At the intersection beneath the building, the crowd had dispersed due to the outbreak of battle.
The Swift Sword and the long blade clashed, trembling as a burst of dazzling, blinding sparks erupted.
The Swift Sword tore through the air, the trail it left seeming to scorch and linger in this world.
As Koji Hattori closed in for an attack, the moment he touched the suspended blade’s edge, a burning pain seared through the flesh of his arm.
He glanced down.
A red line had split open, blood seeping out.
Such a sinister ability!
In a duel between masters, life and death are decided in an instant—but that only applies to ordinary people who lose the will to fight with a single slash.
At this moment, after several rounds of offense and defense, both had accumulated wounds on their bodies, as if two veterans were toying with rookies.
But only the two of them knew—the enemy before them could not possibly be a rookie.
At times like this, hidden trump cards became crucial.
The handsome man took a few steps back, examining his wound—the injury left by the Crimson Blade was bizarre.
The edges seemed to writhe with a blood-red, worm-like strip, slowly expanding the wound, while the skin crumbled into grains, scattering in the wind.
I can’t delay any longer!
The Swift Sword suddenly adopted a stance never seen in Western swordsmanship—one hand gripped the hilt horizontally in front, the other gently traced along the blade.
Swish—
A condensed, crescent-shaped Arc Blade shot out with a horizontal slash, aiming straight at Koji Hattori.
Koji Hattori leaped aside, barely dodging, but his flank was still sliced open, blood spilling out.
The sword aura sliced through a streetlamp like a hot knife through butter, severing it cleanly.
It crashed into the concrete wall, spraying debris, leaving a deep scar.
A bystander recording behind the shop window was startled, quickly ducking to the ground.
Although he didn’t want to admit it…
So cool.
The sword aura attacks continued, growing fiercer, swifter.
Each of Koji Hattori’s evasions brushed danger, his wounds quietly multiplying as he moved.
I can’t wait any longer!
Rolling aside to avoid another slash, Koji Hattori reached inside his clothing—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A hundred skills, this one—handgun shooting!
Bullets burst from the muzzle in a relentless stream, infused with his own blood, wrapped in a sinister Bullet of Corruption, and howled forth.
The handsome man’s sword flashed, deflecting most, but one bullet embedded in his waist, immediately beginning to “corrupt”.
In agony, he seemed enraged, hair floating, the aura on the Swift Sword intensifying!
Pshhk—
But he had no chance to unleash a finishing move.
An invisible blade of the Knife Tip Worm pierced his heart, twisted, then yanked out, quickly emerging through his abdomen, shredding through his back repeatedly.
It felt as if a damp, sinister voice screamed:
Stab you, stab you, stab you…
The man’s pupils dimmed, the Swift Sword slipping from his grasp as he collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Jian Yue withdrew the worm blade, disengaged her Invisibility, and knelt to gently pat the corpse’s cheek.
A nameless thrill surged from where she touched, spreading inside her.
It felt just as exhilarating as skating.
She recalled the first time she acquired the Knife Tip Worm’s ability, the sensation of liquid flooding in—a thrill born from copying a power.
But why couldn’t she find the corpse of the Knife Tip Worm?
Well…whatever.
Jiang Jian Yue stood, eyes cold as she swept over Koji Hattori’s wounds, a hint of regret in her heart.
Why wasn’t he killed?
Then I’d have two cool abilities.
Hiss…
Realizing the thought, a chill ran through her, and she instinctively slapped her own cheek.
Is my mindset becoming twisted?
How did I become so cold-blooded and selfish?
“Missy, I’m truly sorry…I couldn’t defeat him.”
Koji Hattori hung his head, face etched with frustration.
Jiang Jian Yue felt even worse about her previous thought.
Although it was Koji Hattori who insisted she not intervene.
She had already shared the intelligence of the Hunter kill list with him and demonstrated the Invisibility Wristwatch, proving her combat capability.
But Koji Hattori had confidently declared that there was no need for the Missy to dirty her hands—he would handle it!
Then he failed to handle it.
“Senior Jiang…”
Kaori Onishi, who’d been left to the side, called out weakly, reaching out as if about to die.
Jiang Jian Yue’s eyes flashed coldly.
“You saw it, huh.”
“Eh, eh, eh, eh!”
Kaori Onishi instantly perked up, scrambling to her feet, forcing a smile, and glancing away.
“I still have things to do, so I’ll go now!”
“Just kidding.”
“How could you…”
Kaori Onishi slumped, sighing.
“Senior Jiang’s expression is always so cold—it’s scary!”
I want to be more expressive too!
But I just can’t do it!
Forcing it makes my facial muscles seize up.
The “evil smile” from Episode 2—Jiang Jian Yue never wanted to experience that again.
Jiang Jian Yue raised her hand and pressed her temple, then mechanically said:
“Switch to power-saving mode.”
Eh?
Another cold joke?
Not funny!
Realizing neither of them could catch her joke, a layer of loneliness crept into her crimson eyes.
Young people these days…
Kaori Onishi forced a laugh, her gaze drawn to the giant screen.
“Yuki-kun is amazing, he actually defeated that Werewolf.”
“Like a Hero…”
Under the night sky, the surrounding lights illuminated her cheeks, some unknown light tinting them pink.
Jiang Jian Yue glanced over, feeling a trace of happiness.
That’s right!
You’re the real heroine—the summary even puts you second.
If that guy really fell in love with me, it would be a headache.
Go win him over quickly, girl.
I need to act too, do something to lower Yuki Asahi’s favorability—what could make him dislike me?
As she pondered, Kaori Onishi suddenly brightened, raising her fist and looking at Jiang Jian Yue:
“Senior Jiang! Let’s go to Roppongi to help Yuki-kun!”
Jiang Jian Yue watched the screen, understanding Yuki Asahi’s reason for live-streaming the monster fight, and shook her head.
She typed a line in her phone memo and showed it to Kaori Onishi:
“Yuki is fighting so hard to attract the Hunters’ attention and buy time for others. With your ability, you probably wouldn’t be much help, and he’d have to protect you too.”
“Eh…so I can’t help?”
Kaori Onishi looked disappointed, glancing at Koji Hattori beside her.
“Ah! I forgot to thank this uncle! I’ll never forget your kindness!”
Koji Hattori looked as if struck by lightning.
Being called “uncle” by a high school girl—he was too young for that!
As they spoke, Jiang Jian Yue noticed the crowd beginning to gather.
“Let’s go.”
“Senior, take me with you.”
Kaori Onishi, afraid of being left behind and hunted, clung to her.
“Of course.”
Jiang Jian Yue noticed she hadn’t moved, head bowed, so she looked over—her legs were trembling, barely supporting her.
“Don’t force yourself.”
Jiang Jian Yue stepped closer, glancing at Koji Hattori, and decided to help Kaori Onishi herself.
Better not let an uncle approach a JK, or he’ll be mistaken for a creep~