Power in the Shadows 1-10

I think about 10 years has gone by.

Magic is amazing. With it, I can easily make movements far beyond human limits.

Crushing rocks? Easy.

Running twice the speed of a horse? Totally.

Jumping higher than houses? You bet.

But I’m afraid a nuke is still beyond me. Magic can up my physical resistance, but mighty are Earth’s weapons.

[MAGIC AMPS HIM TO THE POINT THAT HE CAN CRUSH ROCKS, RUN AT TWICE THE SPEED OF A HORSE AND JUMP HIGHER THAN HOUSES]
- Chapter 2
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Though I am holding back, the training for apprentice swordsmen is not completely useless to me. I am able to learn how this world fights with magic, and it is also a chance for me to review my own fighting style.

To be blunt, the fighting techniques that I had learned in my previous life are several folds more polished and rational.

This could be easily seen just by watching any modern martial arts match. Useless techniques and unnecessary movements have all been weeded out, and different schools have taken and adopted other schools’ very best. That melting pot effect was indeed bringing all those schools towards the path of being perfected.

Of course, modern martial arts have boundaries called ‘rules,’ but that does not change the fact that their various techniques are being polished against each other and undergoing the process of selection.

But this world, in comparison. Firstly, there is absolutely no way that a technique crosses between countries. Neither would a technique cross schools. There are techniques that apparently only disciples can learn and are forbidden from leaving the school grounds. Even if a technique gets publicized, there is no media to spread it. In other words, there is no melting pot, no selection, no polishing. If I had to sum them up in a single word, it would be “crude.”

But this world’s fighting is indeed fundamentally different from that of my previous world. Exactly, because of magic.

Due to magic, basic physical stats of this world’s people are on a totally different level.

For example, physical strength. People can lift someone else up with a single hand. Just because of that, all grappling techniques become obsolete. Even if I mount someone, they can jump into the sky just by flexing their abdominal muscles. Even if I put someone into the guard position, they can send me flying with just a single leg. So yea, grappling techniques, all out the window.

People fight the way that people fight, and goblins fight the way that goblins fight. That’s all there is to that.

Furthermore, the speed and distance of step ins are different, so maai are considered differently.And actually, this is the most important one.
Martial arts are, in essence, a fight over maai. Distance, angle, positioning, these are all what the fights are all about.

It took me quite some time to determine my own maai in this world. I mean, this world’s people’s maai are so far away. They start fights standing 5m away from each other. Sure, their step in is long, and their speed is fast, so it’s not like I don’t understand. At first, I was impressed with it and thought “ohh so this is this world’s fighting style”…… but nah, turns out that it’s only because their defense techniques are undeveloped.

We have this kind of people in our world too – people who suck at defense so they just meaninglessly distance themselves from their opponent as much as possible.

The opponent’s attack is scary, isn’t it? Being in a place where their attacks can’t reach you is safer, isn’t it? So that’s why fights become just blandless repetitions of opponents dashing in to make an attack before dashing right back out. Hit and run, is it? Sorry, useless and simple back and forth movements don’t count as hit and run.

To me, 5m and 100m is equally worthless. After all, proper attacks can’t be launched from either distance. 6m, 7m, 10m, it’s all the same. There’s no point to it, so let’s just walk closer together and close the distance, shall we?

But at a certain distance, there is enormous meaning between the difference of 1mm, which is maai. Whether my attacks will hit, whether my opponent can react in time, considering the angle and various other things, gaining or losing advantage by moving half a step sideways or tilting a certain degree. By no means is it just running 5m to make an attack before jumping backwards 6m.

All my preconceptions about another world and magic and all that confused me for quite a while, but recently I was finally able to determine my own maai, so all’s good, I suppose.

[DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OTHER-WORLD MARTIAL ARTS AND 'REAL WORLD' MARTIAL ARTS]
- Chapter 2
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Therefore, my personal training naturally ends up having to be carried out at night, after everyone else has gone to sleep. Of course, that means decreasing my sleeping hours, but by combining the effects of meditation and magic’s recovery powers, I was able to develop a unique sleeping style that is super short but super effective.

[DUE TO TECHNIQUES HE DEVELOPED, MC-KUN DOESN'T REQUIRE MUCH SLEEP AT ALL]
- Chapter 2
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Today is to commemorate a new weapon that I have recently been trying out – the slime bodysuit.

Allow me to explain what the slime bodysuit is.

