"She got caught, didn't she."
To hear those words as the first thing from Ryoma once they found him in a few minutes actually hurt. Bell flinched and immediately went down to the ground, pressing his head against the cold stone. He would later find out this was a common Far East concept called "Dogeza", to express immense shame and to apologize as hard as one could.
"I'm terribly sorry, Ryoma!"
They were lucky they found him so quickly, in the corner of this restaurant. He felt bad for interrupting his meal, catching him in mid bite of his rice. Still, as he was on his knees with Kojiro behind him, he grit his teeth in frustration as he heard Ryoma sigh as he put down his bowl.
"Well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed that you risked her life like this... " He trailed off, causing Bell to clench his eyes shut as he heard Ryoma moving, stepping towards him. Then to Bell's surprise, a warm hand patted him on the shoulder. "But I also can't say that I didn't expect this." Looking up, he saw Ryoma give him a small smile. The man shrugged almost nonchalantly. "Heck, I kinda wanted Haruhime to go out a bit. Poor girl's been isolated enough."
Pulling the young man up, Ryoma turned to Kojiro who stepped forward, uncrossing his arms.
"What do we do now?"
Ryoma's smile fell and he hummed in thought, rubbing his chin with a frown.
"I highly suspect that the Storm Faction is behind this. Which means this could cause a war." He glanced at the two with a worried expression. "Do you really want to be a part of this?"
He gave them a way out. And anyone normal would've taken that offer. They did their job. Ryoma was reliable, stronger and blessed unlike them. He had the resources and influence to find Haruhime and prevent the worst, if the worst was currently occurring. However... Bell curled his hands into fists. To just leave it to someone else felt wrong. To step back meant to run away. Was that something a hero would do? He thought of Haruhime and he grit his teeth. Was that something a friend would do? The answer was obvious.
"...Ryoma, I don't care."
"Hm?"
Bell looked up, his voice low but filled with heat as he glared at the man. A part of himself was surprised as well. He would balk at making enemies. To go against a greater power. But right now... all he felt was indignation. In his heart, a fire roared, desiring to protect and do the right thing.
"Whether it be a powerful familia or blessed far above me... " He straightened up his back and took a deep breath before shouting against the ceiling. "I'm not going to let them get away with this if they kidnapped her! I won't let them take my friend without at least a fight!"
Ryoma and Kojiro stared at him with wide eyes. Then they began to chuckle, causing Bell to blush, realizing what a scene he was actually causing. Before he could apologize for his outburst however, Ryoma nodded in approval.
"Damage is already done and I can use all the help I can get." He glanced at Kojiro as he put on his hat with a smile. "You choose a good one, Kojiro."
Bell blinked. Choose? Did he mean student? He couldn't help but grin a bit with a small blush. That Kojiro chuckled and didn't deny it certainly helped. Anyway, as they moved towards the exit, Ryoma came to a stop and looked over his shoulder.
"Sir, could you... ?"
One of the waiters didn't hesitate to bow in reverence, a dutiful smile on her face.
"Of course, Peacemaker! The message shall be swift!"
Bell wasn't sure what they meant, but if it meant they could get help down the line, he would certainly appreciate it. As they jogged down the streets, Kojiro turned to Ryoma who was following after them.
"So how do we find her?"
"Oh, I picked up some tricks," Ryoma merely replied, a glint in his eyes.
/
It was not an unusual sight. Two men standing in front of a warehouse, minding their own business as they guarded the entrance. With their blades on their hip, they were observing their surroundings with bored expressions. The man on the left yawned before turning to his partner.
"You wonder why we're here?"
The wolf man's eyebrow twitched. Then as he exhaled slowly he turned to the one that asked him that question while baring his teeth.
"Kai, I swear to the gods, if you ask this one more time, I will make other people wonder where you are."
"Sorry, just nothing is-"
"Where's Haruhime, you damn kidnappers!"
The two blinked at the young voice shouting, followed by frantic and fast footsteps. They turned towards the front, but they only had enough time to widen their eyes before a knee rammed into each of their faces, crashing them against the door. Landing on the ground as they grabbed their bleeding faces in pain, Bell took advantage of his lower build and pulled out the knife he owned. Before, he was hesitant to use it. But now, with a potential life on the line and Ryoma reassuring him that those who were Blessed were sturdy enough? He didn't waver.
