41 – The Assassin’s Blade Dances
Without a sound, the blades flashed.
They were dark gray as they swung down from the front. Curved like a scimitar. It made it harder to judge their reach.
The speed and precision was incredible.
Yukito understood why Grafios had said they were above A-Rank.
Each was like a one man army. And they were attacking in perfect synchronization with each other now. It seemed like they would have no way of surviving. From the outside.
However…
Just as the blade came down in front of Yukito.
All at once, all of them felt a chill.
Still, they were able to react. Proving that they were indeed, among a small number of elite within the continent.
The symphony of ringing metal echoed, and sparks flew in the air.
It was like a circus. The men in black danced and dashed through the air, cutting in every direction.
However, their blades never reached Yukito.
(What…?)
Chen Yulong watched as if stunned.
He was no stranger to the art of combat. Anyone who lived in the underworld knew it to a degree.
But for him, combat was just about blood and death.
This…seemed different.
It was artistic.
In the same realm and a painting or opera. Like it was cut off from reality.
He almost wanted to say they were playing.
It did not feel dangerous. Even though they were surely running on a fine line between life and death.
However, this trance-like state ended, not because of something that happened in front of him, but from a sound that came from the side.
“Ha-haah!!!”
A laugh and shout.
Grafios—who was called Behemoth, was running wild.
He grabbed the swinging blade with his bare hands, tearing them away and tossing them. And then he would slam down with his giant army halberd. It was a military weapon.
Each hit shattered the marble floor. And while his strength seemed to be inhuman, the fight still continued.
Not that the assassins were escaping injury. One had been cut at the shoulder, and blood was dripping to the floor.
However, Grafios could not follow up on the attack. The next assassin quickly stepped in.
One against multiple enemies. But in spite of the disadvantageous situation, Grafios was laughing. As if he was a child, enjoying a fight.
(I see…)
After seeing this, Chen finally understood.
Why the man in front of him—Yukito’s fighting did not feel real.
(Not a single drop of blood has been spilt…)
Something necessary when people were killing.
It was ridiculous, considering the amazing techniques he was using.
This could only happen if both sides were doing it on purpose, or one side was overwhelmingly more powerful.
(He is holding back…)
Like he was dealing with a child.
Chen shuddered when he reached this conclusion.
While it was said that they were comparable to A-Rank Hunters, that was not in scenarios where they had to fight head-on.
Besides, Grafios was only A-Rank because Hunters did not have an S-Rank. He was not the same as the other Hunters.
Still, Chen thought it was possible to kill Grafios.
The assassins were born and raised in Phoenix Town. They were fanatically loyal. They could help each other, abandon each other, and risk their lives without hesitation. So even if he was S-Rank, they could hunt him.
But what about the other man, then?
Chen did not understand Yukito, who now looked at the laughing Grafios with exasperation.
He sighed, even while in the middle of a storm of blades.
And then…
“…Surely this is enough??”
The voice came from behind.
But that wasn’t possible. He gulped.
He could sense that the others were shaken as well. And that never happened.
It wasn’t because he had been taken hostage.
It was because he knew they did not need a hostage. It was painfully obvious.
The immense pressure that filled the hall.
Chen felt as if a dragon’s jaw was behind him, and the fangs were pressing into his shoulder.
He could not turn around. Or he would die. Well, perhaps it did not matter. He might die anyway…
Just then, he heard the sounds of a door opening.
And the dry rattle of something rolling on the floor. A familiar sound.
“I’m very sorry, Mr. Yukito.”
An old man in a wheelchair.
His face was lined with numerous wrinkles. Chen muttered, ‘Taren.’
Only one person was called that in Phoenix Town.
He was like a father to them.
In other words, the boss of Black Tower Dragon.