[Belzegia-samaâââââ]
He appeared.
He finally showed himself.
It seems that he really hadnât been affected by my skill.
As I was thinking about that, the man disappeared again.
He appeared almost near my âs area of effect.
So to speak, it was at the âedgeâ of my skillâs range.
......Freaking b*stard.
The moment he entered my skillâs area of effect, he felt something out of place huh.
When he disappeared, he âretreatedâ backwards.
He didnât try getting closer though.
A moment later, the sound of wind âresoundedâââââ
Klaaaang!
A sword.
Itâs a sword.
Still hidden away from my sightââââ He threw a sword at me.
The effect of my âmade the sword slowâ.
Seras then went straight for the sword and flicked it away.
......Heâs trying to figure out what my âs effect is huh.
If the time passes while heâs doing things like thisââââ the time being bought by my 5000MP will run out.
[.....................]
However......
One strange thing happened.
The first time he attacked......
It was about 5 meters away from where he appeared earlier.
But just now, he appeared just barely within the range of my .
Putting aside 5 meters away, he could have appeared somewhere further away from there.
Thereâs no need for him to show up there......
Yes, I couldnât think of any advantage of him appearing there at all.
So, why?
Was it automatically cancelled out?
What caused it?
......Agitation?
Indeed, when one experiences for the first time, theyâll probably be surprised.
The faster one understands the nature of this skill, the more they will think of how âdangerousâ it is.
Thatâs why he âwithdrewâ away in an instant.
Perhaps, for him to vanish from othersâ sight......
Does he need to make sure that heâs mentally focused?
The moment he entered the range of , his consciousness was disturbed?
And if I can mentally shake him up...... I would be able to âcancelâ out his ability?
Moreover, if he needs to stay mentally focused......
That also means that it would be harder for him to focus on other things than normal.
Thereupon......
The chance to find an opening in his movements would appear huh......?
At this moment, the enemy seemed to have completely understood the properties of .
Seras had already knocked down several swords that he had thrown in our direction.
Immediately afterwardsâââ The attacks suddenly stopped.
I glanced at the status screen.
[.......................]
Time is up.
My 5000MP were consumed.
has also been canceled out.
From here on out, it would be on cooldown.
I wonât be able to use for a while.
Even as my skill was deactivated, time continued flowing.
The only thing my ears can pick up is the deafening groans of the Sixth.
ââââFwoooshhhââââ
Once again, a sword was thrown.
Seras knocked it down as well.
But this time...... the sword didnât slow down.
Itâs quite obvious.
The sword just now was to make sure that my skill was still in effect.
However, thanks to ......
I was able to understand the characteristics of the enemyâs abilityâââ- I think.
The key to success would probably be for me âto turn the tables at himâ.
Yes, if I were to use that which had been generated by his ability......
[.....................]
And......
Those three......
I dug out a certain memory within my mind.
[Seras.]
[Yes.]
[Can I ask you...... to protect me?]
[Yesâââ]
The frost on Serasâ ice sword increased in density.
[Itâs for this reason that I am your knight.]
He appeared once again.
Diagonally behind usââââ
The first to react is Seras.
Quickly twisting her waist, she unleashed a sweeping slash.
However, as it turned out, Serasâ attack was a âdefensive strikeâ.
Her sword received John Doeâs sword strike.
As for me......
[ââârk> ]
I used .
Among the skills I possess, when it comes to its decisive factor, itâs a rather weak skill.
For example, if the opponent can fight with their eyes closed, the skill is meaningless.
But itâs also the fastest skill I could use, because it only has 1 syllable.
Howeverââââ Before I could finish speaking it, John Doe disappeared.
Even was too slow for me to cast huh.
(T/N: was originally 3 syllables in the Japanese raws, as Touka would have to say âDa-a-kuâ, but I changed it to follow its english counterpart instead.)
âMy enemy within my field of visionâ
âMy arm pointed towards themâ
After securing this, I say the name of the skill.
Even if the direction my arm is pointed to is just towards where Iâm guessing the enemy will be......
My enemy within my field of vision â Verbally speaking the skillâs name
As expected though, this process would inevitably be a bottleneck.
Just like that, John Doe continued to attack me.
But this time too, Seras just barely managed to block his strikes.
[Pipiii!]
Pigimaru was also desperately trying to sense him.
Being that we couldnât see our enemy, we couldnât help but be conscious of our backs.
However, the enemy seemed to understand this and was setting up his attacks accordingly.
Thatâs why heâs mixing in attacks from the front, left and right.
Even soââââ- I feel like my senses are going crazy here.
After disappearing, it was as if I werenât fighting anyone at all.
In other words, itâs as if his existence and non-existence were alternately being flicked on and off.
[......................]
However, this guy......
I learned a certain strangeness of John Doe.
As I was thinking about that......
John Doe appeared.
A moment later......
Pop!
It burst apart.
So thatâs how it is huh......
Freaking b*stardââââ
[Kuhh!?]
Seras somehow managed to react.
But this time, she only somehow managed to barely block his strike.
[Are you alright?]
[Uuuu...... My apologies. Itâs just......]
[âââ-Eyes huh.]
This freaking b*stard.
He just âstompedâ on a soldier fallen on the ground.
Jumping in for an attack, it didnât matter to him if he stepped on his soldierâs head, crushing it under his feet.
And with his stomp, blood and various other things vigorously scattered around.
The burst of blood, even if it was for a moment, took away our attention.
And that burst of blood splashed, hitting Seras on her eyes.
Kashakk!
The visor on Serasâ forehead lowered down, covering her eyes.
Her armor did have such a function huh.
I donât think Iâve seen that in a while.
[However...... Itâs alright. For me, whatâs reflected in my eyes arenât everythingâââ- I can do this.]
In fact......
[Die.]
[ <>
Klaaaang!
Seras blocked his next attack.
She defended me.
âThe less you rely on your vision, the sharper your nerves become and the more sensitive they become to the presence of others.â
Thatâs what you often see in those so-called battle mangas.
Thereâs actually someone who pulls off such a thing right before my eyes huh......
Even John Doe was momentarily taken aback by this and stopped movingâââ
ââârk> ]
......it didnât hit again huh.
John Doe has already withdrawn away.
He didnât seem to be that shaken by what Seras did.
As I had expected...... My Abnormal State Skill is unable to follow his speed.
[Tsk.]
Even soââââ He was this fast huh.
Withdrawing immediately after slashing with his sword.
Rather than immediately......
It feels like his speed is already on the level where heâs attacking and withdrawing at the same time.
For his retreating speed to be that fast..... Thatâs just too abnormal.
He isnât just someone with the ability to erase his presence.
That speed is also one of John Doeâs powerful weapons huh.
......However......
I think Iâm almost certain now.
John Doe......
This guy......
[............................]
If such a thing exists......
That will beâââ-
His opening.
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The next chapter will be updated on August 16 (Monday), around 9:00pm.