Chapter 47 What Is It That You Hold Precious?
Parapsychology.
The ability to know another's thoughts.
Well, to "know" another's thoughts.
What does it mean when you "know" another's thoughts?
Mankind has never learned to utilize this supernatural talent in their respective territories, and all of the concepts to this capacity were nothing but myths.
Do we speak to ourselves in our minds? If so, what language do we use in achieving such one-sided communication? Is it possible to react to external overtones with merely subconscious intuition? If so, do we really "know" what we are trying to do when our instincts take over? Many scientists have claimed that we know more about the existing universe than our own minds.
CLANG!
"Terminal t-value: three point six seven, error: fifteen point two zero percent. Premediated."
Can one truly "know" what other people are thinking?
DING!
"Relative distance controlled. Range of uncertainty factorized."
Or do we solely have the equipment to "see" what other people are thinking?
The tension for the night is tight. Under the silver shading of the moonlight, the middle ground of the shallow street ineffectually becomes the stadium for the assassin and the executioner. Supposedly, both men would only operate under the covers of darkness, but the sound of metal clashing can only display anything else but tranquility.
PING!
Hastily parrying another one of Hei's horizontal slashes, Zanku carefully observes the moving patterns of his opponent. The usual taunting he displayed against Seryu has become silent when the first blow of Hei's blade charged against his head a few minutes ago – when he realized something terrifying, even for the likes of himself.
The Spectator.
It is working.
It is just… not working as wished.
Turning his body to avoid Hei's throwing knife again, the executioner parallels his right hidden blade with his adversary's left shoulder, thrusting the weapon like a regular clavier. Before the blade comes pierces through Hei's white shirt, the man with the reflective glasses agilely launches another set of metal wires to direct blade outward, adequately neutralizing the imminent danger.
Usually, seeing his opponents' plans for their assaults can guarantee the executioner great superiority in the tactical sense of a battle, and the Spectator would easily provide everything there is to know; however, this man in front of him is a complete outlier to his hidden advantage – he can see what Hei is thinking, but he cannot understand a single notion of it.
"Body movements modelled by multi-variable functionals, striking point with critical vigor-draining: positive fifteen point three four, negative thirty-six point two seven, positive twenty-seven point one three."
Retrieving his auxiliary metal wire, the Black Reaper in disguise takes an unaccustomed leap above the executioner, and unleashes his blade toward Zanku's central backbone. Such an assault is calculated carefully: if the executioner lowers his body to the ground, then his bodily movements will be hindered in the next second, giving Hei the opportunity to disarm the man with his wire still tied to the sleeve-blade; if he conducts a backflip like he did with Seryu and Koro, then Hei will utilize his high ground in the air to slice the executioner's neck by interfering the movements of the former with his backup blade. So, as a result, Zanku could only dodge to his side within the length of the metal wire, which means –
SLASH.
Blood starts to drip from the right-side abdomen of the executioner, the primary blade successfully creates a noticeable injury on its target, demonstrating the so-called first blood in this encounter.
Such is Hei's tactics. Digitizing everything in his view from the smallest potential energy of his opponent's body muscles to the effect of wind speed on each strike of his throwing knives, he can efficiently predict his best body reaction in any situation.
How ironic – Zanku is supposed to be the one who completely sees the movements of his enemies, but now he is being outclassed like so many of his victims before.
If that is the case, then can we say that Hei's supernatural brain is more effective than a ground-bending Teigu?
That is a scary thought.
In his calculation, this ongoing battle will not last long before Zanku out-maneuvers himself into a fatal mistake.
In fact, Hei could have finished the executioner much more easily if he decided to bring his contractor powers into the picture, but because Seryu is watching the entire encounter, he could not reveal any strategical secrets to the justice-driven member of the Imperial Police.
SLASH.
Another cut is successfully landed onto the left arm of blond man. The chances of winning this fight is becoming lower and lower.
"Right, right." Brushing off the injury, the executioner decides to pause his movements in the middle of the battle, causing the undercover Black Reaper to stop as well.
"Insight has failed since the beginning. Farsight is useless. Clearsight can only do so much with the types of you. Your skills out-ranks my precognition." Stating the depressing fact for himself, Zanku twitches at his current predicament, but suddenly takes back his usual evil smirk.
Perhaps it is intuition at work – Hei's senses become intense as Hei sees the change of character in his opponent's facial expression.
"You are nothing like anything I have encountered before."
We have established that fact already.
"This makes me wonder –"
What?
"What is it that you hold precious?"
Taking the question literally, Hei cannot help but wonder the same thing – as the man without any subjective views, what can be precious to himself?
"Illusion Sight!"