After covering herself with a reflection layer that rebounded all attacks, the opponent's movements became unrestrained—completely abandoning defense as she launched ruthless strikes aimed at Eiji's limbs.
Under his terrifying insight, countless openings appeared glaringly on her body. Eiji slashed again and again, easily deflecting the chainsaw using the Taiji technique, and then slashing onto her.
He ignored the ineffective situation, burying his head and launching fierce attacks without pause.
"Is he trying… to exhaust the enemy's mana?"
Kanata seemed to realize something.
Draining the opponent's mana was indeed the best way to deal with a reflective sorcerer.
Reflective casters usually wouldn't cover their bodies with a reflective layer, because maintaining it for long would rapidly drain their own mana — once the mana is exhausted, it's game over.
So reflective casters typically activate their reflective ability at the moment the enemy attacks, allowing them to precisely defend against enemy strikes with minimal mana, and even counter the enemy using the reflected attacks.
But this stick-figure-like girl, contrary to convention, activated a full-body reflective layer right from the start of the battle.
Admittedly, this made her impervious to blades and bullets, like a hedgehog with no vulnerabilities.
But the rate of mana loss must be terrifying as well.
Eiji increased his attack frequency, launching relentless assaults. To avoid getting hurt, the opponent could only constantly maintain the reflective layer, forcing her to rapidly drain her mana.
At this rate, she would soon run out of mana, and then she would be at their mercy.
"Just how much mana does this girl have?"
The fierce battle had already lasted five minutes.
Countless marks left by the chainsaw scarred the ground, and nearby utility poles and trash cans had been chopped to pieces.
But the enemy still showed no signs of fatigue, continuing to brandish the chainsaw, the reflective layer on her body showing no sign of dissipating.
Eiji was greatly surprised.
Though he didn't know exactly how much mana the reflective layer consumed, with such a scale of mana, it had to be at least B-rank, maybe even A?
Such individuals were rare across the entire globe—each of them a pinnacle figure in their field. To think he would run into one here?
"But the outcome is already foreseeable!"
Determination shone in Eiji's gaze.
No matter how abundant, mana would inevitably run out. Even if her mana was truly at A-rank, she'd only last a few more minutes at most—then victory would be his!
"Watch your back!"
But suddenly—
A sharp scream came from Kanata at his side, her voice so anxious it cracked.
Even without her warning, Eiji had already sensed it.
A surge of intense danger emerged from behind him without warning, causing him to jolt in alarm and instantly leap to the side, moving so fast it resembled lightning, almost exceeding the limits of human vision.
At the spot he had just vacated, an assassin emerged from the shadows.
Their frame was slender like a woman's, yet roughly the same height as Eiji. In their hand, a dagger gleamed—mid-swing, halted in the air after its target narrowly escaped.
Like the Reflection caster, this figure's face bore no features. Its entire body was pitch black—another stickman.
"Damn it. I didn't sense this guy at all!"
Eiji quickly positioned himself in a triangle formation, keeping both enemies within his field of view, his mind racing.
With his current level of perception, to miss this assassin's approach entirely—even up to the moment they struck—was nothing short of terrifying.
If not for his gut feeling, he'd be dead right now.
"Thank goodness…"
Kanata let out a relieved sigh upon seeing Eiji dodge in time. Then her expression tensed again as she eyed the two enemies.
"There's two of them… careful, Eiji! That one came out of your shadow!"
Exactly.
That assassin had appeared from Eiji's own shadow. The streetlights had stretched his silhouette long, providing ample room for the enemy to hide.
Appearing from a complete blind spot—it was a perfect assassination technique.
Which raised another question. Could it be that both of these figures, cloaked entirely in darkness, were using that one's ability?
"Shadow manipulation… I feel like I've heard of that somewhere."
A sense of unease flickered through Eiji's mind.
But there was no time to dwell on it. The battle still raged, and he shoved the thought aside, focusing on how to deal with the two enemies before him.
Then—
Glup—
Before he could devise a plan, the assassin's feet rippled like water, and in an instant, his entire body sank into the ground.
Gone.
Because this whole area was blanketed in shadows.
Eiji's nerves screamed. The ability to control shadows meant the assassin could travel through any patch of darkness, lying in wait like a venomous serpent, ready to strike at any moment.
Eiji, unable to enter shadows himself, was forced to stay on guard, bracing for the next attack.
"Damn these tricky bastards."
He took a deep breath.
Reflection and shadows—both were natural counters to a pure physical swordsman like him.
Working together like this, one in front, one in back, it was the perfect pincer attack.
But there was no need to fear.
So far, neither had managed to land a single hit. Sure, their abilities were a bad match for him—but it wasn't impossible to win.
Raaah!
The stickman wielding the chainsaw lunged forward again.
"Annoying little shit!"
A glint of killing intent flashed in Eiji's eyes.
Impatient, he swung his sword with all his might, clashing directly against the chainsaw.
Boom!
A shockwave exploded on impact.
The full-force strike was completely repelled, the force sending Eiji's arm flying wide and hurling his body backwards, as if he'd taken a grievous blow.
His nerves wavered.
Anyone witnessing the scene would think the same—this was a massive opening.
And to press the advantage now, to land a decisive strike—this was the perfect moment.
Without a sound, the assassin reemerged from the shadows, dagger in a reverse grip.
Though his face was unseen, one could feel his deadly intent—like a predator locking eyes on its prey, pouring everything into this one strike.
But—
Midair, Eiji suddenly adjusted his posture.
It didn't look like he was being blown away—rather, like he'd intentionally used the rebound to launch himself, reorganizing his momentum while airborne.
And those eyes—sharp as radar, had already locked onto the assassin rising from the ground.
Shlick!
A blinding arc of steel flashed.
The assassin didn't even have time to react. His right arm, dagger and all, was severed in an instant—the blade-hand flying off into the night.
***
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