Chapter 35

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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Standing at the classroom door, Xiaoming took a deep breath and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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In the wind, the cherry blossoms danced, and Misaki opened the old diary to read the words of promise written there.

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"......That's right.

But even if there is any reason, if you have become evil... I have to kill you."

With those words, I got up, wiped my nosebleed, and released a full force killing intent towards the enemy in front of me.

It seemed that my apology had only made him angrier. I knew it was a foolish act, but I should have not apologized.

However, it was not a false apology; it was a sincere one.

But I took a direct knee kick and suffered considerable damage.

"......"

I observed the enemy in front of me again.

His face was hidden behind a tasteless mask, so I couldn't see his expression.

All the comrades who faced him when his ability manifested were killed, so no one has seen his face yet.

He is one of the Anonymous whose face has not been revealed.

He is roughly the same height as me, with a similar build. From the atmosphere, he seems to be around the same age.

That's why I couldn't hide my shock.

The enemy in front of me manifested his ability about two months ago.

Until then, he was just an ordinary person.

Yet, he has become this strong in such a short time?

It might be overconfidence, but he is withstanding my full force killing intent. That alone is unbelievable, but there's also his agility, his calm killing intent, and his composed breathing.

And most importantly, the fact that he has already mastered an ability that manifested beyond the norm.

Just controlling an ability that manifested late requires considerable time and sacrifice.

Yet, he can freely use an attack with that level of power... I can only think that he has been subjected to torture-like training for these two months.

And since he came out of the empty conference room, it can be inferred that he was entrusted with detection using his sound ability.

This efficient and waste-free extermination makes sense if the positions of everyone except me were known.

I was being toyed with.

And the man I faced just now...

He is probably Hyde, the leader of Anonymous. If Hyde is here, his partner, Shido, must also be here.

In other words, I am facing a mission led by the top 1 or 2 of Anonymous... That's impressive.

While organizing the information, a question arose in my mind.

Is the person in front of me really an ordinary person?

He seems to be on the verge of reaching a level that took me 10 years.

He could become a highly dangerous existence for the Self-Defense Army. No, he will become one if left unchecked.

I have to kill him here before that happens.

As I resolved this and took out a knife from the holder, I sensed an "interference" from behind.

I immediately threw the knife behind me.

However, when I saw the enemy suddenly appear in my field of vision, I realized that the knife had missed.

"Are you... Shido?"

Shido, the "Reasoner."

An ability that temporarily places the concept of distance under control. It is said that once you face him, you can't escape, but my ability can handle it.

I should be fine as long as Hyde doesn't arrive.

"Correct answer.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Shizuka. Are you hurt?"

"Shido-san...! I'm somehow okay."

Shizuka. His name is Shizuka, huh.

His voice sounds familiar, but maybe it's just my imagination?

"Shizuka, step back."

"Shido-san, be careful. His ability doesn't work on him."

"I know."

Shido stood in front of Shizuka, holding a knife slightly smaller than mine.

Immediately after, Shido moved behind me.

I see. His ability is almost like a teleportation ability.

I crouched to avoid a thrust aimed at my neck and swung a hand knife at Shido's legs.

However, it missed.

Shido had already retreated and thrown the knife from a distance.

I dodged it and shifted my gaze to Shido, then to Shizuka.

If I keep facing Shido, Hyde will arrive, and my defeat will be almost certain.

Therefore, it makes sense for Shido to leave Shizuka and go after me first!

I feinted towards Shido, turned around, and quickly closed the distance to Shizuka.

However, just as I thought I had Shizuka in range, the distance started to widen again.

Shido's troublesome ability.

When I realized it, Shido was standing next to Shizuka, watching me from a distance.

"Buying time, huh..."

I can't catch up when Shido uses his ability.

What should I do? Should I retreat?

It might be worth taking a risk.

Shizuka is a bud that needs to be nipped in the bud.

If I pursue him and end up fighting Hyde, I will have to be prepared to die, but considering the danger, I think Shizuka should be eliminated.

There's no time to hesitate.

Just as I opened my eyes in determination,

"Making Shido back off. Impressive."

A chill ran through me.

Bathed in a superior killing intent, I reflexively jumped back.

"Hyde...!"

Damn, he comes at this moment.

In this situation, I can't kill Shizuka. I instantly erased my previous plan from my mind.

Probably, Shido sent him behind me.

The distance from where I faced Hyde earlier to here. I thought it would take a bit more time, but it was much faster than expected. Was it due to Shido's ability?

And the second "interference."

Hyde's ability has too high an interference value.