The cuts across the backs of their knees felt shallow. It was like trying to cut through a heavy and thick substance. Still, it did the trick. Their bodies' reflexes caused their legs to buckle and lowered their heads to Bell's range. In a regular grip, he used the hilt of his dagger to hit their jaws as he quickly shifted the weapon in his hand as he sent out heavy hooks. They staggered but their eyes glared at him with rage. Before Bell could do anything more, like hitting their throats or anything, two individual feet smashed their faces in, breaking through the wooden door with ease.
Bell, out of breath, blinked before looking at Kojiro and then at Ryoma, who had their legs extended. While he felt that his thunder was kinda stolen, the two men shrugged and he exhaled, deciding to let it go. No need to waste time here. He was unblessed after all and it would take some time to take down two level 1s, surprise attack or not. Instead, he gathered his focus and held one of the men, the wolfman, at his collar and began to shake him.
"Where's she?! Where's the Renard you kidnapped?!"
All he received was a dazed gurgle before his head went limp. Bell blinked before he heard a polite cough behind him.
"Young master, I believe they are incapable of telling you now."
Indeed, their eyes were rolled up, utterly unconscious by now. He felt his face flush a bit as Ryoma put his hand on his shoulder before stepping forward into the area.
"We need to hurry, yes, but you need to stay calm."
"S-sorry... when I saw them I just... "
"It's alright." Ryoma hummed as he looked around before putting a hand on his weapon's handle. "But for the sake of efficiency…"
He and Kojiro looked down at the same time. In that instance, Bell felt a shiver down his spine. Suddenly, Ryoma seemed so much bigger and oppressive. It almost seemed like the air was twisting around him, his presence being so heavy. Then, he could only hear the sound of metal being unleashed into the air. Bell blinked when he saw Ryoma holding his blade in his right hand, unsheathed. When did he pull it out?
The next instance, the ground in front of him exploded. No, it was turned into perfectly cut boards of... wood? It revealed a path with stairs that went under the stone foundation of this warehouse, wide enough to push even a carriage through.
"Why, a god's blessing truly is an improvement, is it not?" Kojiro said with a smirk, unsheathing the blade he looted not so long ago. Ryoma glanced at him, before looking at his blade. Without a word, he threw his own, longer katana at Kojiro. The man blinked, catching it in the air.
"You are more comfortable with a longer reach, are you not?" He said with a knowing look. Kojiro stared at him for a moment before chuckling and handing over the smaller blade with a grateful bow.
"My thanks."
"Also, still not an invitation for you."
"Tch."
The two men laughed at each other before calming down. Bell straightened up his back when they turned to him, their smiles gaining a certain edge.
"Stay behind us."
"Do try to keep up."
With those words, they moved, faster than Bell expected. To his credit, his surprise only delayed him for a moment and he chased after them. Even from behind, seeing their backs, he could see that Ryoma was pacing himself, allowing Kojiro to keep up. Still, despite them "holding back", Bell could only feel awe... and a certain sense of uselessness in his heart.
"Intruders!"
"Gagh!"
"My arm!"
"Boss, the Ren-!"
The enemies were cut down like grass by a scythe. They raised their weapons in defense. They stuck to the wall for better defense. They tried to surround them. None of those strategies worked. Any stragglers that weren't cut down by Ryoma, who was using the back of his blade, were put out of commission by Kojiro. Nothing was left for Bell to do.
He wasn't far behind them. Maybe five meters at most, as the air was filled with the stench of iron. Yet... he genuinely felt how far away they were from him. Bell grit his teeth, but he shook off those negative thoughts. No time for personal feelings when Haruhime was this close. The resistance was obvious. One last set of doors. One last obstacle.
Ryoma broke through it with ease. Time seemed to slow down as he saw it. A long hallway. A part of Bell recognized that this might be an underground path to reach the outside of the capital. Another part focused solely on the girl in the grasp of three men. The blond ears twitched as she turned around. Seeing her expression caused Bell to run faster than before. How could he not? How could he react otherwise, with that tear stained face, an expression twisted in despair?
"Haruhime!"
