As he moved toward the camp, its details sharpened in his mind.
He could see the occultic group with clarity: about a dozen individuals loitered, their attention divided. Some inspected their high-tech weapons, while others milled around the docking stations spaced around the perimeter.
The entire scene unfolded in vivid detail as he rapidly dissected their setup.
Arthur's eyes focused intently on the backpacks that the members were wearing. They had wires and circuits beneath the metallic frames.
Then he saw something interesting: lightning chakra dominating the design of their equipment.
Every second passed indicated an unnatural flow of chakra pulsating through those circuits. And it was inevitable—each backpack was a powerhouse, amplifying their offensive capabilities.
But there had to be a flaw somewhere. They couldn't rely on it indefinitely, not if they needed to recharge.
Continuing his quick assessment, he spotted two distinct rooms made of canvas and wood, somewhere deeper in the camp—large with cables snaking between them—and a ground-level docking station outfitted with enormous fixtures resembling oversized chargers.
A brilliant idea took root in his mind: they were vulnerable.
With a final sweep through the camp and noting the two docking stations within those structures, Arthur retreated, jumping expertly back through the trees and returning to Chiriku, who awaited anxiously.
"I found something," Arthur began, his expression focused. "Their power source can be disrupted. They can't function without their backpacks recharged. They have two large docking stations used to power them up; if we destroy those, they won't have any fighting power left."
Chiriku's eyes widened in disbelief. Not only was he impressed at how Arthur single-handedly deduced all that information—from their strengths to their vulnerabilities—he was equally amazed at how quickly it was done.
"Destroy the docking stations?" he asked. "Are you sure? How do you know this?"
"I saw them," Arthur explained. "There are two rooms with huge battery-like computers where they recharge their backpacks. They can't use chakra on their own; they rely solely on this technology. If we can break those stations, they'll be left defenseless."
"That's… that's ingenious!" Chiriku praised, a spark of admiration flaring in his voice. "If we can destroy those stations, we stand a fighting chance. We can finally repel their advances!"
Arthur rejected the praise quietly, knowing that he didn't need it. Deep down, he was aware that he could defeat every last one of them on his own, regardless of their technology.
But collaboration was crucial here—not just for the temple, but to help him refine his tactics. More importantly, he understood the severity if word got out that a powerful monk was within the country's borders.
Arthur thought that there were many steps ahead. Once this side quest was finished, Ryugetsu's fame would be recognized. But if this mission was accomplished with the help of a familiar and powerful monk, Chiriku, then Ryugetsu's fame would be a shadow to that monk.
"Chiriku, I'll take care of this," he suggested, forgoing any further insistence about working solo. "You stay back and provide any support you can. I'll make it as simple as possible for us."
"Ah…" Chiriku stammered. It was clear he had wanted to join the fray—that or call the other monks for help. "Alright, I'll stay back, but I'll infiltrate elsewhere. If you need help, I'll be ready."
Arthur could hear the blend of respect and concern in the monk's tone. He nodded, undisturbed, that he was going to take on a daring mission like this one.
He turned his eyes toward the camp, gauging the best route to the docking stations he had seen. The two separated as he stepped back into the world of stealth and subterfuge.
Arthur moved swiftly, creeping closer to the heart of the camp. As he drew near, he attuned himself to the camp's conversations and movements—noticing a few guards stationed nearby but nothing he couldn't handle.
He would need to be quick, strategic, and precise. Serpentine threads of smoke engulfed his body as he slipped between trees. He then halted, pausing to evaluate the layout.
Survivors of their previous skirmishes had set up tents and barriers, but the route to the docking stations appeared relatively clear.
With a few more careful movements, he steeled himself and crossed the threshold directly into the camp. In seconds, he emerged near the first docking station, where cables writhed like snakes beneath the tents, intertwined with stacks of backpacks awaiting recharging.
Two guards lounged nearby, engaged in conversation, oblivious to his presence as the smoke cloaked him.
Eyes narrowed; he could already visualize the electrical energy flowing through the docking station, pulsating with potential disaster for his enemies. But before he could act, he needed to account for the guards.
He heightened the range of his Tamashii. Then he focused on his surroundings, gathering his smoky tendrils and allowing them to slowly slink outward like creeping vines, reaching toward the guards.
The smoke diverted their attention momentarily and wrapped around their ears to stifle their conversation.
"The energy in these things—it's incredible," one guard exclaimed, gesturing toward the backpacks. "I've never seen anything like it. It's only a matter of time before we break through the temple's defenses!"
"Yeah, but I heard they're getting reinforcements. We'd better finish quickly before they gather their ranks," the other replied, glancing nervously around their perimeter.
Arthur didn't miss the implication; they would likely make their move again soon, and if he delayed, he wouldn't get another chance.
With everything in motion, he launched himself forward from the mist, using the edge of the smoke to steer around the guards swiftly. He approached the first docking station, a massive structure that was more akin to a giant computer.
'Smoke jutsu: smokescreen…'
A dense cloud erupted forth around him, a whirlwind of obscuring mist enveloping the entire docking station. In a matter of moments, the guards were entrapped in confusion, their shouts going unheard as they struggled against the sudden onslaught of smoke.
Arthur seized the opening. With swift movements, he began to attack the docking structure. He summoned a blast of condensed smoke towards the circuits and wiring.
