Chapter 165: The Duel Invitation from the Maguu Kenki
Chapter 165: The Duel Invitation from the Maguu Kenki
There was no path at first, but as more people walked on it, a road appeared.
Sometimes, though, you don't need footsteps to forge a path, a sword might do just as well.
At the end of the frozen path, a humanoid monster stood mid-swing, its sword frozen in motion.
Huge ghostly masks floated around it, adding an air of eerie mystery.
It was clad in heavy armor, thick white hair streaked with deep blue that resembled the Ice Element, and spikes protruding from its helmet that resembled the horns of an oni, radiating an aura of nobility and deadly menace.
Its face was obscured under the helmet, sealed with a tattered and ancient charm.
Perhaps due to the passage of time, the charm was worn and incomplete, as though a portion was missing.
The most disturbing part was the thin, almost invisible threads that stretched across its limbs and torso.
If Bai Luo hadn't had better vision than most, he might have completely missed those faint threads, which seemed to stretch upward and vanish into the void itself.
"Maguu Kenki?!"
The strange appearance finally jogged Bai Luo's memory — it was the monster from that side quest.
It's a monster league above the Kairagi.
Not only was it a required boss for Kazuha's ascension materials, but Bai Luo vividly remembered struggling against it back when he wasn't very proficient at his account.
Its unique attack patterns had cost him countless defeats in the Abyss back then.
"Why– why is this thing here?!"
Even the fisherman was stunned upon seeing the Maguu Kenki clearly.
"It usually stays near the Serpent's Head, and as long as you don't approach it, it normally doesn't attack people!"
Now he understood why no one who ventured into Fort Mumei ever returned.
The origins of this puppet swordsman were unknown, but its combat ability was terrifying.
Forget about ordinary adventurers, even some Vision bearers would struggle against it.
"Is it... issuing a challenge to Himura-san?"
Teppei, observing the Maguu Kenki facing Bai Luo, offered his own guess.
In the past, faced with such a monster, Teppei would have panicked far more than the seasoned fisherman.
But after enduring grueling training which included swordsmanship, medicine, his psychological resilience, and having his heart metaphorically "stabbed" daily, had toughened him in every sense of the word.
"Yeah, it's a challenge," Bai Luo said calmly.
He sheathed his Reverse Blade Sword and looked steadily at the Maguu Kenki.
This creature was not a living being, it was an artificial construct.
It couldn't speak normally, instead, it spoke through its sword.
And it had sensed that Bai Luo was one of the rare few who could actually "hear" the voice of swords.
This strike it had unleashed was both an invitation to battle and a greeting.
However... Bai Luo refused.
He wasn't ready to fight it yet.
As he always believed, whatever he did, he pursued with absolute caution.
Until he knew whether the Tatarigami could affect him, he would not foolishly throw himself into danger.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Sunsettia.
After a few lazy spins of his arm, he tossed the fruit toward the Maguu Kenki.
Let this fruit be their promise, once he had taken care of business, he would come back and accept the duel.
The Maguu Kenki, seeing the Sunsettia flying toward it, didn't raise its sword.
Instead, it instinctively reached out and caught the fruit in its hand.
Its intelligence was limited, but it understood that this wasn't an attack.
Clutching the fruit, the Maguu Kenki looked at Bai Luo again, sword intent surging uncontrollably, slicing through the air.
Bai Luo, however, completely ignored the provocation.
Waving a casual goodbye, he leapt back onto the boat.
Once Bai Luo was aboard, the fisherman rowed even faster than before, as if wishing he had a few more arms to escape even quicker.
Meanwhile, the Maguu Kenki stood alone at the edge of Fort Mumei, holding the Sunsettia, looking, for the first time, a little lost.
In the drizzling rain, the Maguu Kenki stared in the direction the small boat had disappeared, standing there for a long while before finally turning away.
"That thing probably can't eat, right?"
Back on the boat, Bai Luo suddenly remembered another matter.
Qiqi could still taste sourness because she had once been human and thus retained a human sense of taste.
But what about the Maguu Kenki?
If even a non-living puppet like it could taste the sourness of a Sunsettia... well, that would be something truly extraordinary.
The encounter with the Maguu Kenki was just a small interlude.
Thanks to the fisherman's hard work, the boat soon reached a dock and slowly pulled ashore.
"This place is near Jakotsu Mine. Most of Inazuma's minerals used to come from here, until the Shogunate collaborated with Fontaine to create the Mikage Furnace. After that, this place gradually declined. Back then, this dock was bustling," the fisherman explained to Bai Luo after they landed.
Indeed, although the dock was relatively small, it had all the essential facilities.
There was even a small crane tower. Judging from the various crates piled up nearby, it was clear this place had once been very prosperous.
As soon as Bai Luo and the fisherman set foot on land, hidden resistance fighters emerged from the surrounding shadows.
They had been waiting, having received word in advance, but to avoid being spotted by the Shogunate's spies, they had stayed hidden until now.
"Himura-san!"
The resistance members, armed with spears, looked extremely excited.
They had heard long ago that Battousai had arrived at Watatsumi Island.
Unfortunately, due to being stationed at Yashiori Island and busy fighting, they hadn't had the chance to return and meet him.
Now that they knew this great figure was coming to Yashiori Island, they had even volunteered to brave the Tatarigami to welcome him.
One of them even tried to remove his straw raincoat to drape it over Bai Luo.
"You've all worked hard. Let's head to the camp first,"
Bai Luo said, politely declining the offered coat, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his Reverse Blade Sword.
A faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafted into the air.
Everyone's vision blurred for a moment, and to their amazement, the Reverse Blade Sword had transformed into a red oil-paper umbrella.
Dressed in red, holding the red umbrella, Bai Luo seemed to sweep away all the filth and oppressive air surrounding them.
Even the resistance members, who had been suffocating under the effects of the Tatarigami for so long, now felt refreshed and clear-headed.
"Himura-san is truly an extraordinary man," someone exclaimed.
Though they were no strangers to the powers of Vision holders, this kind of "sword turning into umbrella" trick was something they'd never seen before.
Even though Teppei had not officially been acknowledged as Bai Luo's disciple, training under Bai Luo had already raised his status significantly.
While he wasn't treated as highly as Bai Luo, a few resistance members still gathered around him, eager to please, and kept asking how they could become Himura-san's disciples.
Teppei could only respond with a wry smile. After all, even he had not been formally recognized as a disciple.
"To become my disciple, you're still missing something."
That was what Bai Luo had once told him.
But what exactly was he missing?
Teppei had never fully understood.
Perhaps... it was the "killing intent" that Bai Luo had been trying to cultivate within him all along.
. . . . . . . .
The distance from the dock to the army camp wasn't far.
Before long, they arrived at Fort Fujitou, located in the northern part of Yashiori Island.
"Himura-san, we meet again."
Outside the camp, Gorou was already waiting with a group of resistance officers.
The enthusiastic wagging of his tail clearly showcased his good mood.
Bai Luo's mood was similarly excellent.
The "fish" had been properly trained, now, it was time to work on training the "dog."
. . . . .
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