However, just as he passed Kojiro and Ryoma, he was abruptly pulled back. Something blurred in front of him and he felt the clash ripple through the air, causing the walls around them to crack, if ever so slightly. It was only then that he realized that "these" thugs were above the usual ones, one of them even sharing Ryoma's divine pressure as well. It was then that he could actually recognize who these people were as he was sitting on the ground in shock.
"Great. Peacemaker is here," Crimson Moon Araki snarled, his arm pressing against Ryoma's blade, protected by his own arm guards. "This entire stupid thing would all be done with weren't it for you outsiders!"
The shock at seeing such "stars" of the Storm Faction, the executive and the Wind Blade, commit such a petty and evil deed was offset by his own growing anger. They treated this ordeal as if it was a tedious cleaning job. As if they weren't ruining a young girl's life. For once, Bell was glad for his bad luck. He couldn't imagine not trying to stop them, to let this crime go unpunished. Raising to his feet, he pointed at them in accusation.
"Why are you doing this?!"
As Araki was in a lock down with Ryoma, he hummed in thought, considering his options. The Wind Blade stepped forward, hiding Haruhime and the other human male behind him as he drew his blade. In the end, the Crimson Moon scoffed and began to push back against Ryoma. The Peacemaker grit his teeth as his feet began to push the dirt away, forced to back off.
"You don't know? Fucking hell!"
He exhaled with a sharp shout and threw a kick. Ryoma was forced to back off as his rips were targeted, sliding over the ground after landing from his backwards jump. With some breathing air, Araki laughed with a sneer as he pointed at Haruhime.
"This little bitch is a game changer! Can't let her stick around and boost that fuckin' Sun Faction!"
As the Renard flinched, lowering her head as if struck with shame itself, Ryoma's eyes widened in shock. Bell and Kojiro could only share a look of confusion before focusing back at the enemies in front of them. The former had his eyes narrowed. What was he talking about? Haruhime was just a level 1. What kind of magic could she have that could 'boost' a faction so much that it required to kidnap her and basically exile her from her home? As tears ran down Haruhime's cheeks, causing Bell's heart to burn, she shook as she looked up at the man having a tight hold on her arm.
"Please... just... I'll do anything... "
Yet her pleads fell on empty ears. Her assailants didn't care for her raw emotion, for her fear. All they cared for was their own agenda, morals be damned. Bell tightened his grip on his dagger, looking around for an opening. Yet to his frustration, he found none. The way to Haruhime was blocked by the two Arena Fighters and even if he got past them, there was the one "weaker" warrior that was still blessed unlike him.
"Then shut up and get sold in peace. The sooner you are out of this city the better." The Wind Blade grinned in a mocking manner, glancing at her before looking back at Bell and the others. "Can't let you give people level ups left and right, temporary as they are."
As someone who wasn't blessed, Bell lacked the specific context of how major this revealed ability was. However he understood and heard how long it took for people to level up. Years of effort, put into an innocent Renard who can give it away. In a way he now understood why Haruhime was hunted. That didn't excuse anything however. Because of that he leaned forward with a glare, ready to rush to her aid.
"I can't allow this," Ryoma announced in agreement to Bell's thoughts, pointing his short blade at them with a glare. His features seemed to soften up, as a pleading tone entered his voice. "Let her go. Final warning."
"Make us!" Araki shouted, cracking his knuckles with a bloodthirsty expression. "I always wanted to get rid of you meddling fuck!"
Ryoma lowered his gaze, his hat shadowing his eyes as he sighed.
"Hah... there are always people like you... "
In the next instance he shot forward, a gust of wind rushing through the hallway. The Crimson Moon snarled in response, digging his feet into the ground before his back was smashed into the wall behind him, now face to face with the Peacemaker.
The Wind Blade laughed in a manic tone, rushing at Ryoma's now open back. But instead of cutting flesh, steel diverted his blade. Blinking in surprise he barely backed away from the katana that desired his throat. As he leaned against the wall, the enemy tilted his head when Kojiro almost casually walked up to him, standing between hum and Ryoma as he tapped his shoulder with his weapon.
"Excuse me, but you will have to deal with me."
"Peh. Some random shit without a Blessing? Plea-"
The man couldn't finish his sentence. One moment Kojiro looked like he was taking a walk. The next moment the level two had to parry three strikes in rapid succession. His eyes were wide at the speed, but he merely used one arm to block the strikes as if they were attacks of a child. With a low chuckle the man eyed Kojiro with a manic glint in his eyes.
