"You're absorbing people (...) now, aren't you ......?

"--!


　I asked him the words that came to mind.

　Then Miroku rolled his eyes in surprise, then smiled and said, "Second, I'm very interested in you.


"Second, I'm always interested in that one!


　In other words, it would be an affirmation.

　[Absorption] skill ...... that is, I'm sure.


.............

　Suddenly, creepy--.

　[Absorption] is a skill that absorbs skills from the corpses of demons and players.

　Yes, it's a skill unique to demons (・・・・).

　There is a limit of one skill that can be absorbed and learned. Only the skills that the corpse was most skilled at. After that, the newly absorbed skills will be overwritten by the newly absorbed skills and their ranks will be reset.

　The problem is when the corpse absorbs the same skill it has already absorbed.

　In that case, the ranks of the absorbed skills will not be reset, but their own stats will increase slightly depending on the status of the target skill.


...... No way, you.


　A theory came up in my mind.

　Could it be that this guy has absorbed all the people buried in that big grave?

　Aren't most of them people who focus on Battoujutsu, or in other words, samurai?

　Didn't they deliberately create the Land of the Samurai so that they could continue to absorb only those who had a deep understanding of the [Absorption] skill system and whose main skill was Battoujutsu?


　If that's the case, then what happens?

　You've been using [absorption] to increase your status for a thousand years: ......?


Did you recognize my attributes?
Yeah, I saw through it. You're a demon.
"My dear sir, I am a demon who has turned into a human form. My name is Tsukumagami. ...... I am a demon that has been turned into a human form.
The tsukumagami?
Leikan taught me. I've been told by Raycan that the demon who has acquired the ability to transform into a human being after a long period of time is called a demon god. That's a very good name, I like it.

　No, aren't they usually tsukumogami?　That's a term coined by Mr. 0k4NN.


"Come on, let's end the merriment. "Now, now, get ready.

　Miroku popped his hand and invited me to join him.

　Oh man, you're going to do it.

　Me too.


Let me take the initiative.
Yes, sir.

　Miroku's fine with being on the back foot.
　Okay, you'll be sorry.


"Boo--
!

　I'm not going to go easy on you. No, I can't.

　I'm going to go with the [Battoujutsu] surprise battle method - "Subway Skipping Car".


　I closed the gap with the "Katsura Battoujutsu" and after canceling in mid-air, I fell to the ground as if to stare down, and fell at Miroku's feet.

　The hardest part of [Battoujutsu] to deal with is the feet (...). And if you try to force yourself to respond, you will have to ...... step back a step.

''Fresh!　It's a battling technique I've never seen before!

　The result - Miroku jumped over me with a single exclamation, one of which was an exclamation.

　Calm. That's the best move.

　In a moment, the Flying Car Battoujutsu that I had prepared cuts through the air.

　Miroku turns around and prepares the 《Silver General Battoujutsu》.

　I stand up while preparing the "Golden General Battoujutsu" and pretend to do my duty.

No way!

　Yes, this is impossible.

　It is a good idea to use the same time as Miroku cancelled the Silver General Battoujutsu.

　It is a very good idea to have a good idea of what to do with your own money.

"Kukaku.

　Miroku just barely responded with the Infantry Battling Technique.

　It's infantry and kakugyo, a phase in which that side should have lost in force.


　I thought the game was over ......, but.


"...... It's starting all over again.

　Miroku only took three steps backwards.

　It didn't do much.
　Apparently, there's quite a status difference between me and them.

You can go to ......

　A moment of silence.

　Miroku stares at me with a face like he can't believe it.

　And.


'Ha, ha, ha, ha!　Hilarious!　Delightful!　Battoujutsu is still this profound!　I'm happy!


　I laughed.

　As if he was having fun.


I don't think I have time for this. Sorry, wait a minute. I'm gonna turn myself in.


　...... changing its appearance.

　Right after he said that, Miroku started chanting some kind of nembutsu-like incantation--


Hey, hey, hey, hey. ......


　--In an instant, he became a demon, just over two meters tall, with three faces and six hands.


　Two people wearing masks looked like they had merged with Miroku.

　The two swords at their waists, the two hands in front of their chests, and the four arms behind them each held a sword, while the eyes of the masks on the sides of their faces stared intently at both sides. There was a large burning ring of something floating behind him, spinning around and threatening me.


　...... I just remembered.

　Miroku, this guy's real name is - 'Asura'.

　A boss demon unique to Hinodeshima with the unique skill of [Absorption].


It has the three faces and six arms, and has no gaps in offense or defense. This is Yu's true form. My name is Miroku, and I am the incarnation of the Sword God.


　Call it the incarnation of a battling sword, or the incarnation of a sword god, or a busy guy.

　Just, Miroku. You're not a god or anything. A demon named Asura...... that's all.


　Now, when you say your name, it's polite to return it.

"My name is Second First Test. Call me the number one man in the world.

It's a good thing!　I'll try it and move on: ......!


　Miroku comes toward me, his six arms dancing and intimidating.

