After extensive training under Kaguya, Kurome was no longer the same. With her physical fitness improved, her agility and skills had greatly increased, especially her speed, which had seen significant progress. If her speed had not improved, she would not have been able to touch even the hem of Kaguya's clothes and would have been easily toyed with. Therefore, she had been focusing on increasing her speed for a long time.
The move she just executed was the result of her long training. Her speed was now on par with that of her sister, Akame, and because she was younger, she had greater agility and flexibility.
Indeed, Kaguya had personally experienced her flexibility, which was simply wonderful, ahem.
Another aspect was her swordsmanship, which, under Kaguya's guidance, had become more fierce and efficient, especially the determination she exhibited in battle, which she had learned well from Kaguya.
"What?"
The remaining four members of the Wild Hunt looked at Kurome emerging from the dust with astonishment. They had not expected the girl to display such strength. If Cosmina had not been sensitive to sound waves, more than one of them might have died.
"It seems I underestimated you," said Syura, cracking his neck and clenching his fists, producing a cracking sound. "But your time to die has come; I will thoroughly torture you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Syura stomped on the ground, instantly breaking the sound barrier as he shot forward like a cannonball. In a flash, he was in front of Kurome, with a wicked grin, leaping high and punching down at the girl below.
With a sharp "clang," Syura's fist collided violently with Kurome's sword, sparking brightly.
"Hm?"
Kurome was slightly taken aback to find Syura wearing a set of knuckle dusters, allowing him to withstand her attack.
In the moment she was distracted, Syura swung his fist again, accompanied by a howling wind, striking Kurome's blade.
Kurome felt a great force, causing her to involuntarily step back, while Syura used the momentum to punch again. However, Kurome seemed to anticipate this; she bent her supple body, dodging the oncoming fist, as her sword suddenly flashed like lightning, thrusting toward Syura's ribs, targeting his heart.
This move was taught by Kaguya. It was not very difficult in theory but required the body to meet strict flexibility conditions. Without it, one might twist their waist off. Aside from Kaguya, only Kurome could achieve this move.
Just as Syura was about to be pierced, a sharp wind blade shot toward Kurome, striking her sword.
With a metallic "clang," blood splattered.
Blocked by the wind blade, Kurome's sword was deflected, slicing across Syura's ribs, causing blood to spurt out.
Kurome felt a bit regretful; without interference, she might have killed him. Although he bled a lot, it was only a superficial wound.
Turning her head, she saw that the one who interfered was Enshin, whose Imperial Arm was the Moonlight Sword Dance a scimitar-type Imperial Arm capable of emitting vacuum blades. Its performance varied with the moon's phase, reaching its peak under a full moon. He was formidable and not to be underestimated.
Syura seemed startled by the slash, cold sweat breaking out. He hadn't expected Kurome to make such a move. Despite traveling the world to hone his skills and martial arts, he had never seen someone perform such a technique.
"Damn it," Syura's face turned red with rage, a grim expression as if he would devour someone. Kurome had embarrassed him, making him angry. "I will capture you and torment you thoroughly, making you regret opposing me!"
"Villains die because they talk too much; why don't you understand?" Kurome blinked her clear eyes and said softly.
If Kaguya heard this, she would surely laugh, for it was a phrase she often used, and now Kurome had picked it up.
"What?" Syura, upon hearing this, became even angrier. "I will kill you!"
Before he finished speaking, he dashed like lightning toward Kaguya, swinging his fists at Kurome.
"Clang, clang, clang."
Syura's fists pounded Kurome's sword, each punch heavier than the last, like a fierce storm.
Yet Kurome remained calm, her expression unruffled. Her sword danced, leaving afterimages, utterly impenetrable.
With a sharp "clang," Syura's fist struck Kurome again, but she did not fly backward. Instead, her toe touched the ground, using it as a pivot to spin her supple body, transforming her sword into a cold flash, stabbing at Syura's ribs once more.
Kurome snorted, thinking he hadn't learned from the previous lesson and dared to fight like this.
Suddenly, a fierce wind rushed from behind, startling Kurome. In her focus on Syura, she had forgotten about the other three.
Reluctantly, Kurome changed her move midway, twisting her body back.
With two "clang" sounds, she deflected both Enshin' wind blade and Champ's small ball. Only someone with Kurome's extraordinary flexibility could execute such a difficult move.
Meanwhile, Syura's attack followed immediately. He raised his fist and punched at Kurome.
In the blink of an eye, Kurome raised her sword horizontally to block Syura's incoming attack.
At that moment, Syura vanished from her sight, seemingly disappearing into thin air. It mirrored Kurome's earlier move.
Could it be his speed? Kurome quickly scanned her surroundings but saw no trace of him. Just then, a familiar voice sounded behind her.
"You were too careless."
Kurome was startled, barely turning her head to see Syura, who had vanished, suddenly behind her.
"Die!" Syura roared, swinging his muscled arm down at Kurome.
At that moment, Kurome couldn't turn around in time.