"...Not half bad. Guess you can entertain me after all!" He tilted his head at the last guard holding Haruhime."Oi, shithead, get her outta here already!"
"Yessir!"
"N-no, let me... !"
As the Wind Blade immediately dodged the incoming strike of Kojiro from above, trying to take advantage of his momentary distraction, Bell's eyes widened. As Haruhime was forcibly dragged away, her struggles became weaker. As if she already gave up. And here he was standing, doing nothing.
Before despair could set in however, he saw it. The open path right in the middle, created by Ryoma's now defensive fighting and leading his opponent away and by Kojiro's aggression. It was then that he realized it.
They trusted him to accomplish their goal, to save her. Bell felt a smile creep up before he took a deep breath and kept his face neutral in focus. No time to feel giddy at this. Duty came first.
Putting in as much power as he could, he pushed off the ground and ran. Past the mortals far beyond him. Leaving behind epic battles to fight his own. He drew his dagger. The man's ears twitched from his footsteps. Bell lowered his upper body, before leaping across the air. The man spun around with Haruhime, avoiding a direct clash. However he snarled when Bell swung his weapon as he passed by.
"Gagh!"
A wide gash appeared on his left arm, the arm not holding Haruhime. It wasn't too deep, but Bell took some enjoyment from the damage he inflicted, taking any impairment as small as they may be. With a deep breath Bell widened his stance, right hand and knife in front as he began to bounce off the ground.
"You won't pass!"
"We'll see about that, brat!"
The man let go of Haruhime who dropped to her knees like a puppet without strings. The sight caused Bell to flinch but he shook his head. With the fighting behind her, staying put was the wise choice, even if her defeated spirit hurt. He drew his weapon, the spear tip pointing at him. Yet he winced as his wound seemed to flare up, his hold on his weapon twitching. Bell didn't miss that chance.
He slapped the shaft away with his left palm and tried to close the distance. But even as his eyes widened, shocked at his initiative, it didn't last long. He spun his spear around, enough space to do so, with the wood rushing towards Bell's head. He barely ducked in in time, the air being cut above him. With a shout, he rammed his dagger into his side. For a moment he thought he did it. However even if he got through the clothes he wore, his flesh felt too dense. Bell tried to pull out his weapon, but it wouldn't budge. Looking up, he only saw the man's savage grin before his fist smashed into Bell's face. The boy almost lost his consciousness as he bounced off the ground and landed flat on his stomach. Tears mixed with blood and he covered his face in agony. Through the pain he could see the man hiss in pain, blood slowly dripping out of his stomach where the dagger was imbedded. Bell faintly recalled that one could survive a stab wound as long as the blade wasn't moved or pulled out. Still while he was happy he got a solid hit in, the cost for it was too great.
Someone who was blessed against someone who wasn't. Common sense dictated that Bell was doomed to lose. And it wasn't just his sneering opponent that thought so, moving carefully to not aggravate the damage he received .
"Please... just... just leave me… " Haruhime's voice was weak. Filled with fear and frustration. Yet she looked at Bell with pleading eyes, focusing solely on his wounds. "He's too strong! Just listen and you'll be-"
She cut herself off. But she said enough. Bell grit his teeth and his palms pressed against the ground.
She was correct. The man was too strong. She wasn't wrong to not have faith in him. He was just some random kid from the mountains. However...did Bell accept those facts? While they were correct, would Bell see their words as unshakeable truth?
The answer was obvious. Did the heroes and warriors in the stories give up against the overwhelming monsters? Did his grandpa fear the monsters and ran away when they threatened Bell? Could he accept giving up and leaving behind a girl that was crying?
It may have been foolish. He might even die from this. But Bell decided here and now...that he will defy the rules, no matter what it took. To give Haruhime freedom. To allow her hope. With that in mind, even as his legs were shaking, Bell Cranel rose in response to his spirit.
"Don't give up!" He shouted, spitting out the blood before wiping his face. He raised his fists, glaring his opponent down. "Fated to be a tool?! Fated to be hunted down?! Who decided that?!"
Despite the pain, he rushed forward once more. Even as the man tried his counter stab, he staggered as the sudden motion shook the knife in his gut. Bell managed to dodge to the side, going past the spear and duck underneath it before upper cutting the man.
