Power in the Shadows 111+

With his jet-black boots ringing out crisply with every step, Shadow nonchalantly approaches the Queen of Blood.

But there is no way the Queen of Blood would allow such impudence.

A dreadful number of tentacles encircle Shadow in a split second, then assault him simultaneously.

With only his sword, Shadow deflects those tentacles.

Then, kotsu.

He nonchalantly takes another step.

“Wha——?!”

“How can he just——?!”

How incredible that one step is, everyone present understands full well.

Then, one more step.

Kotsu.

Shadow nonchalantly steps further in.

This time, he does not even use his sword. The tentacles, in their unbelievable numbers, seem to be evading him of their own accord.

As if they are merely here to show a magic trick, the tentacles swing wide.

Shadow fully perceives the movement of every last strand of tentacle.

Then he evades using the minimal amount of movement, closing the distance one step at a time.

It is almost as if —— nay, he is declaring that the tentacles are not even worth his attention.

Even when a Queen of Blood appears behind him, he casually dodges as if he had already seen it coming, his gait not showing even a hint of delay.

He does not counterattack.

Because he understands the futility of doing so.

That is why he only walks on, ignoring everything.

The only thing in his eyes is the main body of the Queen of Blood.

Kotsu, kotsu, kotsu.

The sound of his boots sound frighteningly loud.

Then Shadow stops.

At the same time, the tentacles also stop.

The distance between the two is now within arm’s length.

The beautiful Queen of Blood and the jet-black Shadow stare at each other for a while.

[SID EFFORTLESSLY APPROACHING THE QUEEN OF BLOOD ONCE HE GETS SERIOUS, READING EVERY TENTACLE (THE AMOUNT OF WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ENOUGH TO COMPLETELY FILL YOUR VISION) AND DODGING WITH UTTER EASE]
- CHAPTER 111
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He has surely already departed for the next battle. How busy he is…… and how kind-hearted he is.

“Thank you so much, Shadow-sama……”

Realizing that all her wounds have been healed, Beta naturally breaks into a smile.

Looking over, she observes that the wounds of 664, 665, and even 666 are all fully healed.

It hardly needs to be said that her master’s sister and Milia are also without a scratch.

As an aside, it seems that Juggernaut and Yukime have been healed too.

“It appears that Eta’s hypothesis was indeed spot on……”

Beta retrieves a sample of blood from the Queen of Blood into a small flask.

[SID HEALING OTHERS OF FAIRLY SERIOUS INJURIES]
- CHAPTER 111
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Upon being roused, the three get up in a fluster.

“Kuh…… what happened……” (Juggernaut)

“What is it that happened……?” (Yukime)

The two from Outlaw City seem to be getting up also.

Then a quick pan around induces blank amazement.

“Wha-, don’t tell me, this was done by that guy……?!” (Juggernaut)

“Shadow-han, who are you……” (Yukime)

The Red Tower has been pulverized.

The two of them look up at the sky from the ground where the Red Tower once stood. As if to burn into their eyes and hearts that man’s power and strength……

[SID'S I AM RECOVERY ATOMIC COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE RED TOWER (A GIANT TOWER OF REINFORCED BLOOD) WITHOUT HARMING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT GROUND ZERO OF THE ATTACK]
- CHAPTER 111
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CHAPTER 116 - intimidating Yukime with sheer force of will
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John said that while playing with the gold coin in his hand. While flipping the coin, it falls, making a sharp ‘clink’ sound.

As Yukime was distracted looking at the falling coin, she realized that John had already vanished before she could notice any sign of him disappearing.

The rolling gold coin stopped at Yukime’s foot.

Yukime then picked up the coin and played with it in the same manner as John had with his fingers.

“So that is John… The man they call Shadow…”
[PULLS A BATMAN AND DISAPPEARS OUTTA NOWHERE]
- CHAPTER 116
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chapter 117 - built a cabin
-----------------------------------------------------------------
chapter 118 - casually FTE delta tracking
chapter 119 - Cid keeping up with her
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There, a tawny cat-eared beast person was waiting. Her name is Natsu, one of Yukime’s close aides.

“So, what’s the matter?”

I suddenly appeared behind her and said.

Natsu jumped, turned around in a panic, and stared at me like a cat.

“Jo-John-sama, please don’t startle me like that.”

“……I did not intend to startle you.”

I just wanted to produce a sudden appearance from behind.
[STEALTHS UP ON A BEASTKIN, DESPITE THEIR ENHANCED SENSES (CHAPTER 119)]
- CHAPTER 123
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And there are mistakes in the world that you can never take back. In their missions, making even one mistake could lead to them losing their lives and so…

No.664 hoped that this mission too would end safely, and focused her attention.