Hyde's ability twice, Shizuka's shockwave twice, and Shido's ability once.

In just five times, I can feel that I'm approaching my limit.

This has never happened before.

I can still withstand Shido's ability.

But Hyde, that's tough. I don't know what his ability is, but I can probably only withstand it three more times.

Shizuka's shockwave also had a high interference value, but he won't use it again.

However, in this situation, I have no chance of winning, even for a minute.

I should retreat.

Just as I thought that, I felt a dizzy spell.

It's him. Hyde used his ability.

In other words, the third "interference."

"Hmm, it seems my ability isn't working."

Hyde slowly approached me and said,

"Since Shido's and Shizuka's abilities aren't working either, it must be a type of ability that automatically negates the target's abilities or attacks?"

...Not exactly.

My ability is "Interference Rejection."

I can reject the effects of any interference that affects me before they take effect.

If I focus, I can even reject physical phenomena.

There are levels of "interference," and I can't reject "interference" that I can't tolerate.

And "rejection" has its limits.

If I keep getting hit with high-interference abilities like Hyde's, I will eventually reach my limit and can't reject them anymore.

But three times. Hyde has confirmed that his ability doesn't work three times.

All enemies, once they realize their ability doesn't work, will change their attack method.

Many, like Shido, realize their ability doesn't work after one use and don't use it again.

That's why my ability is the strongest in one-on-one combat.

"That ability can't be left unchecked."

That's what I should be saying.

I slowly exhaled, hoping he wouldn't use his ability again.

By the time Hyde arrived, Shizuka and Shido were also nearby.

They want to bring it to a three-on-one situation against my unknown ability.

"Shido, I'll take over for a bit."

"Sure."

"Sorry."

What for?

Just as I thought that, Hyde was already in front of me.

"!?"

It wasn't a teleportation. I could barely see the trajectory of his movement.

But it was just too fast.

Hyde swung a large punch, which I narrowly dodged.

A knife attacked from below.

I used my ability to reject the knife's approach and deflected it to the side.

Hyde showed a moment of surprise but immediately moved to the next attack.

The missed knife reversed in the air and came down towards my neck from above.

I rejected it again.

This level of interference is easy.

As the knife missed again, I was hit by Hyde's kick.

I didn't need to use my ability to reject this.

I only reject attacks that could be fatal.

I was blown back by the kick and slammed into the wall.

"Ugh...!"

Hyde's speed-boosted kick gave me enough damage, even if it wasn't fatal.

His ability is becoming more and more mysterious.

The conversation earlier might have some hints, but it just looks like physical enhancement to me.

"It seems the term 'negation' is misleading. 'Deflection' might be closer?"

Sharp. This guy.

But after the recent attacks, Hyde must be overconfident.

He must think that not all attacks can be deflected and that damage can get through.

No. For low-interference attacks like this, I can reject as many as I want.

If I use my ability, I won't lose in a one-on-one physical fight.

By occasionally taking hits based on the situation, I can seize the opportunity to win.

But in this situation, it's impossible.

As long as Shido is behind me, he can immediately help Hyde escape if he gets into trouble.

My ability can't reject interference from others.

The problem is the timing to escape.

If I could at least expose Hyde's ability, but I can't afford to wait.

I'm the one who is running out of time.

"..."

I slowly got up, leaning against the wall, and regulated my breathing.

I tested my legs to see if I could run.

It seems I can.

I looked up at Hyde, who was approaching.

"Too bad, but I'll have to kill you."

Seeing the raised knife, I opened my eyes in determination.

I activated my ability and rejected the wall behind me.

"Interference Rejection," the main application I use.

Object penetration.

By rejecting the touch, I can pass through anything.

The interference value is relatively high, but walls are no exception.

"What...!"

I escaped into the concrete wall.

Of course, I can't breathe while penetrating, but I ran with all my might.

When I reached the exit of the base, I collapsed on my knees.

"Ha...! Ha...!"

Not good. I'm reaching my limit.

Long-term penetration drains my stamina.

I'm almost at my limit.

I took out my phone from my pocket and opened an email.

"Retreat complete."

While I was distracting Hyde and the others, the people inside the base had completed their retreat.

...That's good.

The whole situation escalated because General Fujimura decided to confront them.

He was probably killed, but thanks to that, my retreat plan was approved.

It's really good that the damage was minimized...

"Ha... ha..."

While catching my breath, I recalled the battle just now.

Hyde, Shido, ... and Shizuka.

I exposed quite a bit of my ability, but it's impressive that I survived against those three...

I have a lot to report because of this.

"Ha..."

I sighed deeply and stepped out of the base.