Labyrinth and Puppet (3)

Blade catch.

It was a technique often performed in martial artists' demonstrations, but one that inevitably led to injury whether it succeeded or failed—utterly useless in real combat.

If it was ever used in actual battle, it would only be in a desperate last-ditch gamble when death was already certain.

"...It's been a while since I last used it, but it worked better than expected."

Even after pulling off such a technique, there was no joy or surprise on his face.

His mind was utterly calm, as if something completely natural had just occurred.

'What the hell is this guy's deal...?'

Before I could even wonder where such a freak had come from, the bastard gripping the blade with both hands lifted one leg high.

"Hmph!!"

With a short shout and a stomp, a massive ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vibration shook the ground, sending chunks of shattered floor flying straight at me.

"Ugh!!"

Unable to defend with the blade caught, I released the hilt and hurled myself toward Jinta, which I'd dropped earlier.

Grabbing the fallen Jinta, I sheathed it and leaped far away from him.

By then, he'd twisted the katana he'd been holding by the blade back into a proper grip and smirked.

"Kakakat! I thought you were all talk, but you're more impressive than I expected!! I grew up hearing I was a genius myself, but you're way stronger than I was at your age!!"

"Oh yeah? Mind telling me how old you are, by the way? Can't see your face under that tin can."

I tossed out the question to fish for info, but what came back wasn't an answer—it was a cold slash.

Clang!! The sharp, cheerful ring of steel on steel echoed through the labyrinth.

My half-baked idea of capturing him alive had vanished long ago. Now, with killing intent in every strike, our blades clashed repeatedly as we moved deeper—until we'd reached the heart of the labyrinth.

"I planned to finish you back at that passage... but somehow we ended up here."

"Yeah... tell me about it."

Behind him loomed what looked like a door leading outside. A rectangular portal glowing with pure white light—touch it, and you'd be teleported out of the labyrinth.

Whether he knew that or not, he smirked and pointed at it.

"Wasn't my intention, but it works out for you. If things get dicey, just run through there."

"What? Isn't that your escape route if shit hits the fan? Gotta value your own life, right?"

We traded barbs that landed nowhere while slowly closing in on each other.

Soon enough, we were within striking distance.

"True masters yield the first strike to amateurs. Draw first—I'll counter once you're done."

"Battōjutsu lets you attack faster than just swinging a drawn sword, so I yield the first move."

"...I figured you'd say that, but hearing it makes my head spin."

This guy used Battōjutsu but didn't even know it was faster than swinging a drawn blade?

"Seeing is believing, so I'll show you!!"

With a fierce frictional screech, Jinta whipped out toward him—and he countered it perfectly.

"Looks like the gods are fair after all. They didn't give you both talent and brains."

"My brains are as outstanding as my talent!! You illiterate fuck!!"

"What bullshit—!! Guh...!!"

I shoved him back with all my might, our katanas locked, then unleashed another Battōjutsu draw at his flying form.

"Vacuum Slash!!"

The air-rending blade hurtled toward him with enough force to shred flesh, but he twisted midair and dodged.

"Impressive aura control too!! Got anything else? Show me more!!"

"As you wish!!"

Channeling aura into my legs, I unleashed One Flash—a Battōjutsu that closed the gap in an instant to cleave the enemy.

I'd planned to slice him while he was still airborne... but.

"I've seen that one plenty."

Just like I'd done earlier, he yanked his scabbard from his belt and slammed it into the ground, using the rebound to leap even higher.

I'd missed completely, slicing empty air. Sheathing Jinta, I prepared my next draw.

Watching him soar, I thought.

If I attacked again, Vacuum Slash would be dodged, and the shockwave I'd used to cancel Lobo's attack would be nullified just like I'd done.

'New technique time...'

More precisely, one I'd just invented—but no time to nitpick.

"Here goes..."

Jinta drew in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flash once more, but clever aura control split the slashing wave into dozens of blades hurtling at him.

"Oh...!!"

He twisted to dodge or parried with his katana and scabbard like before, but blocking them all midair was impossible.

Several wind blades slashed his armor, though disappointingly, no blood flowed.

'Blocked with aura? Or... no blood to spill in the first place...'

As I pondered his bizarre body, he'd landed and glanced at his sliced-up armor with a smirk.

"That was pretty good. Very refined aura control. But skipping the pointless Battōjutsu step would've made it even stronger."

"Fuck, you two are a real pair of assholes!!"

"Two? Staring at empty air and talking nonsense..."

