Kage moved with a fluid grace, each motion precise and deliberate. His hands flowed like water, deflecting attacks with minimal effort while maintaining perfect balance. As he engaged the guards, his body twisted and turned with agility, evading their blows and countering with rapid strikes.
His feet were as light as a feather, shifting swiftly to dodge incoming attacks and positioning himself for maximum leverage. Kage's arms moved like coiled springs, delivering powerful punches that landed with pinpoint accuracy, targeting vital points and incapacitating his opponents swiftly.
One guard swung a heavy baton at him, but Kage stepped inside the arc of the swing, his movements smooth and unbroken. He used his forearm to block the strike while his other hand shot forward, striking the guard's throat with a swift, precise jab. The guard crumpled, gasping for breath.
Another guard charged, but Kage sidestepped, pivoting on his heel and delivering a spinning kick to the back of the guard's knee, causing him to buckle and fall. Kage followed up with a flurry of punches, each one delivered with impeccable form and devastating impact.
Meanwhile, high above, the sniper observed the scene with a detached air. With a nonchalant shrug, she muttered to herself, "I'll just have to take out the one with his sword sheathed." Her gaze fixed on Yū-chan, who was effortlessly cutting bullets in half while simultaneously knocking out the guards.
Noticing Kage crouched behind a fountain, Yū-chan shouted, "Go inside! I'll handle the sniper!"
Yū-chan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and moved towards the mansion. Kage picked up a small rock, testing its weight, calculating the angle and force needed. With a swift motion, he threw the rock, aiming directly at the sniper's scope. The glass shattered, reflecting a blinding light, but the sniper tilted her head just in time to avoid the projectile.
The sniper, undeterred, used ropes to quickly descend from her perch. Drawing two powerful and modern custom Desert Eagles, she sprinted towards Kage's last known position. Leaping into the air, she performed a graceful flip, landing where she had last seen Kage. But Kage was no longer there. Instead, he had moved to the opposite side of the fountain, using the structure for cover.
As soon as the sniper landed, Kage sprang into action. With a burst of speed, he charged at her, forcing her to react. The sniper fired repeatedly, the powerful handguns roaring with each shot. But Kage anticipated every bullet, moving with an agility that made him a difficult target. Bullets whizzed past him, hitting the ground and the fountain, but none found their mark.
Kage closed the distance quickly, using the sniper's need to reload to his advantage. He reached the sniper just as the last bullet was fired. With a swift, precise motion, he performed a spinning kick that knocked one of the pistols out of her hand. The sniper tried to bring the second pistol to bear, but Kage grabbed her wrist and twisted, forcing her to drop the weapon.
With both pistols disarmed, Kage delivered a series of rapid strikes, each one targeting key points to incapacitate the sniper. He used a palm strike to the chest, a quick jab to the solar plexus, and a sweeping kick to knock her off her feet. The sniper fell to the ground, unable to continue the fight.
Within the mansion, Yū-chan moved with incredible speed and agility, running along the walls and striking down each guard with precise, incapacitating blows. His movements were almost a blur, leaving a trail of unconscious guards in his wake.
Meanwhile, the merchant Kurokawa remained unbothered, a calm smirk on his face. He glanced at a man standing beside him—a formidable-looking individual with an imposing presence. This man, Ryutarou, had sharp, piercing eyes and a muscular build. His hair was tied back in a traditional samurai topknot, and he wore a dark, intricately designed kimono. He carried an ancient katana, its hilt adorned with intricate carvings, a weapon that spoke volumes about his skill and heritage.
Ryutarou, maintaining his calm demeanor, walked out of the room. He headed to the empty dancing room, his mind occupied with thoughts of the "Oni's Wrath," a notorious group known for their ruthless efficiency and merciless tactics. The Oni's Wrath were feared across the land, rumored to be unbeatable warriors who carried out their missions with brutal precision. Their name alone was enough to send chills down the spines of even the bravest warriors.
Just as Yū-chan knocked the last guard down in the bright mansion, Kage caught up to him. Surveying the unconscious men, Yū-chan couldn't contain his curiosity. "Why won't you use your sword? I understand that you're skilled, but the way you move suggests you're even more skilled with the sword."
Kage, still focused on the task at hand, replied, "If the sword is unsheathed, it will kill someone."
Yū-chan thought it was a joke and ignored him, confident that he could defeat Kage without using all of his strength. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kage than met the eye. Despite his nonchalant exterior, Kage's movements and skills hinted at a deeper, more dangerous potential.
