Momotaro's chest was exposed, his towering frame, deathly pale skin, and eerie, artificial smile stirring anger in Harada Taira and his companions. Momotaro kept his hand over his nose, laughing mockingly, "So stinky, so stinky..."
It seemed humans exuded an unbearable stench to him.
Harada Taira, still simmering from being intimidated earlier by the Tokyo team's swordsman, drew his nano blade and sneered in anger.
"The stinky one here is you, Momotaro."
Kimura Susumu and Hara Tetsuo quickly caught on to their friend's intent. They set aside their gravity guns and drew their own blades.
"Let's kill these two monsters with swords."
"Wonder how many points they're worth?"
The three gripped their nanoblades tightly. The veins on their reinforced suits bulged visibly, evidence that their bravado masked genuine pressure from the two massive demon swordsmen.
Tong Gu watched their actions and offered a warning.
"These two monsters aren't like the small fry you've been fighting. You're better off using your guns."
But the three, desensitized by the endless killing, had long lost their instinctive respect for the fragility of life.
With a united battle cry, they raised their swords and charged at Hannya and Momotaro.
Hannya and Momotaro each pressed one hand on the hilts of their swords, their bodies slightly inclined, exuding a menacing aura.
Momotaro, pressing his left hand against his sword hilt, pointed a finger at Harada Taira with his free hand, mocking, "Eyes, two of them!"
Hannya mirrored the gesture, pointing at Kimura Susumu. "Ears!"
Harada Taira and Hara Tetsuo, empowered by their suits, swung their blades with tremendous force, the wind whistling with their strikes. But Momotaro merely sidestepped Tetsuo's blow and shifted his stance. Harada's sword sliced the air in front of him.
Harada Taira's face showed regret, thinking he had just barely missed. Then, in the blink of an eye, Momotaro appeared right before him. A wave of terror swept through Harada.
How is he so fast?
Slash!
A flash of steel swept across his face. Harada first felt a chilling sensation, then searing pain shot through his brain.
"Ahh! My eyes! My eyes!"
His screams echoed as he clutched his face and fell, writhing in agony. Tetsuo turned in horror, seeing his companion in distress. Momotaro still stood, one hand lightly pressing the sword hilt, covering his nose and laughing mockingly, "Hee hee..."
Tetsuo wanted to assist but was interrupted by another scream. Turning around, he saw Kimura Susumu collapse, blood pouring from his head where his ear had been severed.
How are they so strong?
"I'll kill you!"
Enduring his pain, Kimura lunged at Hannya with a furious roar, swinging his sword with both hands. But Hannya sidestepped lightly, then swiftly drew his sword.
Slash!
Kimura's body, enhanced by his suit, was severed in two.
The horrifying scene sent a chill down Tetsuo's spine. Even their suits were useless against these foes.
"Hee hee, so weak..."
Momotaro, swaying leisurely, strolled toward him, one hand lightly resting on his sword hilt, ready to strike at any moment. Tetsuo was engulfed by a suffocating sense of death.
I'm going to die...
Boom!
A massive footstep reverberated like an earthquake, snapping Tetsuo back to reality. He noticed the swordsman from the Tokyo team dragging his nano blade as he stepped forward.
Just that single step made the ground tremble.
Momotaro and Hannya turned slowly, shifting their attention to the imposing figure in the distance.
Boom!
Another step.
Hannya gripped his sword hilt tightly, all traces of levity gone. This opponent wasn't like the previous ones—strong yet unskilled.
This man was different. He was dangerous.
Momotaro also rested his hand on his sword hilt, stepping toward Tong Gu.
The three stood as if engaged in an ancient duel of swordsmen, their tension palpable even through the livestream.
"Holy crap, this is intense. These two monsters look insanely strong!"
"Does S-tier have this under control?"
"My toes are curling from the suspense!"
The audience in the livestream was gripped by anxiety.
Dragging his nano blade, Tong Gu advanced steadily. The Nichirin blade on his back remained sheathed. With each step, the vibrations of the earth grew stronger, syncing with his heartbeat.
Hannya, now fully serious, bent his body low, both hands hovering near his sword hilt.
Boom!
Tong Gu's right foot struck the ground, shattering it.
Before Hannya could process the quake, his vision blurred. A figure, distorted by sheer speed, materialized before him.
Earth Breathing, Fourth Form: Earth Pulse Dragon Roar!
Roar!
A frigid arc of steel descended. The sheer force created a shockwave, causing Hannya's hair to whip wildly.
So fast!
Hannya barely managed to tilt his head back, but the blade sliced across his face.
Slash!
Standing a step behind Hannya, Momotaro had a clearer view. In an instant, the human swordsman had closed the gap of dozens of meters, striking with terrifying precision.
Momotaro twisted his massive body and swiftly unleashed a Quick-Draw Slash, his sword disappearing in a blur.
In the past, Tong Gu might have lost balance after such a powerful attack. But now, his mind was tranquil. After blinding Hannya, he leaned back gracefully, stabilizing his footing with incredible lower-body strength.
Momotaro's blade clashed against Tong Gu's nano blade, which was held vertically before him. With a subtle twist of his wrist, Momotaro's attack slid harmlessly past.
Momotaro's mocking expression faltered as he reeled back, clutching his ear—severed cleanly.
"You lost two eyes, one ear," Tong Gu said, his tone mocking.
Momotaro, glancing at the blinded Hannya and his own severed ear, felt his earlier arrogance evaporate.
"You... Two-Heavens Style?"
Tong Gu didn't answer, merely gesturing at the two demon swordsmen with his empty hand.
Though blinded, Hannya charged with both hands gripping his blade. Momotaro crouched low, maintaining his quick-draw stance as he lunged.
Tong Gu gripped his nanoblade tightly and swung, even though Momotaro was still several meters away.
Momotaro sneered, thinking, Is he insane? He's swinging from this distance?
Whoosh!
A powerful shockwave ripped through the air. Momotaro's sneer froze as the black blade extended impossibly far, decapitating him in an instant.
Hannya reached Tong Gu's side, his massive form bringing his blade down with immense force. Tong Gu, however, plunged his blade into the ground.
Clang!
The two swords clashed, and the force shattered Hannya's grip, splitting his hands. As Hannya raised his head in shock, Tong Gu's nano blade expanded, slicing cleanly through his face.
Slash!
Both demon swordsmen fell, lifeless.
"He's so strong..."
Hara Tetsuo, clutching his gun, stared blankly at the Tokyo swordsman who had felled two powerful monsters. Inwardly, he couldn't help comparing him to their own team leader, Oka Hachirō.
Even with equal equipment, Oka Hachirō might not be able to match this man.
[You have killed Momotaro and Hannya, earning 36 points.]
[Current points: 61. Your clearance evaluation will increase significantly.]
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