"Shut up!! I'll chop you to pieces and prove Battōjutsu reigns supreme!!"

The fierce exchange resumed, leaving minor cuts on our bodies and slowly staining the yellow labyrinth red.

I'd landed some solid hits, but bizarrely, not a drop of blood seeped from him.

'Definitely not a normal body...'

I'd realized it when my blade sliced his armor and hit what should have been bare skin.

The crisp ring of metal on metal.

You could harden skin with aura to boost durability, but it couldn't fake that sound.

His body was made of metal, not flesh—no doubt about it now.

"It's been a while since I had this much fun... You too, right?"

"Yeah, you're right... Would've been more fun if you'd brought your real body."

"Oh! You figured that out!!"

He fell for my casual probe hook, line, and sinker.

I'd considered body modification, but remote control was the answer.

"You've been acting like you had backups since we started... Scared to die?"

"Kakakat...! A guy afraid of death wouldn't wield a katana. And you're misunderstanding something—if I'd come in person, you'd be dead already."

He laughed heartily, assumed his stance, and I steadied my breath to match.

The moment we were about to clash again...

"Haa...! Haa...!! We finally made it!!"

A voice totally out of place rang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out. Turning, I saw Jessica—roll-bread hair flying, fresh smile on her face—emerging from the passage.

"Y-You...!! You entered last, didn't you...?"

As Jessica and her followers, still clueless, bantered idly, he smirked.

"Looks like intruders. Hang on a sec—I'll deal with them quick."

Channeling aura into his legs like I had earlier, he blew past me straight at Jessica.

I reacted instantly, running alongside, but at this rate, his thrust would pierce her throat.

'I could draw, but if he dodges...!!'

Anyone else, maybe—but this guy? He'd evade a desperate strike like it was nothing. My gut said so.

Too late to think—everything happened in a blink, and he was right in front of her.

No choice. I threw myself in his path, consequences be damned.

And...

"You crazy bastard...!"

Just like he'd done to me, I caught his katana lunging at Jessica with both hands, stopping it inches from my chest.

Honestly, I'd doubted it'd work, but against all odds, it succeeded perfectly.

Aura wrapped my hands beforehand—no injury. Best possible outcome.

"Wh-What...? What's going on...?"

The whole thing lasted less than a second. Jessica snapped to, staring at us.

"This isn't some illusionary beast, right?! Then what the hell is happening...!"

"Jessica, run!!"

"Huh?!"

"Back the way you came!! Head for the exit—he'll ditch the katana and chase you!!"

More pressure on the blade halted right at my chest. I wouldn't hold long.

"B-But I can't just leave you...!!"

"You're the problem here!! Without you, I'd have bisected him with Battōjutsu already!!"

She bit her lip, turned, and bolted.

"I'll gather people and come back—hold on!! Got it?!"

"It'll be over before then—just hide and come back in about 10 minutes."

"Yeah, in 10 minutes, you'll find this guy's shredded corpse."

With that, Jessica hurried off, leaving just me and the katana aimed at my heart.

'Might as well snap it now...!!'

Too close to escape like he had. Infuse my arm with aura after breaking it—he released the hilt even easier than I'd made him.

"Don't get too attached to weapons."

"Who asked for a sermon—!! Guh!!"

The punch to my gut sent shockwaves into my organs, but I didn't let go of the blade.

"Get lost, asshole!!"

As he crouched to strike my abdomen again, I went for a kick—but he'd anticipated it and pulled back.

"Kakat...! Sword slipped again."

Chuckling self-mockingly, he clenched his fist like he'd fight barehanded now.

And I hurled the katana I'd clung to through his gut punch right at him.

"...What're you doing?"

"No thrill in slicing an unarmed guy."

I drew the firmly sheathed Jinta from my belt and faced him as he blankly caught the thrown katana.

"Next attack ends ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it."

At this rate, Jessica's reinforcements or even Marina would show. Before more annoyances interfered, I wanted this over. Sensing my resolve, he maxed his aura.

"...Fine. Last one."

Matching him, I surged my aura. Like before, we closed in slowly.

Down to breathing distance—the first to strike was me.

Shring! The deadly friction rang as Jinta drew toward his gut—but he'd anticipated my all-out Battōjutsu and backflipped away by a hair.

As Jinta missed and he lunged forward, his katana came crashing at my head.

However...

"Grraaah!!"

The leftover scabbard slammed into his gut, crushing it.

Unable to withstand the impact, his body flew into the wall with a gruesome crunch, embedding there.

"Battōjutsu: Double Strike."