"Aaagh!"
With a tortured scream, Tsukimi Soukaku's ultimate move was abruptly interrupted as a fiery projectile struck him square in the back, igniting his entire body.
Even as Soukaku's charred figure was thrown to the ground, Shiranui Hanzou was relentless, launching into the air for a second attack, his figure a blazing wheel of fire aimed right at the fallen Soukaku below.
Ultimate Move: Phoenix Dance!
The combination of two consecutive B-Rank skills left Soukaku grievously injured. Using his duel with Qin Ming as cover, Hanzou had crept behind Soukaku without being detected, seizing the opportunity to strike with lethal intent.
Hanzou's ambush was merciless and calculated, using one powerful move after another.
With a thud, the scorched and broken body of Tsukimi Soukaku hit the ground, his skin burned to a near charcoal black. Before he could even attempt to rise, Hanzou charged again, unleashing a barrage of attacks without pause.
Starting with a precision fan strike, he followed up immediately with Ninja Bee, hammering down upon the incapacitated Soukaku. The message was clear—Hanzou intended to kill him outright, disregarding all honor or the usual rules of martial combat.
However, his lethal chain of attacks was intercepted by a Tsukimi disciple, who courageously stepped between his master and the enemy. The disciple took the brunt of Hanzou's fiery assault, his body catching flame instantly as he was thrown back, his staff clattering to the ground as he lay still, lifeless.
"Protect our master!"
Seeing their fellow disciple slain and their injured master barely able to stand, the remaining Tsukimi disciples charged forward with fury in their eyes. The Tsukimi clan might have been few in number, but they were tightly bonded, and none showed any hesitation in the face of certain danger.
But as they surged toward Hanzou, the fighters of the Shiranui Dojo joined the fray as well.
Leading the charge was Qin Ming, who unleashed a Sonic Hand Slash, striking down one of the Tsukimi disciples. Behind him, Shiranui Mai launched herself into the air, her Water Bird Technique landing squarely on another opponent.
However, the other trainees and disciples merely watched from a distance, not stepping in. These were students who had paid to train and improve their physical fitness, not warriors willing to stake their lives in battle.
Blue Mary also remained on the sidelines, restraining her dog from joining the fray. As for Andy…
Andy's expression was visibly tense, his arms crossed as he stood aside. He watched, unwilling to engage after seeing his master's dishonorable ambush.
Ultimately, only Qin Ming and Shiranui Mai entered the skirmish. Qin Ming sought an advantage by taking down Tsukimi's fighters, while Mai felt duty-bound to help once Hanzou had committed to battle. Whatever Hanzou's motivations, she could not sit idly by as her grandfather was mobbed.
With both Qin Ming and Mai assisting, the Tsukimi disciples, already struggling against Hanzou, were quickly overwhelmed. One by one, they fell to the ground, their screams piercing the air.
Unlike Mai, who showed restraint and left her opponents alive, Hanzou and Qin Ming struck with savage intent, each blow aimed to kill. The two showed no hesitation in targeting vital areas, leaving the scene in utter chaos.
Barely conscious, Soukaku struggled to lift himself from the ground. As he looked up, he saw his disciples falling around him, helpless against the Shiranui forces. His heart pounded in grief and fury, but his body refused to obey his will.
Meanwhile, the remaining Tsukimi disciples sacrificed themselves, shielding him from the vicious attacks of Hanzou and Qin Ming as they shouted to him.
"Master, go! Hurry, escape!"
The moment he heard the plea, one disciple's voice was cut short, and Soukaku watched in horror as Qin Ming seized the disciple by the neck. With a bloodthirsty bite, Qin Ming drained him dry, his body shriveling in Qin Ming's grip.
Skill: Essence Drain!
Seeing his disciples slain so ruthlessly, Soukaku's rage exploded, unleashing every last reserve of energy he had. A massive phantom emerged, encircling Soukaku in ghostly protection, before launching him skyward in a desperate escape.
Tsukimi Secret Technique: No Mercy Bullet!
"Trying to flee? I won't allow it!"
Hanzou hurled his Butterfly Fan at Soukaku, but a Tsukimi disciple leaped into its path, absorbing the attack.
However, while the fan was blocked, Qin Ming's Sonic Hand Slash hurtled upward, its searing edge slicing into Soukaku's body.
With a scream, Soukaku's blood sprayed across the sky, his severed arm following close behind. But even as he bled profusely, Soukaku's technique remained active, and in a haze of dark mist, he vanished into the horizon.
Realizing his attack hadn't finished Soukaku off, Qin Ming gritted his teeth and glared at the surviving Tsukimi disciples, who had interfered with his finishing blow. Flames coiled around his arm as he charged toward them with a bellow.
"You're all dead!"
The violent skirmish raged for several more minutes before finally falling silent.
Aside from Tsukimi Soukaku, who had narrowly escaped, every Tsukimi disciple lay dead within the Shiranui Dojo grounds.
The floor was littered with bodies, a grim sight that left the other disciples of Shiranui watching in shocked silence, their hands clasped over their mouths as they took in the carnage. None had expected things to escalate into such bloodshed.
Half an hour later, inside the dojo, Shiranui Hanzou sat cross-legged, dressed in fresh clothes and bearing an expression of complete indifference. His demeanor was severe.
The silence was broken by the sliding door, and a troubled Shiranui Mai stepped in, her expression shifting from worry to anger as she approached her grandfather.
"Grandfather! What are we supposed to do now?"
Hanzou didn't respond, his face impassive.
"I've already informed the local police. Don't worry, they won't interfere in matters of martial arts clashes, even if it led to death."
"I don't mean the police! I'm talking about the dojo itself! A bunch of students are trying to withdraw, and we can't even stop them! What are we going to do?"
"Hmm? Withdraw?"
"Yes! You broke every rule by launching a surprise attack and killing people outright! The dojo's reputation is ruined! Why would anyone stay here to train?"
Mai's face was flushed with frustration, her voice shaking as she went on.
"Now everyone says the Shiranui clan has no honor, that we're no different from common thugs!"
"We were never meant to be honorable warriors. Ninjas have always fought this way."
"But times have changed! There are no ninjas like that anymore! Sneak attacks and lethal force—it's no way to run a dojo!"
With a heavy sigh, Mai plopped down beside him, dropping all semblance of formality as she sat cross-legged with her arms folded, her cheeks puffed out with annoyance.
Hanzou, however, smirked slightly at her reaction, visibly pleased despite the circumstances.
"What's this about the dojo? Weren't you just out there fighting as well?"
"That was because you were…! Ugh, that's beside the point! I had control! But you—and that guy who bites people! He's a monster! Not only did he kill them, he went back and finished off those I left unconscious! And he even used a gun! What kind of martial artist does that?"