"You choose your own path! Your own way!"
"Shut up, kid!"
The man shook the punch off and threw a kick. Bell narrowed his eyes and backed off in time, unable to grab his dagger in time. It was now that he could truly appreciate Kojiro. It was thanks to him that he could keep up in this fight. Being used to a faster and more skilled man, now that he cooled his head, Bell could avoid the injured spear wielder, despite his superior strength and toughness.
Still, it was nevertheless a stalemate. Neither was gaining an advantage. Bell was running out of breath as he pummeled his opponent while the man made his wounds worse. By all means, Bell could fight for time. Surely Ryoma's reinforcements would come sooner or later. However it felt wrong. Bell believed if he didn't do this the right way...Haruhime would never be free.
"You're... my friend... the first one I made... " Bell wiped his sweat off before straightening up his back "I want to see you smile. I won't abandon you! And I'm sure you think the same!"
She flinched, yet she didn't move. Bell grit his teeth, as the spear shaft hit him against his side. Pushing through the pain, his cheek was cutt as he barely avoided the follow up stab. Then with a fast twirl, Bell was pushed to his knees, as he was forced to hold onto the spear trying to press down on him.
"What do you want, Haruhime?!"
Her body began to shake. Then as new tears flowed she raised her head and her eyes shone, no longer looking empty.
"I... I... I want to live!"
"Then stand up! Just trust me!" Bell shouted, smiling despite the stress on his body. She slowly rose up, hesitation obvious in her shaking body. But then she acted at last.
She tried to run past the spear wielder. Credit where credit was due, the man reacted immediately. Most likely based on his orders, he grabbed onto her arm, forcing her to stop. Yet his obedience was the opening Bell needed.
Blessed or not, a spear was not meant for one arm. Bell pushed it away with ease. Time seemed to slow down. The man slowly turned to him, eyes wide as he realized his mistake. It spurned Bell on, to go as fast as he could.
The earth itself seemed to shrink, ever so slightly, if just for a moment. He grabbed a hold of his dagger. Then, in this momentary instance in which the man wasn't tense, as he was in movement stopping Haruhime, Bell wrenched it out. He heard the scream of agony as blood spilled out. But he didn't care.
It wasn't over until it was over. Taking the words to heart, Bell overcame his hesitation and took his first life. The knife created a bloody smile across his neck. The man gargle blood, choking for air. Then he collapsed to the ground, twitching ashis life left him.
Bell might've felt guilt. Regret. Disgust. Maybe later it would truly set in that he killed someone But right now? He felt too tired. Strength left his body and he collapsed.
"Bell!'
Warm arms held onto him, preventing him from hitting the ground. Blearily he looked up at Haruhime, sniffing as she supported him. In that moment, Bell smiled in relief.
"I... I did it... "
Her eyes widened in shock before a weak smile appeared. She wiped her eyes before weakly hitting his shoulder.
"You dummy... "
"I couldn't just... leave a friend behind... ow... "
Bell winced, his ribs and face aching aching lot more now. Slowly, Haruhime pulled him up, putting his arm around her shoulder.
"Here, lean on me."
Then, with a wordless nod, they moved back from where they came. The sounds of fighting were still echoing after all. It didn't take long despite their slow pace to see the action. The sight was enough to force Bell's drowsiness out of him.
Ryoma and Kojiro were losing. The former's hat long fell enough, revealing the blood and bruises on his face. His opponent was also cut at several spots, but Ryoma was clearly on the back foot.
Kojiro was even worse. His opponent was practically untouched. Bell couldn't follow the Wind Blades movements when wounds appeared on his teacher. To his credit he blocked a few blows, but he clicked his tongue when other attacks landed, reaching deeper and deeper into his flesh. Kojiro couldn't defend against the Shohato in the long term.
It was then that they noticed Bell and Haruhime. While their allies smiled, nodding approvingly at Bell, the Crimson Moon snarled as the Wind Blade scoffed. The former cracked his neck before a man grin appeared on his face.
"Fuck it. You won't get to leave alive, you idiots. None of you. So what if you defeated a level 1?"
"Would defeating a level 2 put a damper on your morale I wonder?"