However — that wish did not come true.

“Below us!”

No.666 screamed abruptly.

Everyone reacted to the sound and jumped.

However, only No.666 made it in time.

“Kya!?”

“Uu!”

No.664 and No.665 tripped over something and fell over.

When they had gotten up and taken defensive postures, their feet were already entangled by something that appeared to be thin strings.

“Are these…..strings?”

“Looks like steel threads diffused with magical power……”

No.665 answered No.664. The two cut the threads with their slime swords and prepared for the enemy attack.

Turning her gaze to where the trap was laid, No.666 had already taken a sword and stared into the depth of the darkness.

There was no indication of a presence.

However, a man comes walking alone from the darkness of the night.

While his feet were making dull thuds while walking on the firm ground, he appeared.

It was a man in a suit with black, swept-back hair. His face was hidden behind an inorganic mask, and could not be seen.

The man was unarmed.

He carried not a single weapon.

However, if you look closely around him, you can see the threads that reflect the moonlight.

The threads were drifting freely in the air as if it were alive.

“Be careful, this guy is manipulating those steel threads.”

No.664 called out, as they confronted the steel thread user.
[CAN USE STEEL THREADS TO FIGHT AND MANIPULATE THEM FREELY]
- CHAPTER 124
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The steel threads were glowing in the moonlight.

Relying on that glow, No.664 avoided the entangling strings.

What was troublesome wasn’t its speed but the low visibility, unpredictability and the number of strings itself.

Despite using just ten fingers, John Smith was manipulating threads many times the number of his fingers.

And those threads were attacking them from all sides.

Their angle and attack timings were nasty.

He predicted No. 664’s movements and blocked her escape paths. Moreover, as the directions from which she could evade were limited, it looked like No. 664’s movements were guided.

As a result — she couldn’t get close.

The strings had longer reach than swords.

The strings have longer reach than a sword. They can’t attack unless they can close the distance.

Nevertheless, since the beginning of the fight, they couldn’t even move one step closer to him.

Instead they were being pushed back.

Within the space of a few seconds, that man has already completely dominated this area.

He still hasn’t moved a single step.

Just by manipulating the strings using his fingers, he has the girls running about trying to escape its range.

They looked like puppets being manipulated by his threads.

“Everyone, retreat.”

In response to the instruction of No.664, the other two reacted immediately and went outside the Maai of the threads. [TLC: As mentioned earlier, Maai is the distance between opponents in Kendo.]

If they stay inside John Smith’s Maai, they would only exhaust themselves.

If they don’t have a method to attack him, the situation won’t change.

The three looked at each other and nod their heads.

This man—–is strong.
[CID FIGHTING WITH STRINGS WITHOUT EVEN TRYING - MANIPULATED 100+ STRINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE MOVE READING AND BOXING OUT 3 SUPERHUMAN ATTACKS AT THE SAME TIME]
- CHAPTER 126
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But this John Smith is different from the strong individuals she’d known.

His strength does not come from his magical power or muscle strength or his speed or the technique he used.

No, his technique to manipulate those strings is certainly skillful but the core of his strength does not lie there.

The identity of John Smith’s strength——- it was his ability to dominate.

No.664, who is the squad leader and has the duty to give out orders, knew. The ability to oversee, understand and predict the flow of the battle is a must.

In other words, John Smith possessed those skills.

“What’s wrong………..are you not coming?”

John Smith does not move a step. With his eyes hidden behind the mask, he just looks down on them from his spot.

He has plenty of leeway.

He has the confidence that he can deal with anything that can happen.

The threads that covered the night sky are denying all their attempts at an attack.
[CID POSSESSES THE ABILITY TO DOMINATE A BATTLEFIELD AND PREDICT THE FLOW OF BATTLE PERFECTLY]
- CHAPTER 126
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If you move poorly, you will get caught.

Withdrawing is also an option.

‘No.666 might be against it but I have to force her.’

She thought so, but in the next moment…

“If you don’t come to me, then I can just come to you.”

“Eh………….!?”

John Smith slightly moved his finger.

At the same time, a thread wrapped around No.664’s neck.

No way——since when!?

Moreover, we should already be outside his Maai.

“Who said that the length of each and every thread is the same? Naturally its thickness is also different.”

“No way——!”

Looking closely at the thread wrapped around her, she noticed that it was extremely thin and very hard to see.

The strings they have seen up until now were the only ones that they were allowed to see.

“Don’t tell me, from the beginning………”

“Yes……from the beginning.”

No.664’s actions were manipulated from the start.

While her expression distorted due to the humiliation, the thread around her neck started to tighten.

