Arata's eyes narrowed as he shifted his target to Kage. He barked a command, and the girl with the oni mask sprang into action. Yu-chan, determined to deflect their attacks, stood his ground. "This is my fight," he declared, "and I won't let our guest get involved."
A sound from inside suggested what they were to do next, but Yu-chan assured them, "I'll be fine."
The girl twisted her body in various ways to enhance her speed and strength. By rotating her hips, shoulders, and legs in sync, she reduced drag and maximized her kinetic energy. This is similar to how a figure skater increases their spin speed by tucking in their arms and legs—conservation of angular momentum.
Yu-chan pushed Kage out of the way, a bullet grazing his hand. Kage looked at Yu-chan and said, "You're foolish for trying to protect me," which surprised Yu-chan, causing him to momentarily lose his balance. Seizing the opportunity, the girl landed a powerful blow, knocking Yu-chan back.
Kage stood up, determined. "This is war. Focus on taking down the target first before worrying about the others."
Yu-chan, still recovering, said, "I want that sword of yours sheathed." But Kage replied firmly, "I don't have to."
Arata sneered as he watched Kage dodge the bullet. His voice dripped with mockery and disbelief. "Do you even understand how fast that bullet travels?" he taunted. "1,200 meters per second! That's over 4,300 kilometers per hour."
He laughed derisively, shaking his head. "And you, a mere boy, managed to dodge it? It's physically impossible for an average human to react in time. The distance it covered in such a short time... it's like trying to outrun lightning."
Arata's eyes narrowed as he focused on Kage, his tone becoming more condescending. "How can a small thing like you do that? You're nothing but a speck, yet here you are, acting like some kind of untouchable warrior."
He paused, still processing what he had just witnessed. "Unbelievable. How can a small thing like him do that?" he muttered to himself, the mockery in his voice unable to fully mask his shock.
Kage grinned. "Hey, I may be small, but haven't you heard? Good things come in small packages. Just like... my snacks," he said, patting his pocket as if checking for his favorite treats.
Yu-chan, sensing Arata's confusion, took the opportunity to apologize to Kage, readying himself for the next wave of the fight. "I'm sorry. I misjudged you."
Yu-chan warned Arata, "You've picked the wrong person to mess with in this battle!" This declaration surprised Hiroshi, Yu-chan's friend who was inside the dojo, who wondered, "Wrong person? What does he mean?"
Kage started to walk toward Arata. Arata spun his guns, firing rapidly, but Kage dodged each shot with incredible agility. The huge man with the massive belly, a mercenary, pulled out an object and pressed a button. It transformed into a massive bat. He swung it at Kage with force. Just as the bat was about to hit, Kage jumped and landed on it. The man lifted the bat up, and the force threw Kage into the air. Kage landed by stepping on the man's face, flipping back down gracefully.
In a fit of anger, the huge man swung the bat again with even stronger force. Kage dodged, and the bat struck Arata, causing him to fall and lose a few teeth. As the man tried to hit Kage , he moved below him and struck at the muscles beneath his torso.
"Let me explain how that works," he began, his voice calm and collected. "When you target the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the legs, you cause intense, radiating pain and temporary paralysis." He continued, "This technique exploits the body's nervous system to incapacitate an opponent without causing permanent damage. By striking this nerve, you can cause severe pain and muscle weakness, making it impossible to stand or walk properly."
The huge man gritted his teeth in agony as the pain coursed through his body. He coolly informed him, "It'll take about six weeks for you to fully recover and be able to walk again. Maybe more if you don't rest."
The girl with the oni mask, witnessing what had just happened, vanished into the shadows, unwilling to face Kage after seeing his skill and the fate of her comrades.
The battle had ended, and as the dust settled, one of the defeated mercenaries attempted to lift his head. Kage, unfazed, stepped on it, pinning the man down. He walked confidently towards Yu-chan, his presence commanding and formidable.