This world has magic. This world’s people fight by using that magic to strengthen themselves and their weapons. However, there is always some degree of loss when they use magic. For example, a normal iron sword would only have 10% efficiency – you pour in 100 points of magic, but the effect is only a boost of 10 points. Which means that 90% of the magic is lost in the process. Even for mithril, a metal lauded for its high conductivity, a sword capable of 50% efficiency would already be considered to be a high grade item. So in short, there is always a huge amount of loss.

Then I came to consider slimes. Slimes are, well, true to their appearances, magical beings. They change form and move around using only magic. When I studied them further, I realized that their magical conductivity is a mind-shattering 99%. Furthermore, as they are in liquid form, they can freely change form. So I hunted slimes, crushed their cores, and experimented on the leftover slime jelly. The number of slime cores that I have crushed are easily in the thousands. It was to the degree where the local area began suffering from a slime deficiency, forcing me to go on expeditions further afield.

The slime jelly was quite easy to process. After strengthening and compounding it, I was eventually able to make a full-body bodysuit out of it. Unlike armor, it does not make any sound, is comfortable, and actually even provides support to any movements I make. And of course, its defensive capabilities are also guaranteed.

At the moment, I’m wearing a completely black bodysuit made from slime jelly mixed with black pigments. There is no unnecessary adornments, the suit fits my body perfectly, and my vision and breathing is unobstructed. I pretty much look exactly like the villains in a certain detective manga.

[SLIME BODYSUIT EXPLANATION - IS SOUNDLESS]
- Chapter 2
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After I kick away the rude guy who called me a squirt, the other bandits finally take up their weapons.

[LAUNCHES SOMEONE WITH A KICK AS A 10 YEAR OLD]
- Chapter 2
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That guy’s lines were just too cliche that I couldn’t help but to cut off his head first. Naturally, my weapon is made of slime material; it’s an exceptional weapon that I can take out only when needed. Furthermore, this slime sword still has several more handy functions.

Handy Function 1: it stretches.

“Ora ora ora ora oraaaAAA!”

I stretch the slime sword and swing it in a horizontal arc to take out all the nearby bandits.

The elasticity of mochi paired with the sharpness of an actual sword. It’s the first time I’m using it in real combat so I had been slightly apprehensive, but turns out it performs quite well.

“ORA ORA ORA ORAAA…… hmm?”

After getting caught up in the moment and cutting every which way indiscriminately, I suddenly realize that the surroundings has become really quiet. Eh, there’s only one guy left?

[SLIME SWORD STRETCHY AND STILL SHARP AND STUFF]
- Chapter 2
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Boss A charges at me in rage. In the face of that dull slash, I…… choose not to evade.

So Boss A’s sword smashes into my chest, the shock causing me to roll onto the ground.

“Haha, this is what happens when you make light of me! I have completely mastered Royal Capital Bushin Style…… wha-, WHAT?!”

“Hmm, not even a scratch.”

I stand back up as if nothing had happened.

I am completely satisfied with the suit’s defense capabilities. Seems like it can completely negate at least something on the level of Boss A’s attacks.

“Ooo, Royal Capital Bushin Style? Isn’t it the school that has been pretty popular in the royal capital of late? Hey, show me more!”

[SLIME SUIT CUT RESISTANT]
- Chapter 2
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Boss A attacks.

Er, um, yea, easy. He’s giving his very best in trying to cut me, but I don’t even have to hold up my sword. Just with positioning and stepping alone, handling him is easy-peasy.

But this Bushin Style? I think I quite like it.

Uncommonly so for this world, I can see that this style is not one bound by idealism or trite traditions, but takes direct and rational ways to close in to the opponent. I can recognize that even from Boss A’s crappy swings. Instantaneous acceleration, pressing forward by half steps, and the variety of other methods to press towards the opponent resonates with me.

But, well, Boss A is really just too crappy at it.

The moment when Boss A’s attacks let up, I easily step out of his maai.

“My, my sword…… why didn’t you get cut!”

“I mean, you’re weaker than my dad. You’re probably stronger than my older sister at the moment, but she’ll probably overtake you in one more year or so I think?”

“YOU GODDAMN BRAT!!!!”

[EASILY DODGING BANDIT A'S ATTACKS DESPITE HIM BEING PRETTY GOOD - HIS SISTER IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CUT A BOULDER IN HALF - SCALING FOR SUITS DURABILITY -
- Chapter 2
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After parrying Boss A’s reckless swings, I lightly kick his shin. Light, but snappy, it was a kick from below the knee.

At which……

“Gu, aa, why……?”

Boss A crumples into a kneel, pressing down on his shin. Red blood gurgles through his fingers and makes a stain on the ground.

What happened was simple; there is an ice pick-like sword extending from my toes. Slime bodysuit Handy Function 2: able to to extend a sword whenever and wherever I want.

