Exchanging Pointers 2

The two then charged at me from opposite sides. Their strength is definitely top notch. I would say they are at the middle tier of what this world can offer. The top being the stronger races, together with the strongest humans. Standing at the peak are the Archons and a few special cases.

I carefully watched out for any surprise attacks, being most wary of the ring of electro surrounding them. I took note that it has healing capabilities, but I doubt that is all it can offer...

"Work with me properly this time chief! Our opponent is tough." Kuki said... more like ordered the oni to comply.

"So I'll just do my thing and you do yours?" He asked in confusion.

(I don't think that is it...")

I was about to clarify things with him, when the shinobi nodded. I did not understand anything about what happened at all... But they looked like they did as Itto readies his big mace for another showdown.

"Ora!" He exclaimed as he suddenly appeared in front of me, his action hinting at an upward slash.

I was able to dodge it easily once again, but he didn't stop this time. He continued his combo of up smash over and over while screaming 'Ora!' all over the place.

I was forced to deflect some of his attacks , with that big mace of his. I can clearly feel the pain and numbness in my hands.

(The main thing about the gloves is to hide my possible injuries. My lesson would be better if they were not to hesitate just because of a wound that would heal up later...)

He was finally about to run out of stamina, when he went out and did one final attack.

This time, he jumped into the air and gripped the mace with both his hands, before smashing it downwards like he's about to, so scream 'Demacia!' or something.

...And since I definitely can't deflect this shit, I took some distance away from it.

(Uwahh... Poor dojo floor, it didn't even commit a single sin!)

Ayaka was about to explode when she saw the amount of damage it did. I mean, the ground shook for a bit there... But Shuten was able to pacify her.

Speaking of explosions, that electro ring was about to finally do something as it glowed. Two electro discharges happened simultaneously from opposite sides. Itto seemed to be confident of what would happen since he had a huge smirk while continuing his pose.

I immediately looked behind me and found no one. Kuki completely disappeared after using the other ability of the ring. The two discharges were slowly and sure getting close to me, and I was clearly cornered.

The only option to is to either duck or jump. I need to pick one of the two options... but that's probably what they are aiming for. So I did the unexpected and faced it head on. With some trickery, both discharges also disappeared completely.

"You're not the only one who can make things disappear. I was even called a jester by my arch nemesis, and I utterly disliked the notion." I stated with a wry smile. I heard Shuten's damned laugh once again.

(Just kidding! There's no trick in it... I just used the cryo element to counter it, while hiding the collision with shrouding magecraft. If you get close to my place, you can still feel the coldness of the atmosphere-)

"What the fuc-" I was woken up from my thoughts, as I barely dodged something that flew straight for me.

"Holy Cow!... It really is a cow! Why the hell did you throw it at me?!!!" I asked the perpetrator and user of the murder weapon, stupefied at what had occurred.

"You're pretty good aincha big boss?! You still dodged it even when I used my full effort on not saying 'Go Ushi!', and yeah! That cow-bull thing is my partner, Ushi!" He praised with a wide smile.

"But that's not all we have big boss! You better watch out!" He warned, but it was too late.

"Dodge this! [Gyoei Narukami Kariyama Rite]!" She stabbed her blade to the ground, and the ritual she prepared beforehand activated.

(I noticed that most fighters here have a special ability of sorts, not that my old world didn't. But I need to think of what I should call it later... And no, I refuse to dodge! This is the final piece that I need, after all!)

Large amounts of electro element gathered from the ground beneath me and burst forth. I must say that its appearance has style... was the last thing I thought of before getting hit by it directly.

"Lu!!!" I heard the princess scream from afar.

"Hey boss... Are you okay?" Even Itto was a bit worried, it seems.

"Cough* Cough* I am fine, don't worry." I said as it finally stopped. My body, covered with a few injuries.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Kuki asked if I was dumb, but was also a bit worried about what happened.

"To actually teach the two of you, I naturally need to know how strong both of you are. I was given the opportunity to do so, and I took it that's all. You might lack in terms of power compared to Itto because of his oni blood, but It should give me the information I need nonetheless." I answered with my usual smile, unfazed with the situation I'd gotten myself into.

"But Goddamn! That was shocking, to say the very least." I joked with a smirk.

"How about you catch my sword techniques next, Lu?" Ayaka didn't seem to like it, though. But the others giggled, mostly Itto.

(Hey! That was a good one, I think... This princess just can't take a joke.)

"Now that's done and all. Let's start with you Itto. You and me, one on one." I encouraged the oni, and he accepted.

***

The fight was pretty much the same as before, without Kuki's intervention. But I didn't hold on too much this time and knocked him out.

Then I pointed out the flaws in his fighting skills. Mostly the fact that he leaves himself wide open for every swing he does, just for a few style points. He at least didn't throw the bull at me this time.

"You're up Shinobu, I have a special lesson for you..." I said with an ominous smile.

"Fufufufu~. Hold back on the girl a bit now, hon~. Both of you would meet more since she pretty much manages the whole oni clan now after all~." Shuten's words didn't reassure the shinobi at all.

Not only her, even Ayaka was having a bad feeling about this...