　It's a new feeling. I've never fought anyone like this before.

　I don't know how to deal with it at all.

　It's never been this interesting: ......!

What about this one?
I can't get through!

　

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it, but I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.


　I see, he seems to be thinking properly (・・・・).

　Well, that's tough. There's no opponent as troublesome as a demon that thinks (...) without being bound to a pattern of action.

　The status difference in the first place is pushing it to an even more difficult situation.

　I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get it right.


　...... Eh, what are we going to do about this?


"Are we in limbo?　The "Second
No way.

　I'm trying to be strong because I don't want to disappoint Miroku, but I can't come up with a solution to this at present.


　...... I don't have a choice. The only way to do that is to bring the game into a forceful battle and invite the opponent to make a series of questionable moves.

　This is the usual way to play against a higher-ranked opponent, which I did a lot of in the early days of Mevion.

　How many years has it been since I played against a higher-ranked opponent?

　The more I remember the old days, the more I feel strangely confident.

　Yes, yes, yes. I'm the one who knows best how much the higher-ups don't like it, having been on the higher-end side for so long.

　I know both the higher-ups and the lower-ups, there's nothing to fear anymore.


Then I want you to be scared.

　Standing at the top is something that is completely unfamiliar at first.

　When you change from being the pursuer to the pursued, you start to see things that you can't see.

　You start to think about things you didn't have to think about.

　You get impatient. You get frightened. They're crawling up from underneath you. The pressure that we can't lose. And so you become less and less able to take the plunge.

　It's just a chore. Impatience twines around your back, and fear clouds your vision. When it's time to win, you don't think about the futility of your actions, but just say, "Eeeeee! and not being able to come forward is a huge loss.

　You're going to be, too. As long as you're on top.


Lukewarm!

　Miroku yelled at me when he saw me start to prepare the Silver General Battoujutsu.

　It was indeed lukewarm. For Miroku, who has six arms, this is a skill choice that allows him to receive with one arm and use the remaining five arms for a total attack.

　Hence, Miroku began to accumulate 《Silver General Battoujutsu》 almost simultaneously.

　It would be for the best.
　If he came at me in the opposite direction with this, I would have no choice but to respond with the 《Gold General Battoujutsu》.

　The only way to go forward or back is to go back to Shura. Then, I'm going to charge in with the Silver General Battoujutsu even though I know I'll get hurt.

"Are you insane?

　Miroku was surprised and dismayed.

　I guess he doesn't see the point of charging in when he can see that he's going to lose down the road.

　Now, here's how I'm going to turn it around: ...... Honestly, I'm not sure. It's a big gamble.

　But only by repeating these last-minute bets can I see a winner.

Let's go.

　I close in time and cut the Koi mouth and show the activation of the 《Ginshou Battoujutsu》.

　When Miroku activated the Ginshou Battoujutsu as well while cutting Koiguchi with his left front hand - I cancelled the skill.

''What!

　It will be confusing. You won't know what I'm aiming for.

　Immediately after, I focus on just ducking Miroku's drawn sword.

　Slowly, Miroku's blow grazed my side of the body.

　I'm fine, I just got cut on my clothes.


''............''


　A moment later, I wish from the bottom of my heart.

　Look at Miroku's face in frustration.


　Yes, that's right, be ...... impatient, be frightened, give chase ......!

　Come on, come on, come on: ......!


Phew!


　Okay, here we go!

　I immediately prepare to respond to the chase with the Infantry Battling Technique.

　It seems that Miroku is no exception to the system and can only activate one skill at a time. Even though he has six arms, he can only use one skill. In other words, if he tries to attack immediately with his remaining arms, he will have to use no skills (...). If you were to use every single skill, the significance of having six arms would be greatly diminished.

　Hence, the second taiji comes at the fastest possible time without skill.

　He was impatient, frightened, and tried to force himself to make use of his own strengths.

　It was a poor bet.

　However, that prediction came true.


''Oraa!

　I hit Miroku's second sword with all my might with the Infantry Battoujutsu.

　With the multiplier of the skill itself and the 128% Battou bonus, I was able to compete with the quicksilver.

''Not yet!

　A follow-up attack with 《Kakuyo Battoujutsu》. A second sword is showered on Miroku's chest, which has lost its balance.

''Guaah!''

　Miroku held his chest where he had taken a thrust and staggered backwards.

　The damage done isn't much, but I won this bet ...... and the skirmish in the middle of the game.

　I took three steps back before Miroku regained his stance, taking a pause to deliver the sword.


　Once again, the dividing line is redrawn.

　But it's a different story than the one we've been working on so far.

　It's a fresh start for Miroku.

　As it stands now, the odds are stacked against them.


　...... More impatient. More frightened.

　You won't get to use your powers. There's more, much more to it than this.


"..................

　Miroku quietly stood up and delivered the sword.

　All the leeway that had been in his beautiful face was gone.


"Well, let's get this play out of the way. Now, now, get ready.

　Endgame. We're in the endgame.