As Yū-chan and Kage navigated the mansion, they entered a grand hall. There, standing in the center, was a man whose appearance was nothing short of horrific. His skin was pallid and stretched tightly over his bones, giving him a ghastly, almost skeletal look. His eyes were sunken, with dark, ominous circles around them, and his mouth twisted into a permanent sneer that exposed crooked, yellowing teeth. His long, greasy hair hung in tangled strands around his face, adding to his menacing aura. He wore a ragged, blood-stained robe, and the air around him seemed to crackle with malevolent energy.
Yū-chan immediately recognized him and whispered to Kage, "That's Saito, a member of the Oni's Wrath. He's known for his brutal combat skills and his mastery of a deadly martial art that focuses on nerve strikes and pressure points. His techniques can incapacitate or kill with a single touch, and he's notorious for using psychological warfare to unnerve his opponents."
Saito's hollow eyes gleamed with a twisted excitement as he surveyed Yū-chan and Kage. His voice, low and raspy, echoed through the grand hall, "It seems you've done your homework. How delightful! You must have heard tales of Ryōshi, the famed swordsman."
He took a step forward, his grin widening into a manic, toothy smile. "Ryōshi, the one who carves fear into the hearts of men. His blade strikes with the precision of death itself, leaving nothing but silence in its wake. The whispers of his name alone send shivers down their spines, don't they? Such delicious fear."
Saito's excitement was palpable, his voice rising in pitch. "Oh, the terror he's inspired, the legends he's created! To face him is to dance on the edge of oblivion, to embrace the sweet kiss of chaos. And here you are, seeking to challenge that very fear. How exhilarating!"
He tilted his head, his eyes wide and unblinking, revealing his unhinged nature. "I've dreamed of this moment, Ryōshi. To witness the might of your sword, to feel the thrill of the fight. Ah, the ecstasy of battle, the symphony of destruction. Come, show me the terror they speak of. Let us revel in the chaos together!"
Saito's demeanor was that of a true psychopath, deriving twisted pleasure from the prospect of combat and the fear it invoked. His excitement at the thought of fighting Ryōshi was both unnerving and infectious, setting the stage for a confrontation filled with lethal intent and unpredictable danger.
Saito's twisted excitement reached a fever pitch as he lunged at Yū-chan, his movements a blur of malevolent grace. Yū-chan met his attack head-on, their clash resounding through the grand hall. The two combatants moved with lightning speed, their actions almost too quick to follow.
Saito's attacks were vicious and calculated, each strike aimed to exploit weaknesses and cause maximum pain. His fingers darted out like vipers, targeting nerve points with terrifying precision. Yū-chan countered each move with his own mastery, deflecting blows and retaliating with powerful strikes of his own. The room echoed with the sound of their combat, a deadly symphony of motion.
Yū-chan leapt onto the wall, running along its length before flipping over Saito and delivering a swift kick to his back. Saito staggered but quickly recovered, his grin widening. "Is that all you've got, Ryōshi? Show me the fear!"
Saito's katana flashed through the air, the blade cutting through the space where Yū-chan had been moments before. Yū-chan ducked and rolled, coming up behind Saito and striking at his side. Saito spun, his eyes wild with glee, blocking the attack and countering with a flurry of swift strikes.
Their movements were a blur of speed and precision, each combatant testing the other's limits. Saito's maniacal laughter filled the air as he pressed his advantage, his attacks growing more frenzied and unpredictable. Yū-chan remained calm, his focus unwavering as he parried each blow and sought openings in Saito's defense.
With a burst of speed, Yū-chan closed the distance, his fists a flurry of motion as he delivered a series of rapid punches to Saito's chest and abdomen. Saito grunted in pain, his grin never faltering. He responded with a powerful upward strike, aiming to cleave Yū-chan in two.
Yū-chan deflected the blow with his arm, the impact sending a shockwave through his body. He seized the moment, disarming Saito with a swift, precise twist of his wrist. The katana clattered to the floor, but Saito was far from defeated. With a crazed gleam in his eye, he launched himself at Yū-chan, his hands a blur of deadly strikes.
The two fighters were a whirlwind of motion, their attacks and counters coming faster and faster. Yū-chan's calm precision met Saito's chaotic ferocity in a battle that seemed to transcend mere physical combat. It was a clash of wills, a test of skill and determination.
Finally, with a decisive move, Yū-chan caught Saito's arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to his knees. Saito laughed even as he was subdued, his eyes still filled with a twisted delight. "Yes, that's it! Show me the fear, Ryōshi!"
Yū-chan, breathing heavily but victorious, glanced back at Kage, who had been watching the fight with keen interest.The The mansion was silent now, the guards all incapacitated, and their path forward lay open.
With a final, decisive blow, Yū-chan delivered a powerful punch to Saito's face, turning it into a pulp. The once-manic grin was replaced by a bloodied, unrecognizable mess. The battle with Saito was over,