holding Lina in his arms. Given Haruki's importance to Esdeath, the Three Beasts didn't dare let him take unnecessary risks.
Lina, though Nyau had stopped playing the Teigu Military Music Dream [Scream], was no warrior. Her body remained limp in Haruki's embrace, still recovering.
"No need. I don't need anyone else interfering in my fights."
Haruki waved them off casually, his tone radiating absolute confidence and overwhelming dominance. Unknowingly, those words etched an image of a proud, unshakable hero into Lina's heart. She gazed up at him, utterly captivated.
"Yes, my lord."
The Three Beasts stepped back without protest. In that moment, Haruki's commanding air reminded them of Esdeath—her unwavering confidence in the face of danger. They couldn't help but think: what a perfect match. Even their arrogance was alike.
"In that case, we won't hold back."
Bulat didn't waste time preaching about fairness anymore. He was well aware of the gap between them.
With that, he activated his Teigu, Demon Armor [Incursio], vanishing from sight in an instant.
Though angered by Haruki's dismissiveness, Bulat wasn't reckless. He wasn't some hot-headed fool charging blindly. Instead, he took full advantage of his Teigu's abilities and moved to strike strategically.
Clang!
A sharp metallic clash rang out across the silent deck.
Using his invisibility, Bulat had appeared behind Haruki and swung the Redback Shrike toward his back. Just as the strike was about to land—and Bulat thought he had succeeded—a sword suddenly intercepted the weapon mid-swing, halting it completely.
Without even turning around, Haruki had drawn a blade from his storage ring and blocked the attack. The sword wasn't anything special—just an old weapon he'd used as a child. Aside from being sharp and incredibly durable, it held no special powers.
But with it, Haruki stopped a full-force surprise attack from a Teigu user. One-handed. Without even looking.
Bulat immediately withdrew, retreating and vanishing once again.
Whssssh!
Just as he pulled back, a white spear flew straight toward Haruki from the front.
But before it could strike, Haruki shifted his right hand, flipped the blade, and with a seemingly casual swing, sliced the spear clean in two. It clattered harmlessly to the ground.
"Good coordination."
Haruki commented flatly, still unfazed.
Across from him, Bulat reappeared beside Tatsumi, breathing hard. Maintaining Demon Armor [Incursio] took a serious toll on both body and mind—even someone like Bulat couldn't sustain it for long.
Neither of them spoke. That exchange had made one thing painfully clear—the gap between them and Haruki was immense.
...
Bulat's hands were trembling. He had put everything into that strike, yet Haruki had stopped it effortlessly, without even turning to look.
And then there was the spear. Tatsumi had launched it using his Teigu, Infinite Uses [Cross Tail], crafted from the hide of a super-class danger beast that dwelled in the cloud-seas above the Eastern Ocean. The thing was absurdly tough—yet Haruki had cut through it like paper.
Haruki still held Lina in one arm, his blade in the other. His expression hadn't changed. His stance hadn't shifted. He hadn't even moved his feet once.
But even with all that, Bulat and Tatsumi didn't give up. Like cornered beasts, they exploded with raw energy and charged Haruki with everything they had.
Unfortunately, this wasn't an anime. Tatsumi wasn't the protagonist, and there was no miracle comeback. The difference between them and Haruki was like a chasm—unbridgeable.
After a relentless barrage of attacks, both men were drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Their strikes grew more desperate, their rhythm faltering.
Haruki, on the other hand, hadn't even broken a sweat. From start to finish, he had only used his right hand and a single blade. And still, neither of them had realized—he hadn't moved a single step.
"Well, looks like you're out of gas. I think this little game is about over."
With a single motion, Haruki pushed the two back and spoke lightly.
From beginning to end, Haruki hadn't attacked once. For him, this hadn't been a fight.
It had been nothing more than a game.