Chapter 6

He, how dare he?

Sakki Kō was almost amused to the point of laughter.

Although he often mocked Kurumizaka Ryōka as a "grade schooler," everyone had witnessed how Kurumizaka Ryōka had consistently practiced physical training on the playground every morning over the past year.

While it was unexpected, it was also reasonable that she had the courage to challenge herself.

But what about Tōnohara?

The only student in Class 1-F who had failed the academic test for two consecutive years, he was still at the laughable level of Second Rank, First Level, and was likely to be expelled from the school next year.

Such a person...

What gave him the nerve to accept the challenge?

Just because he ran a few laps on the playground today?

Snap!

On the other side of the training ground, the petite Tachikawa Asuka subconsciously pulled out a lighter from her lady's coat pocket. Just as she was about to light it, she remembered something and quietly put the lighter back. Her slender, fair hands continued to play with the cigarette between her fingers.

Nakazaki Ken, standing beside her, let out a sigh of relief.

How could she smoke here?

Tachikawa Asuka, however, stared intently at Tōnohara in the middle of the training ground.

As the homeroom teacher of Class 1-F, she was well aware of Tōnohara's background, even to the point of reciting it by heart—after all, he was the "nail" in the class of repeaters, a boy with an introverted personality who sometimes tried to pull himself together but quickly gave up and slacked off.

But at some point, probably about half a year ago... she occasionally felt that something subtle and indescribable had changed about this boy in her class.

His grades... were still the same.

His ability level hadn't improved.

His eyes were as vacant and lost as ever.

But somehow, it felt like... he was a different person.

In a situation like this, the Tōnohara of the past would never have had the courage. Was it because he felt he was going to be expelled next year and wanted to go out with a bang?

On the other side, the petite girl Kurumizaka Ryōka's round face was filled with worry.

On one hand, she felt this boy should stand up, but on the other, she didn't want Tōnohara to get beaten up for nothing. Her heart was filled with conflict, which eventually turned into helplessness and confusion.

The weak...

Can they only be bullied?

...

"Hah..."

In the center of the practical training ground.

Sakki Kō let out a sneer from his throat.

"Weeds are weeds, lacking even the most basic resolve..." he muttered, his eyes filled with disdain.

Damn!

If it weren't for his carelessness in failing the academic test last time, how could he be in a class with these weeds?

It was time to teach this country bumpkin from Hokkaido how to "behave" and "read the room" in the strength-based New Tokyo.

...

Since Tōnohara had accepted the challenge, Nakazaki Ken naturally had no reason to dissuade him. After instructing him to wear the protective gear, he stepped aside.

"What weapon will Tōnohara-kun use today?"

Sakki Kō asked with a forced smile.

Tōnohara didn't answer. Instead, he turned his head and looked around, eventually picking up the bamboo sword that Kurumizaka Ryōka had dropped after being hit by a spell.

"Oh? Tōnohara-kun knows kendo?"

Sakki Kō couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Kendo in the Land of the Rising Sun has various schools, with the most popular being the Niten, Ittō, Iai, and Shintō schools. For superhumans, using a sword as a weapon requires the most time and effort to master.

Tōnohara had been in Class 1-F for so long, and he had always engaged in close combat during practice. No one had ever heard that he knew kendo, which surprised the other students watching the practical training.

By this time, Tōnohara had already walked back to the center of the training ground. He held the bamboo sword and swung it casually, feeling it was much lighter than a wooden sword or a real katana.

Only then did he answer Sakki Kō's question.

"I don't know kendo."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, neither hurried nor calm, just enough for everyone in the practical training room to hear. Their faces were filled with shock.

You must be joking?

You don't know kendo...

Then why are you holding a bamboo sword?

And you say it so confidently,

As if it's the most natural thing in the world...

Sakki Kō's forced smile turned into a frown. He suddenly felt that this guy might be deliberately making a joke to lower his own dignity as an opponent.

Weeds really... should be eradicated!

Sakki Kō decided that this time he wouldn't hold back. With the protective gear, he wouldn't die, and lying in bed for a few weeks wasn't a big deal.

...

"Salute! Prepare..."

Nakazaki Ken, the practical training teacher, scanned the two students again.

As he spoke, Tōnohara suddenly raised the bamboo sword over his head with both hands, assuming an upper guard stance.

"This guy... really doesn't know kendo at all." Nakazaki Ken couldn't help but frown.

"What's wrong?" Tachikawa Asuka, a spellcaster, asked, not being an expert in kendo.

Nakazaki Ken shook his head. "Tōnohara-kun's guard stance... is too arrogant."