Everyone's heads snapped at Kojiro, fear fear and worry and pride forgotten at Araki's threat. A shiver went down Bell's spine. He could feel Haruhime's tail twitching as she paled. The air around Kojiro changed, as if his very presence could cut everyone down. It was enough to put everyone, especially the level 2 on guard
"This rule that numbers are everything... shall I break that belief open with brute force?" Kojiro asked in a low tone, his body appearing like a distorted blur.
/
Life has been rather strange for Kojiro. For one, he was actually alive again. Not summoned as a servant, but incarnated as a living, breathing being. For another, he apparently had a student now that looked up to him, that saw him as a role model. Suffice to say, he had been feeling out of depth for a while now. He had not a lot of experience guiding anyone. Not even during his existence in Chaldea. There were many others that were more qualified in such things. What did he do? Kill, kill and kill some more. A manslayer unknown to the world, his only accomplishment being slaying a swallow. Yet the boy followed him. Chasing after a great shadow only he saw.
He had misjudged the boy. Initially he thought that Bell merely wanted strength. But that wasn't it. He desired something more. A dream more pure than most. A simple desire to be a hero, just like in the stories. To stand up for those that needed him. Perhaps for the first time, Sasaki Kojiro felt guilt. For taking things too easy while his "young master" was beaten, exhausted and hurt. Yet he struggled to save a lone girl. Friends. Could they really pull so much strength out of someone? It wasn't the same as the Master of Chaldea. To truly care for someone like this, to risk one's life, not as a servant but as a person… When did he become like that as well, Kojiro wondered? Not to the same extent, but these new feelings he felt, when he saw Bell's disapproval... it hit a simple fact home.
He wasn't a servant anymore. He wasn't someone that could just cut things down here and there with no consequences anymore. And every time this boy seemed disappointed, yet shook it off and stared at him with such wide eyes... It started to instill the feeling in Kojiro that he should show off every now and then. To be the symbol he believed the Japanese man to be.
Exhaling slowly, he skidded forward, his feet not leaving the ground. He took some satisfaction when his opponent backed off by instinct. So there was at least some skill behind that rather embarrassing flailing of his.
It wasn't the first time he had to fight someone far superior than him. Phantoms of memories resurfaced in his mind. Of heroic kings, of rampaging giants, of beasts and dragons. If nothing else, each and every time, this humble former wraith could at least put somewhat of a fight. So this? This was just another day for Kojiro. So what if he was injured? So what if his opponent was faster and stronger?
Kojiro merely smiled as he moved. He almost felt at home, being the underdog. Perhaps it was this familiar territory, that made him realize that he had been a bit too easy going lately. It would certainly explain how "rusty" his body felt, despite it being new, how the art of slaying swallows was eluding him since he incarnated. But thankfully, there was one simple method to get rust off like this.
His eyes darted all over his target. Neck. Arm throat. Ankles. Stomach. Shoulder. Even as he dashed forward, raising his unfortunately short blade in the air, he kept pondering what spot to attack. His body vibrated, ready to hit any of those at any given moment. He ignored how his opponent seemed to flounder, almost panicking as he tried to make sense of what he would target. It wouldn't be up to the last moment Kojiro settled for the stomach. Sadly the so called Wind Blade made up for his lack of insight with raw speed. Blade met blade and Kojiro had to twist his wrist to avoid the follow up. The burn of flesh being ever so slightly cut didn't bother him by now. Why should it?
There was no strength behind these blows. Not compared to what he expected with that speed. With the way the man muttered in their fight, he assumed it was some sort of magic. It kind of reminded him of a certain Counter Guardian back in Chaldea who manipulated his personal time. Only way more disappointing. In the end, this battle came down to this Shinjiro's superior status against his personal skill. And now that he tried properly? This fight was even enough.
Little by little, Kojiro was beginning to avoid damage. From cutting his flesh, it only began to graze. From grazing, the famed Wind Blade couldn't touch his ruined clothes anymore, as he dodged with the minimum amount and parried more and more optimally. In return, Kojiro was beginning to strike back. Despite the speed, it meant nothing if he was a step behind mentally, trying and failing to read Kojiro. At the first blood he drew, Shinjiro snarled and his form became even more sloppy. By all means, the former Assassin could have finished this by a thousand cuts.