The way I thought to use this function is to kick the opponent’s leg with a sword extending from my toes. It is really hard to defend against an attack aimed at the legs. Block the opponent’s sword with my own, seal their movements, then kick their leg. Bland, but effective.

[WHEN USING BOTH THE SUIT AND SWORD AT ONCE THE SWORD CAN DISAPPEAR AND REAPPEAR WHEREVER MC-KUN WANTS]
- Chapter 2
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“My blood boils……”

I clench my fist while instantaneously releasing magic to create a small explosion.

There’s no particular meaning to it, but I like this kind of theatrics.

I can hear Beta murmuring “As expected……” with surprise.

[USING SMALL EXPLOSION MAGIC FOR THEATRICS]
- Chapter 4
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“Please take a look at these documents. These are the hideouts that we think Claire-sama might be held in, based on our latest intel.”

After saying that, Beta plonks a huge pile of paper on my table. Ok seriously, I have no idea what to do with all this. More than half of it is in an ancient language and the rest is filled with indecipherable mathematical equations or something. Damn, you guys have gotten good at making up this kind of stuff. I’ll admit, you all have gotten even more pro at it than me.

While ignoring Beta’s ‘explanations,’ I take out a throwing knife and throw it at the map on the wall.

Thunk.

With a dull sound, the knife pierces a certain point.

“There.”

“That place? What is there?”

“That’s where Nee-san is.”

“But that place, there’s noth-…… no, wait, could it be……!”

Beta hurriedly rummages through the materials as if she’d just realized something.

Um, yeeaa, I just randomly threw that knife, alright?

But wow your acting is good, Beta. I can see where this is going – you’re going to tell me that there is a secret hideout at that location, aren’t you?

“In conclusion, after comparing various sources, it seems that there is indeed a high possibility that there is a secret hideout at the location that Shadow-sama just pointed out.”

Called it.

“But still, to read through this enormous amount of materials in a split second and even deduce the location of a hidden hideout…… as expected of Shadow-sama.”

“You still lack training, Beta.”

“I shall double my diligence.”

Seriously, she’s good. Even though I know it’s acting, but I can still feel the emotions that she’s conveying. You’ve got all the important points down pat, Beta.

...

So muttering, Olba reached towards that blood. But right at that moment, a soldier breathlessly rushed into the room.

“Olba-sama, it’s terrible! We have intruders!”

“Intruders?! How many?!”

“Unknown! They seem to be few in numbers, but we are being completely run over!”

“Kuh, very well, I’ll go out myself! You lot fall back and set up a defensive formation!”

After clicking his tongue once, Olba turned around.

[INSANE LUCK, RANDOMLY THROWS A KNIFE AT A MAP JUST TO BE COOL AND ACTUALLY PIN POINTS THE ENEMIES SECRET HIDING PLACE]
- Chapter 4, end of chapter 5
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They number 7 in total. But in this location currently illuminated only by moonlight, their presence is so thin that Olba would lose sight of them if he let his attention wander for even a moment. The girls, through their uncommonly high proficiency with magic, are controlling their own presence.

[SUBORDINATE MEMBERS OF SHADOW GARDEN ARE SO STEALTHY THAT IT SEEMS THAT EVEN WITHOUT THEM MOVING, IF YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THEM FOR A SECOND OLBA WOULD LOSE SIGHT OF THEM]
- Chapter 6
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Therefore, Olba charges forward.

“AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”

Olba draws his sword with vigor, and slashes at Alpha.

“Ara, how reckless.”

Alpha easily parries his sword.

Her counter slashes Olba’s cheek, causing blood to fly through the air.

But Olba does not stop.

Again and again, without regard for how many times his swings miss, Olba continues brandishing his sword, searching for an opportunity to escape.

But she dodges every stroke by a paper’s length. Exerting only the minimum amount of movement, she has already fully seen through his swordsmanship and dodges everything perfectly.

In converse, it is Olba who is getting cut. Cuts on his arms. Cuts on his legs. Cuts on his shoulders.

But none of the cuts are fatal.

Determining that her intention is to subdue himself for interrogation’s sake instead of to kill, Olba laughs.

[ALPHA (WEAKER THAN SHADOW) SHITS ON AN EXTREMELY SKILLED KNIGHT]
- Chapter 6
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LOOK AT THE MANGA FOR THE FEAT OF OLBA SMASHING THE FLOOR
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The red-eyed guy makes a twisted smile, then disappears. Or so it would probably seem to a normal person, but he’s just moving quickly.

But, well.

I stop Red Eye’s sword with a single hand.

