[* * *]
[Enemies Eliminated: 98]
[Enemies Eliminated: 99]
[Enemies Eliminated: 100]
[Enemies Eliminated: 101]
One attack after another, every time Alexander swung his sword, it took another life on the battlefield. Moving quickly like a red blur covered in blood, he raised his sword and cleaved a man in half.
There are too many of them... It was expected, but for every man I kill, two more appear in their place!
He heard a scream approaching from behind and turned to block an attack with a sword. A soldier with a red aura, his face filled with either fury or worry for being noticed.
I don't have time for this... I need to carve a path, but I have to conserve mana. I don't want to use the destructive fire just yet.
Alexander shoved the soldier forcefully to the ground, who groaned in pain. He turned his sword to the left and, with both hands, decapitated him. Alexander took a deep breath and looked up, staring at the next squad of soldiers charging down the hill towards him.
"Time to clear a path," he said, stretching his neck. Alexander crouched down, his aura compressing.
[Player used the skill 'Tengu's Typhoon']
Alexander leaped ten meters into the air, the power of the wind beneath his feet allowing him to float slowly.
"If I attack in different places, the ability should follow my movements. Let's test it!"
A wind current began to flow through Alexander's arm, spinning from his shoulder down to the tip of his blade, where he could feel the wind's power covering his katana.
He swung with a spinning slash to the left, and instantly, a massive white wind blade was released from his sword, striking the enemy squad and dismembering them in a second.
[* * *]
[Enemies Eliminated: 117]
[Enemies Eliminated: 118]
[Enemies Eliminated: 119]
[Enemies Eliminated: 120]
Alexander slightly raised his gaze, focusing on the distant warriors of that squad. He swung again, another spinning slash but aimed higher. The wind blade detached from his katana, flying toward the enemies, who barely had time to defend themselves before being mutilated by the blade's force.
"One more time!" Alexander shouted with force.
Once again, he swung with a spinning slash, sending his wind blade slicing through the air with a high-pitched, eerie whistle before hitting the ground, shredding the warriors caught in its path. The power keeping Alexander floating in the air slowly dissipated, causing him to fall back to the ground.
"I've cleared the path a bit, but I better hurry before they reorganize," he said, just before running up the hill again.
Instead of charging directly at the enemies, he avoided them, running, dodging, and jumping over them, using his sword only when necessary.
At the rear of the Wolf Clan, the enemy commander, Murakami Kiyoharu, seemed somewhat irritated. His orange armor, painted with tiger stripes, made him stand out among the other samurai. His expression appeared troubled like someone trying to ignore an annoying pain in their foot while walking.
"Okabe, what the hell is happening with our infantry from squad 7?" Kiyoharu asked, visibly annoyed.
A samurai with armor as yellow as a sunflower approached. He was tall, almost one meter ninety, and the plates on his shoulder pads were much larger and squarer than those of the other samurai. His large helmet had black and yellow plates with three pairs of yellow horns and a black demonic mask covering his face.
The samurai knelt beside his lord, placing a hand on his knee and looking down at the ground.
"It seems that an enemy warrior managed to survive the volley of arrows and advanced against the infantry. It won't be long before he falls dead to the ground, my lord," the samurai replied in a respectful yet strong voice.
Kiyoharu's expression changed, as if uninterested in what he had heard.
"He seems quite skilled for a mere soldier with an orange aura. He killed Ogura and devastated three groups from Squad 7. His existence is stressing me out; deal with him before the real action begins," Kiyoharu ordered without taking his eyes off the battlefield.
"As you command, sir," the samurai named Okabe responded.
Alexander moved like a monkey through a forest, dodging naturally, leaping over enemies, and evading spear and sword attacks as he advanced toward the mage unit at the rear of the army.
Even with swift and fluid movements that few could follow, Alexander stopped. He felt a strange chill in his stomach, a shiver ran through his entire body, and he began to sweat coldly. He caught something out of the corner of his eye approaching with calm steps, a samurai in yellow armor walking in his direction.
Alexander turned to face him, gripping his katana with both hands and pointing it at the figure approaching so calmly.
"You barely saw me and already took a combat stance—wise," said the samurai in yellow armor.
He stopped a few meters from Alexander, close enough to notice the nervousness in the red-eyed elf.
"And who might you be?" Alexander asked, staring into the orange eyes glowing behind the samurai's black mask.
"My name is Okabe Takemune, leader of the Takemune clan and sub-commander of Lord Kiyoharu's army. I am the one who will take your life, for your mere existence offends my lord, boy," the samurai named Okabe responded in his naturally deep and imposing voice.
"Quite a few people have said that to me today, Okabe," Alexander replied.
Okabe looked around, at the trail Alexander had carved through his army, focusing on the many bodies left in his wake.
