"You're better than I thought!" The giantess lets out a hearted laugh, her naginata planted on her shoulders, a feral grin plastered on her features delighted at the challenge.
Why's she looking at me like that– Also her stance is reserved, I can't find any openings! Naginata wielders are so annoying! Second only to chain users! Whatever, there's nothing much I can do but wait until she slips up.
"Spare me your shallow praise–" I murmured, whipping my weapon to the floor, the blades of grass caressing the tip of the katana. "I'm willing to look over this offense if you just turn tail and leave!"
"We're not going anywhere without our lord!" The woman roared, her body learning forward as she sprinted towards me, naginata in hand.
[Warning! Other warriors approach your blind spot!]
My eyes snapped open at the warning. Instinctively, I shifted my stance, throwing my body to the side as the blade of the blue-haired samurai whizzed past my skull, the cold steel just inches from my face. I dropped low, narrowly avoiding the strike as the air sliced past me, my senses sharp as ever.
Not a second was wasted. I pushed off the ground into a sprint, legs kicking up grass behind me. My grip tightened around the hilt of my blade as I recoiled to strike—only to meet the cold steel of his katana, the clash ringing out as sparks flew from the impact.
[Warning! Behind you!]
Damn it, I'm surrounded! I cursed, my gaze snapping to the rear. The short warrior was closing in, and the giantess was preparing another attack. This wasn't looking good. If I wasn't careful… this could be my end as lord.
"鎌鼬 Kamaitachi!" I roared, my voice slicing through the air. The command unleashed an immense wave of energy, pushing my enemies back. Their bodies skidded across the grass, but they rose slowly, unshaken, though the air around them buzzed with uncertainty.
The nearby villagers had begun to emerge from their homes, eyes wide in confusion as they took in the spectacle.
"Lord Mirai!" Kenta's voice rang out from the village's edge, full of concern as he started to rush toward me. I stretched my palm toward him, silently telling him to stay back. The warriors in front of me began to rise, their resolve only hardening.
"Shit—A demon blade? You've got to be kidding me..." The giantess groaned as she got to her feet, her grip on the naginata tightening. "That would explain his title of lord," the short warrior added, rubbing his head. "This kid's no joke."
I felt the adrenaline surging, and I realized just how sloppy I'd been. Without my instincts, I would have—
No. Focus. Stay in the fight.
"Do you yield?" I asked, my voice cutting through the tense air. I watched them closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation. "This is your final chance to talk. I will use force from now on."
"Like hell we will!" The woman roared, jabbing her naginata between my eyes. "Just 'cause you've got some fancy sword doesn't mean shit!"
Feisty. And a pain in my side, to boot.
"Well, if you want to continue, shall it be outside my village walls then?" I suggested, stepping closer. "We're in the process of rebuilding, after all."
She clicked her tongue, glaring at the others. They nodded in agreement.
"Fine!" She spat, striding toward the gates. "Let's see what you've got, lord."
[Notice! Opponents may get desperate.]
[Notice! Sword wielder is outnumbered. Shall you bring out a summons?]
Yes.
[Understood!]
The moment I stepped outside the village gates, a strange sensation washed over me. It felt as if my very being was fracturing—splitting into three. The air around me crackled, and two identical figures of myself materialized, stepping forward in perfect sync with my movements.
"Mi, you take the swordsman. Rai, you take the short guy." I commanded, my tone sharp. I didn't break stride as the clones mirrored me, disappearing in a flash to engage their opponents taking their fight elsewhere. Though the distance, the clash of weapons still erupted with an earth-shaking ring, the force vibrating through the ground.
I turned my full attention to the giantess. "Just you and me now. Let's dance."
She scoffed, relaxing her hand slightly. She dropped the tip of her naginata to the ground, staring me down.
"Don't get cocky, you brat!" She roared, moving faster than the eye could follow, a blur of motion. It was almost too quick for me to track. Almost.
I mimicked her movements, my feet light as I danced around her strikes. She aimed low, trying to catch my feet with calculated swings. But my movements were faster, my katana a blur as I countered.
Her naginata embedded itself into the earth. In that instant, I shot forward, lightly running up the staff in one swift motion up.
Her eyes widened in a slight panic to my sudden movements, her body recoiling to try and take her action back, but it was too late.
I flipped backward, kicking my foot out toward her jaw, aiming to send her crashing to the ground.
I landed gracefully, watching as she struggled to regain her footing, alas her fate was sealed, met with the ends of my blade.
"Stay down…" I commanded, her eyes widened slightly as she stared at me within the eyes, the sound of my grasp tightening on my blade giving a silent promise of a painful end if she didn't heed it.
"Your subordinate has a big talk for someone who's taken down so easily," Mi chuckled, his laugh comparable to a hyena, his dark voided eyes almost glinting at the sight of his opponent's confusion.
They were a good way's off from us, our fight not even visible to the warrior's eyes.
"You're a demon–" he muttered, his voice trembling with both anger and fear at the samurai he faced.
"Wrong, my blade's the demon here" Mi corrected, spinning his weapon in wide circles as he stepped closer. "Let's try again shall we?"
[Notice! Mirai ordered you not to kill this warrior!]
"Bullshit!" Mi roared, seemingly at no one. His sudden out of nowhere outburst startled the swordsman.
[I'm speaking the truth!]
"Whatever– can I atleast cut off a limb or two?"
[Negative!]
"Fine–Let's have some fun then," He lets out a soft sigh, his hand grabbing onto his
shoulder and rolling it, warming up for the battle ahead.
He raised the blades to his lips, his smile spreading across the cold unforgiving blade.
"My little lamb—"