Since I know the direction that he’ll be coming from, that speed is not really that much of a threat. Plus, power is all about how it’s used.

“Wha-!”

Lightly pushing the shoulder of the surprised Red Eye, I take my distance.

He has even more magic than Alpha. But unfortunately, he doesn’t know how to control it at all. He’s just a moron with a lot of magic.

Incidentally, I am really not fond of the brutish fighting style that simply relies on doping up on magic to to raise one’s strength and speed. Of course, I am not making light of the importance of physical specs. If I was really forced to choose between power or technique, then I would choose power without hesitation. There is no worth in techniques if there is no power. But the imperfect and warped way of fighting by solely relying on physical specs like simple strength, simple speed, and simple reaction time that completely disregards and gives up on the details – that kind of fighting style is something that I really hate.

Physical specs is genetics, but techniques are effort. That’s why I, and the power in the shadows that I am aiming to be, would never lose in the area of technique. I apply techniques to my strength, apply schemes to my use of speed, and search for possibilities with my reaction time. Physical specs are important, sure, but I would never stupidly fight while relying solely on it. You could say that that is my esthetics in regards to battle.

Which is why I am slightly ticked off by this magic-doped retard.

So I’ll give him a bit of a lesson.

On the proper way to use magic.

[REACTS TO OLBA'S FTE BLITZ AND STOPS HIS SWORD WITH ONE HAND, EXPLANATION ON HOW SHADOW USES HIS SKILL]
- Chapter 7
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I raise my slime sword, and walk towards him.

One step. Two steps. Then the third step.

The moment I took my third step, Red Eye swings his sword. That is his maai.

At that moment, I accelerate.

I only used a tiny bit of magic – I concentrated only on my foot, compressed the magic, then released it all at once.

That was it.

With only that much, the explosion of the compressed magic propels me forward with great vigor.

Red Eye’s sword swings through mere air.

But I’ve already entered my maai.

I no longer need speed. Don’t need strength either. Don’t even need magic anymore.

I caress Red Eye’s neck with my jet black blade.

Just a tiny slice of skin on his neck.

After leaving a red line on Red Eye’s neck, I leave my maai.

[SKILL SHOWCASE 1 - AGAINST SUPERIOR STATTED OPPONENT]
- Chapter 7
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“Lesson 2.”

I dash forward again in conjunction with Red Eye drawing back his blade.

This time, I don’t use any magic.

Which is why Red Eye is much faster.

But regardless of how high his speed, he cannot attack at the same time.

Which is why he gets closed in on.

It is only a mere half step.

An almost insignificant distance. A distance that is far for me, close for him.

A moment of silence.

Red Eye is conflicted.

I can see it.

In the end, Red Eye chooses to draw back.

I knew it.

I’d already read from the movement of his magic that that would be his choice.

Which is why, even though Red Eye is faster, it is me who moves first.

I close the distance faster than he retreats, and the tip of my blade caresses his leg.

A bit deeper than last time.

“Kuh……!”

Red Eye lets out a grunt of pain, then retreats even more further.

I choose not to chase him.

“Lesson 3.”

This tutorial session has only just begun.
[SHADOW SHITTING ON A SUPER STATTED GUY WITHOUT USING MAGIC. ALSO SHOWING MINOR MOVE READING THROUGH READING HIS OPPONENTS MAGIC]
- Chapter 7
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Has he ever felt such a disparity in strength? So thinks Olba while his body is cut again and again by that jet black sword.

Even when he was fighting with that elf who called herself Alpha, even when he fought and lost to that princess at the Festival of the War of God, he did not feel such a huge disparity.

If he really had to draw a comparison…… it would be from his childhood, when he had barely begun taking up the sword and was facing off against his master. Child versus master. Beginner versus expert. The word ‘fight’ is not even applicable.

What he is currently feeling is exactly the same as from back then.

His opponent is a young boy who by no means looks strong. At the very least, Olba doesn’t feel the sense of pressure from when he fought Alpha. If he really had to sum it up into a single word, it would be ‘natural.’ His stance, his magic, his swordsmanship, every single thing about his opponent is natural. There is nothing of note in regards to his strength or speed or anything else. No, it’s simply that he doesn’t need any of it. His sword is purely and perfectly completed with skill alone.

Olba’s overwhelming advantage in magic capacity is being overturned by skill alone.

Which is why he is feeling that absolute sense of defeat.

The fact that Olba is still standing, that he is still alive, is solely because his opponent has decided so. If he ever changes his mind, Olba’s life can be snuffed out in a split second.

Olba in his current state can heal all non-fatal wounds. Of course, there is a limit, and there are also negative side effects.