"You are a good warrior to have made it this far, despite being so young. But it's a shame that your path must end here," the yellow-clad samurai said, reaching for the long hilt of the katana sheathed at his waist. Slowly, he drew it, revealing its large, thick curved blade of greenish steel, like the leaves of a tree in spring.
Sweat dripped from Alexander's face, his heart pounding.
This guy seems dangerous... I'd better be careful.
Alexander spoke to himself, his eyes fixed on his opponent's large katana. It was more refined than the swords of the other men in the army, the best quality for the best men.
"Your silver sword is quite bright, even with all the blood it's spilled. It doesn't seem like the kind of weapon the rest of your army carries. When I kill you, I'll take it for myself," Okabe said, pointing at the silver blade in Alexander's hands, which made him laugh.
"I'd like to see you try!" he responded enthusiastically. His aura flared up with force, like orange flames fueled by gasoline.
Okabe took a deep breath, his strong breathing audible through his mask, and then revealed his aura. Alexander could feel the ground tremble slightly as a fierce yellow flame-like aura extended from Okabe's body like a tree soaked in oil and set on fire.
Oh, crap...
"Reaching this point shows your skill as a warrior despite your youth. Your clothes suggest you're not a noble, but you're not just an ordinary boy. Who are you?"
"My name is Shura, I'm a farmer from the countryside of Shindo," Alexander replied honestly, a defiant smile painting his face.
"I sense truth in your words, even with that smile. You must be an excellent farmer," Okabe laughed, looking at the boy.
"Believe it or not, I've killed a few demons with two hoes and a demon ogre with a rock."
"And I defeated Ichibachi Tomonari with one leg tied behind my back."
It looks like he stopped playing...
He thought. His heart was racing; this wasn't a favorable situation at all. Being surrounded was one thing, fighting someone bigger but with similar strength was one thing, but facing someone more powerful than you head-on was something else entirely.
A system message appeared.
[An extraordinary opponent recognizes you as an enemy.]
[Quest: Kill the samurai 'Okabe Takemune, the yellow fang of Takemune.']
Another extraordinary opponent quest? Give me a break... Is this quest mandatory?
[Extraordinary Opponent Quests are combat support-type quests. Completing an Extraordinary Opponent Quest can reward the following: XP, skills, combat experience for the player, and unlock advanced combat tutorials.]
Answer the question, are they mandatory? Yes or no.
[Extraordinary Opponent Quests are not mandatory but highly recommended.]
I've got my answer...
Alexander looked at Okabe. He still felt nervous, more so than when he faced Genichiro in training because this wasn't a training session. It was a real fight with an opponent determined to take his head.
"System, open the map," Alexander said, watching the map window open in front of him. Okabe looked on, confused. His stance became firmer, perhaps thinking it was some kind of spell.
Alexander could see the enemy warriors avoiding him. Maybe they didn't want to get caught up in the commander's power, perhaps they feared interfering in his honorable duel and facing the consequences of stealing a kill from their lord.
He observed the red dots moving around him, circling him to avoid advancing with the second wave of infantry and making sure not to interrupt his duel with Okabe.
He could see the enemy's rear lines, three large lines divided into three parts each, nine squads in total.
They're there, I know that already, but the problem is this guy...
He turned his gaze back to Okabe.
"This is the first time I've faced a real samurai," Alexander said with a nervous smile.
His aura was intense, orange flames dancing fiercely, but they couldn't compare to the strength of his opponent's yellow flames. Just from the aura, the difference in power was clear, and Alexander knew it.
"It will also be the last," responded the yellow-clad samurai.
Alexander slowly approached, taking short steps, keeping his stance grounded, and pointing his katana at the enemy. Okabe did the same, advancing slowly with a low stance, which made Alexander even more nervous.
His aura is stronger than mine... He'll be faster, stronger, and more resilient... If he hits me with some magic, it could be a real problem. I have to stay sharp.
Alexander kept his eyes fixed on Okabe, but eventually, he had to blink—and he did.
Okabe charged like lightning, raising his katana and striking. Alexander reacted, lifting his sword to defend, and their weapons collided with a force that shook the ground. He could feel the earth beneath him sink a few centimeters, and his feet were being slowly buried into the green ground.
What the hell? This guy's stronger than Ogura!
He was struggling, gritting his teeth, gripping the hilt of his silver blade, trying to push back the enemy. But it was useless. With each passing second, he was forced further down, like fighting against a hydraulic press.
You've got to be kidding... This strength isn't normal! Think, Alex...Think...
A thought came to his mind, memories of the quest involving the evil spirit. The blue body of the spirit wrapped in flames, yet not burning, being strengthened by them. At that moment, his body began to ignite, red flames enveloping his arms, legs, torso, and head—a fierce cloak of fire over his orange aura.
[The player used the ability 'Burning Fortification.']