In kendo, there are three main guard stances: upper, middle, and lower. The lower stance points the tip of the sword to the ground, focusing on defense; the middle stance points the tip at the opponent, balancing offense and defense.

The upper stance that Tōnohara had assumed was aggressive but left his entire body exposed, completely abandoning defense.

Of course, Nakazaki Ken didn't say the rest.

In kendo sparring, the upper guard stance is generally used by a master against a disciple, an elder against a junior, or a parent against a child—only when the opponent is completely overpowered.

A normal person would have to be insane to do this.

Unexpectedly, Tachikawa Asuka, after hearing Nakazaki Ken's explanation, nodded and smiled. "But I think it looks very imposing... Tōnohara-kun might know he has no chance to defend, so he's decided to go all out."

"But this..."

Nakazaki Ken hesitated.

He still felt that while Tōnohara's stance was imposing, it abandoned the only chance of defense, something only a kendo novice would do.

...

In the center of the training ground.

Sakki Kō's expression turned colder.

He lowered his head slightly and said in a sinister voice that only the two of them could hear, "I've decided, I'll make sure Tōnohara-kun spends a few weeks in bed!"

At this moment, Nakazaki Ken, after a brief hesitation, gave the command.

"Begin the match!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Sakki Kō bared his teeth in a sinister smile.

In the next instant, he suddenly let go of his weapon, the lock-sickle, and formed a complex hand seal with both hands, muttering rapidly.

Second Rank Spell: Eight-Headed Water Serpent!

In an instant, water particles in the air converged toward Sakki Kō, forming a more solid, eight-headed, eight-tailed water serpent—a monstrous and terrifying sight that made the onlookers gasp in shock.

"Sakki! He's using the spell right away?!"

"What a talent!"

"Tsk tsk! Tōnohara is in for it this time."

"Of course! Who would be safe after offending Sakki?"

"..."

The onlookers were amazed.

However, this terrifying scene, when seen through the eyes of Tōnohara, who now controlled the "Nine Eyes Six Paths," revealed a different picture.

Nine Eyes Six Paths, activate!

Values: 40, 9, 30, 7...; Total: 86.

So this is the principle behind the Eight-Headed Water Serpent spell?

Tōnohara tilted his head slightly, once again feeling the power of the "Nine Eyes Six Paths," a purple epic-level upper talent with the serial number 16.

At the same time, he moved his raised bamboo sword to his right shoulder, his eyes fixed on the eight-headed, eight-tailed water serpent, weighing his chances of victory.

The ability to see through all spells,

Was his confidence to stand up.

And the ability of Shadow Instant and this sword technique,

Were his true reliance.

A silent standoff spread...

At one moment, someone felt an inexplicable pressure from Tōnohara's stance and eyes, like a fierce beast lurking in the darkness, ready to pounce.

This was not just one person's illusion.

In fact, Sakki Kō, standing directly opposite him, also had this feeling.

"Damn! Still putting on a show! Die!"

In an instant, the high-pressure water from in front of Sakki Kō roared like the hiss of the eight-headed serpent, terrifying to behold. He pointed his right index finger, and a high-pressure water jet shot out like a spear!

"Here it comes!"

Nakazaki Ken, the practical training teacher, called out.

In his heart, he sighed for Tōnohara—assuming an upper guard stance and abandoning defense, Tōnohara would likely be hit and sent flying before he could even touch his opponent.

Sure enough, the high-pressure water jet was almost upon him.

Tōnohara seemed to have no way to avoid it!

Bang!

The expected hit!

But unexpectedly... the water jet passed through Tōnohara's body, leaving only a faint shadow that gradually faded in the mist.

In the next instant, Tōnohara's figure appeared at the edge of the mist, charging forward with his sword raised.

"It's Shadow Instant!"

Tachikawa Asuka couldn't help but twitch her eyebrows. "Not a bad tactic."

In that moment, Tōnohara had directly activated his ability, "Shadow Instant," creating a shadow to lure Sakki Kō's first high-pressure water jet.

"But at this distance..." Nakazaki Ken frowned.

"It's still too late."

Tachikawa Asuka also shook her head.

The Eight-Headed Water Serpent spell could shoot out eight high-pressure water jets. Even if Tōnohara had used a shadow to dodge the first one, the remaining seven jets had almost completely compressed his space for a charge.

In the next instant,

Tōnohara would likely be blasted back.

However, the next moment,

One second passed,

Two seconds passed,

Three seconds...

Suddenly, the eyes of everyone around the training ground widened, their pupils constricted, and their mouths opened involuntarily, unable to close again...

...