But would that be satisfying? Would that be fitting for Bell's resolve? No. His moves became more smooth. And honestly, part of Kojiro wanted to show off for once. He had a responsibility now. As a teacher. As a living being. As a hero a young boy looked up to, no matter how mind boggling the last title was for him.
In the past, when he attempted this, it felt off. Losing his servant status just made everything feel foreign. The touch of the wind. The feeling and weight of a blade. The lack of swallows to practice on. But now that he managed to warm up properly? Even with this short blade, he should be able to do it now. Not to mention, he had to show his student what the peak looked like he wanted to reach, right? He widened his stance, the blade held next to his head while its tip pointed at his opponent. The man raised an eyebrow as Kojiro took a deep breath.
"Hiken."
The man put his guard up remarkably fast. Unfortunately for him, it was the wrong choice.
"Tsubame Gaeshi."
Three strikes. One breath. Neck, stomach, legs. To the Wind Blade's credit, he moved fast, intending to use this Shohato technique to block two strikes and avoid the third. Maybe he thought what he saw were just mere illusions. It would have been a decent move if it were. However... The pinnacle of this world would find itself wanting to his 'Infinity'. His cocky grin widened when his blade met the strike from above. Yet it vanished in an instance, leaving behind pure horror when the other two strikes did not stop at all. He began to stumble back, his eyes moving with their enhanced speed, to figure out how to escape. But if mere speed was enough to flee from Tsubame Gaeshi's cage of death... well, he doubted that this man was faster than a swallow, since he certainly wasn't smaller.
In the end, it was futile. In his panic, the Wind Blade remained stationary, the momentary stillness enough of a mistake to pay for it eternally. Through the blade into the neck. Through the arm into the stomach. And through one leg to the other. It spoke of the Peacemaker's eye for quality that Kojiro felt close to no resistance when he finally, truly, cut his opponent down. He couldn't even scream in pain, as his eyes dimmed. As if death was the escape from the impossibility of what just happened. The body parts dropped to the ground, the stench of blood filling the air. With a swift cut through the air, Kojiro removed the blood and tapped his shoulder with the blade, sighing happily.
"Ah, finally! It certainly took a while to figure it out again!" He held up his blade with a small chuckle. "Of course the reach was a bit short, but alas, nobody's perfect."
"What the hell?!"
Kojiro turned around, blinking. The enemy level four was visibly shaking, pointing at him with pale white skin. Haruhime and Bell were gaping with their mouths so wide he almost thought that they were part yokai for a second. Kojiro tilted his head in confusion. Why was everyone always reacting like that? Surely with all the magic and myths something like that couldn't be so mind boggling, right? Saber, or rather, Artoria was like that as well and she reigned over Camelot!
"Hahahaha... " Ryoma shook his head, sweat running down his face. At least that was something he was familiar with. Exasperation but acceptance. That laughing seemed to shake the fist fighter out of his shock. WIth a snarl, trying to hide fear with anger, he slammed his foot down, causing cracks. Kojiro smirked a bit, raising his blade with one hand.
"Fuck it, I don't care whatever magic you used-"
"I didn't," Kojiro interjected, politely raising his hand.
"-but I'll just have to murder each and every single one of you by myself the-"
He wouldn't get to finish that sentence. Kojiro and Ryoma wouldn't get to fight this man, more dangerous than the corpses in this hallway. As if the wrath of gods came down on them, the entire ceiling collapsed with violent force. Kojiro jumped back in time as the children behind him screamed in panic. Squinting, he tried to see through the smoke. His ears twitched when he heard the hyperventilating breathing stop all of a sudden. It was then that he could start to make out the figure of the invader. The sight caused his eyes to widen and the hair on his neck stand up.
To a stranger, she looked innocent enough. A black long skirt outfit, more fitting to the modern world before the year 2000 Kojiro and Ryoma knew. Hair so long it seemed impractical as it reached even the ground. But more importantly, the red glowing eyes, revealing slitted pupils eying Ryoma with a frozen expression.
"Who did this to you?" Oryou asked without any emotion, yet it caused her husband to gulp anyway. After all, the pressure in the air only intensified since she arrived. If the level 4s were a minor inconvenience, the lady's presence was almost suffocating for him. Kojiro instinctively moved in front of his ward and his friend. Oh dear. They might all die after all, if Ryoma didn't stop her.