The energy-eager apparatus shuddered in response as he struck. The smoke-concussive force erupted upon contact, discharging both energy and metal. The wiring sparked and fizzled as he leaned into the impact, watching intently to see if his plan worked.
The guards frantically clawed their way through the smoke yet remained ignorant of where to strike.
Arthur's instincts urged him to re-evaluate to ensure that any complications that might arise remained mitigated. So he did.
Before the smoke could fully dissipate, he darted toward the second docking station, still hidden among the swirling mist. He needed to remain vigilant.
Focusing on the second station, he saw another group of guards milling about, emanating a false sense of security. Not taking any chances, he mimicked the fluidity of his previous attack, conjuring smoke once more, and preparing another assault.
Suddenly, though, one of the guards caught a glimpse of movement through the murk.
"Hey! Something's moving!" he shouted, scrambling to alert his partner.
The inexperience of the guards shifted their focus from the machine to the source of the disturbance—exactly the opening Arthur needed.
'Smoke jutsu: smoke fist…'
Arthur first launched himself through the cooling waves of smoke and a powerful punch. His forearm enveloped in swirling clouds allowed his hand to strike at the station.
The force met the backing of the device, a vulnerable weak point he identified, and the structure exploded in a shower of sparks and shrapnel.
Cries erupted from the remaining guards, and their former jubilation quickly turned to screams as they saw that the entire rig was failing. Jarring squelches filled the air as circuits fizzled, and the crackle of electricity sparked wildly into the air.
"Enemies!" they shouted. "Enemies are attacking!"
Adrenaline coursed through Arthur like wildfire, invigorating him as he sprang away from the wreckage, intent on relocating to a safer spot.
The guards scrambled, confused and off-balance, as the smoke tried to dissipate.
The first station was already in ruins, and the second had smoking piles of scrap littering the ground. Keeping one eye on the third docking station, he prepared himself for one final strike.
He moved quickly, producing another cloud of mist while he waited for the second source to detonate. Channeling his chakra again, he seized the opportunity to use his new technique: 'Smoke jutsu: smoke dance…'
This time, he only transformed his legs into smoke, increasing his speed and agility as he whipped around the station, long puff clouds trailing behind him. A katana was also drawn from a scroll, right to his palm.
The guards reeled in confusion, their shouts fading into incoherence as he moved with grace. They couldn't register his tactics.
Nonetheless, they were not going down without a fight. Hands raised in unison, they summoned arcs of crackling electricity.
"Stop him!" one of them shouted as they launched torrents of lightning, streaking across the area.
Arthur felt their attacks before he saw them. Lightning was fast, but the guards were slow. Deftly, he leaned into the onslaught, his form blurring as he glided directly into the space between the guards.
In the same effortless motion, he struck the air with his sword, slicing two guards at once. The blade sang as he brandished it, gliding in circles to keep his movements from being read.
He was enjoying the thrill of the hunt. He was like a predator in a world that had lost its way, with only one mission: destruction.
A bolt of lightning streaked past him, illuminating his features in an ominous glow as it fizzled against a bulkhead, sending bursts of sparks cascading in all directions. The guards couldn't believe what they were seeing. This assaulter had dodged lightning!
Their eyes widening with disbelief, but Arthur knew he hadn't done what they thought; he had only read their strategy, knowing exactly where the lightning would pass through before its release.
Arthur advanced, twisting and turning with extraordinary grace. He closed the distance, and their attacks became more frantic.
Lightning flashed again, but he was already moving. He ducked low, feeling the rush of electricity whip over his head; it crackled but failed to touch him. Elegant and unyielding, he surged forward.
In a swift arc, he directed his sword towards the next guard. The blade glinted as he struck, making a clean cut that crushed the guard's stance. The guard stumbled backward, surprised, before crumpling to the ground.
The next guard, momentarily paralyzed by the overthrow of his comrade, attempted to retaliate.
"You won't get away with this!" he roared, desperation fueling his movements. Lightning charged in his palms, coiled like a serpent ready to strike.
But Arthur merely slithered again, flowing seamlessly past the oncoming bolt of energy that shot by him, striking a wall and illuminating the space in a harsh flash. Arthur remained expressionless; he could feel the tension in the air, the imbalance of his opponents struggling to grasp his tempo.
With a lunge, he engaged that guard, twisting so that he sliced through the air with fluid precision. The guard's eyes widened as the sword met flesh and steel, disarming him before he could channel another electric attack.
Arthur's follow-through sent him sprawling, leaving him incapacitated and gasping for breath.
With most of the guards subdued here, Arthur used his Tamashii to verify where Chiriku was. The monk, having claimed to infiltrate a different section, was doing just that. But what Arthur had done to three stations, Chiriku had only done to one.
Arthur reformed his legs and stood amidst the crumpled bodies, the oppressive hum of the station backfiring as the remaining systems reacted to the disturbance. He tipped his head back, the textured flames around him reflecting off his face.
What a truly terrifying man that no one could withstand.
'Smoke jutsu: smokescreen…'
The chakra erupted forth wildly from his hands once more, engulfing the last station in a thick fog that obscured everything in sight.
His strike reverberated in the depths as the docking station met its end; an explosion erupted against the backdrop of frenzied chaos under the weight of their own energy, fizzling out into loose strands of charred wiring.
'That was… too easy.'