Chapter 68: The Hopeless Stratagem

At that moment, Akari lunged toward Shingin, moving so fast that he seemed to blur into a shadow. Shingin raised his water blade to defend himself, but Akari's dagger sliced upward, colliding mid-air with another blade. The force of the impact pushed Shingin back a step, and as he retreated, another dagger shot toward him from behind.

The blade cut through the air with a piercing whistle. Shingin rolled instinctively to evade it, but not fast enough to avoid the graze. A sharp pain flared across his back, and a thin line of blood began to seep through his clothes. He gasped for breath, his wide eyes fixed warily on Akari.

"Brother..." The girl's voice echoed again, faintly laced with impatience. "You're wasting time. I'm so tired."

"I'm sorry, Akane." Akari inclined his head slightly, as though apologizing to someone who wasn't there. Then, his expression turned even more deranged. "Don't worry. It'll all be over soon."

Before Shingin could react, Akari leaped forward, dagger in hand, closing the distance in an instant.

"Close-range combat!" Shingin muttered under his breath, retreating instinctively to create space. Yahageshii and Ryuosho reacted simultaneously, each leaping away to avoid Akari's charge. Meanwhile, Alien Soul flared into view, flickering as it synchronized with Yahageshii's movements.

Despite their quick responses, Shingin's unease only deepened. Something was missing.

Where's the dagger?

Realization struck like lightning. Behind me again? Shingin spun around just in time to catch a glint of steel streaking toward him.

"Damn it!" He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. The dagger tore through his clothes, leaving a fresh gash across his chest. Blood welled from the wound, and he stumbled backward, struggling to keep his balance.

When Shingin turned to look, the dagger had already returned to Akari's hand as if it had never left.

Akari's laughter rang out, manic and unrestrained. "Akane, did you see that? They can't even dodge properly! It's absolutely hilarious!"

"They're not worth living, brother," the girl's voice chimed in again, circling through the air like a ghostly melody. It burrowed into the bones of everyone present.

Akari stopped his assault for a moment, his gaze slithering like a serpent among his prey. His twisted grin deepened. "You're right, Akane. They're nothing but pitiable insects. But let your brother play a little longer."

With deliberate calm, Akari gripped his dagger tightly and began closing the distance again. His steps were unhurried yet purposeful, each one brimming with an unnerving confidence. Shingin and Yahageshii tracked his movements, only to freeze as Akari suddenly revealed a handgun in his other hand.

"When did he—?" Yahageshii's pupils narrowed to pinpoints.

"Bang!"

A single gunshot reverberated through the air, but its impact was twofold.

Shingin caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye: the bullet had struck one of the flying daggers, ricocheting it toward Yahageshii. Before Yahageshii could dodge, the blade embedded itself in his shoulder, drawing a sharp grunt of pain.

How is he this precise? Shingin thought, his stomach churning with unease.

The second dagger struck Ryuosho's leg. He cried out in pain, clutching his calf as he dropped to one knee.

Shingin's heart pounded as he stared at Akari. This man isn't human. Every weapon in the air—the daggers, the bullets, even the way they collided—seemed alive, as if extensions of Akari's own body. Each movement felt meticulously choreographed, each reaction perfectly predicted.

The air itself seemed to grow heavier, suffocating under the weight of Akari's killing intent.

"We need a plan!" Myouka's knuckles turned white as she gripped her bow, scanning Akari's movements. Her back was drenched in cold sweat.

Yahageshii muttered a curse under his breath. "This bastard's a monster."

Akari bent down slightly, running his fingers over the edge of his dagger like an artist admiring his masterpiece. He suddenly straightened, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained mania. "Akane, do you want to see your brother's ultimate move?"

The girl's voice giggled, cheerful yet devoid of warmth. "Yes! You're the best, brother! They'll die so horribly, won't they?"

Akari spread his arms wide, his presence growing even more sinister. Patting his chest as though reassuring himself, he murmured, "Akane, watch closely. Your brother will make them beg for death in despair!"

With that declaration, Akari drove his dagger into the ground. The sharp screech of metal against stone reverberated as the earth trembled ever so slightly. It was as if some forbidden force had been awakened by his actions.

The airborne weapons began to shift, moving with unnatural precision. They formed a circular pattern, rotating slowly as if tethered to invisible strings.

Shingin stared, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Is this chaos or... a setup?

Akari's gaze locked onto Shingin, and his voice dropped to a menacing murmur. "Akane, isn't this the one you hate the most?"

"Yes! Brother, make him disappear!" The girl's shrill voice seemed to pierce through their ears like needles.

Akari laughed maniacally, his body a blur as he charged at Shingin. Each step he took fell perfectly in line with the strange formation of spinning weapons, as though he were dancing on a stage he had designed.

Shingin's heartbeat thundered in his chest. He had no choice. If we don't counterattack now, we'll all be slaughtered.