However, having lost a large amount of blood, having had his flesh sliced open and his bones severed, even he needs time for the recovery.

Despite being in such danger, Olba is still alive.

No, he is being allowed to live on.

[CONFIRMATION THAT SHADOW IS PLAYING WITH OLBA DESPITE OLBA BEING VASTLY STRONGER THROUGH SKILL ALONE]
- Chapter 7
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Together with a beast-like roar, Olba’s figure disappears.

Together with a dull sound, the young boy clad in black is blown away.

Right before he smashes in the wall, the boy kicks it, then fixes his stance and lands.

However, Olba’s sword continues to send the boy flying around like a rag doll.

“So slow! So light! So brittle! This is reality, you brat!”

Olba continues attacking.

Every time there is a sound, the boy is blown away.

Olba’s slashes are absolutely fast, absolutely heavy, and absolutely merciless.

An overwhelming amount of violence.

When a tiger kills a rabbit, it doesn’t need to use any tricks. It simply brandishes its strength, and that’s enough.

There is no way to resist.

The boy in black is one-sidedly being crushed.

Or so Olba expected.

“!?”

Blood suddenly spurts from Olba’s chest. When was this not so shallow cut made?

Olba stops moving for an instant, but then sends the young boy flying again the next moment.

“IT’S USELESS! IT’S COMPLETELY USELESS, YOU BRAT!!!”

Olba’s wound is supposed to be deep enough to reach bone. However, the wound bubbles, then regenerates in a split second.

“THIS IS POWER!! THIS IS STRENGTH!!”

Olba accelerates even more.

The scene of him spurting blood while zooming through the air is almost like a red flash.

Black versus red.

The two clash – the black is sent flying, while the red spurts blood.

The exchange of blows cannot be followed by the naked eye.

Only the red afterimages and the sight of the black being sent flying indicate that there is something going on.

But this does not last long.

The disparity between the two is obvious, and it requires no stretch of imagination to predict the black being destroyed eventually.

It is supposed to be a fight that where there’s no way for him to lose.

Repeatedly he swings his sword, and repeatedly he demonstrates his dominance over the black.

But, why.

Why…… how does the boy in black continue to stand back up again and again, looking none the worse?

“Why…… why can’t I reach you……?”

There is no visible change on the black. Having used almost no magic, having made almost no movement, simply allowing his body to follow the flow of Olba’s attacks. Exactly like a leaf caught in a rapid current.

But he was not only flowing along, but also using Olba’s momentum to deliver accurate and precise strikes.

There is nothing unnecessary, nothing extraneous. Just being natural, letting things be the way they are.

“How ugly.”

So says the black. Those eyes that seem like they can see through all things are focused on Olba.

[SHADOW PERFECTLY COUNTER ATTACKING SOMEBODY CAPABLE OF BLITZING HIM AS HE'S BEING BLITZED WHILE TAKING NO DAMAGE FROM THE BLITZES, ALL THROUGH SKILL]
- Chapter 8
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With that, his sword, his body, his everything is poured into a mowing attack accompanied by a howl.

Even if it costs him his life, he will erase this black.

This strike is well and truly the greatest one that Olba has ever made in his entire life.

But.

“Playtime is over.”

It is easily bisected.

As if swinging through empty air, the black sword completes its trajectory without any resistance.

Olba’s sword, his immense amount of magic, his well-trained body, all of it was cut in half by a single swing.

The jet black sword has no magic, no strength, and no speed. It was perfected with only pure skill. Or so Olba originally thought.

But that wasn’t it.

“What…… was that……”

It was indeed a stroke that could cut through anything and everything.

As it sliced through his sword, his magic, his flesh, and his bones, Olba noticed it.

That stroke contained a highly condensed amount of magic, a tremendous amount of strength, and an overwhelming amount of speed. And to top it all…… there was skill.

This, this is true perfection.

Apparently the black had possessed everything from the very start.

It was only that he didn’t use it.

There is absolutely nothing that that stroke cannot cut.

“To think it was…… to this…… level……”

Blood spurts into the air.

The upper half of his body falls off, while the lower half crumples.

Even after being split clean in half, Olba’s body continues trying to regenerate, but it’s already gone past its limits. It begins to rot, dyeing the ground black.

Olba looks up as his opponent looks down.

Having crossed swords, Olba now understands the black.

The black’s sword is a honest sword, a commoner’s sword, a sword attained from effort filled with blood and sweat.

[UPON GROWING TIRED OF THE FIGHT, SHADOW ONE SHOTS OLBA - LOOK AT MANGA FOR FEAT OF HIM CUTTING PILLAR]
- Chapter 8
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