Highly concentrated magical power is passing through the string. If he adds only a little more strength, her neck would be cut through.


“If you are going to kill me, then do it already. I don’t have any intention of talking.”

She glared at John Smith.

No.665 and No.666 were also bound. They’d already made up their minds.

Strength was being added to the threads.

At that moment, No.666 moved.

She rushed out from the front.

She simply came at him before he could pull the threads tight.

“Haaaaaaaa!!”

‘Faster, just a little bit faster—–.’

She rushed at John Smith.

“Correct….”

But his stance didn’t waver.

He just pulled a finger on his right hand lightly.

“But who said that there was a thread only around your neck?”

No.666 suddenly fell.

She collapsed, and was made to float in the air with an unnatural pose.

A number of strings had already been wrapped around her limbs.

Naturally the other two were in the same state.

“Kuh…! Kill me!”

No.664 said as their movements were completely sealed.

However, he just tightened the strings and did not kill them.
[CAN CONTROL STRINGS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS TO TRICK OPPONENTS IN COMBAT, CAN AMP STRINGS WITH MAGIC, CATCHES ALL 3 SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH MULTIPLE THREADS EACH]
- CHAPTER 126
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The mercenary snorted and laughed at the advice he received, and then opened the package on top of the carriage.

While his eyes widened at seeing the large amount of gold coins inside, his neck was cut through.

“Wha!?”

“I‘d warned you, that you’d regret it.”

The mercenary who had his head cut off let out a fountain of blood and crumbled to the ground.
[DECAPS WITH WIRES]
- CHAPTER 130
---------------------------------------------------------------
“B,Bastard! Who are you!!”

The remaining mercenaries drew their swords.

“The name is John Smith. You can regret hearing it in the next world.”

“What did you sa—————!?”

Several thin strings gushed out in the moonlight.

However, no one noticed its glimmer.

Without knowing, without noticing, every single one of their heads went flying.

As the blood started raining down, the carriage laden with cold coins started moving again.

The carriage slowly increased its speed and left the scene, leaving behind the countless bodies whose necks have been cut and John Smith himself.

He moves his fingers as if playing a piano, while manipulating countless strings extending from his fingers.

And, spoke to an empty space.

“I know you are there…”

At the same time, the steel strings tore into the darkness.

Something moved in the darkness.

A woman wearing a black body suit appeared from the place where there should be no presence. Her body suit is like a beautiful dress, her face is hidden behind a mask, but her blue eyes are staring at him through the gap.
[BLITZES MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH WIRES THEY CAN'T SEE AND THEN DETECTS ALPHA WITH EASE]
- CHAPTER 130
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With a beautiful voice like a bell, she bowed and greeted him. Her platinum hair shone in the moonlight.

“And, Goodbye.”

And then, a jet-black sword cut down John Smith.

Alpha felt no resistance from the sword that she used to cut John Smith.

“—–An afterimage.”

Hearing a voice from behind, Alpha lightly turned back.

There John Smith stood, unscathed.
[LEAVES AN AFTERIMAGE WHILE DODGING ALPHA'S ATTACK]
- CHAPTER 130
--------------------------------------------------------------
Alpha moved.

She invaded his Maai within a moment and slashed at John Smith with a jet-black sword.

The slash that was aimed for his neck was done with such timing, that it is normally impossible to dodge.

However.

John Smith tilted his head, and dodged it with the minimum required movement.

“———!”

Alpha stopped moving.

She expected her attack to be avoided, and was about to chase after him with a follow up attack.

Instead, she stopped her movement after noticing John Smith’s strings dancing around her.

While observing the movement of the wires, she is simultaneously using her sword to parry and counterattack in between the consecutive strikes.

Speed and sharpness, a battle for supremacy.

This time for sure, she unleashed an unavoidable attack.

“Eh…….?”

Sounds of confusion escaped from Alpha’s mouth.

John Smith just showed her how he’d dodge a perfect attack.

He let the sword approach, and just before it hit, he let it slide along his skin. With that move he used to dodge her attack with minimal movement, he was able to move himself out of Alpha’s large Maai, and exit the battle itself.

“Don’t tell me———- You are..”

Alpha whispered so, and took off her mask. The face of a beautiful elf appeared from underneath.

“———-Shadow?”

Using her eyes to confirm, Alpha was already convinced.

John Smith looked her in the eye for a second, and then removed his mask.

“I have already thrown that name away……”

Sid’s face appeared from behind the mask.
[DODGES ALPHA'S ATTACKS WITH ABSOLUTE MINIMAL MOVEMENT WHILE FIGHTING AGAINST A SWORD IN CQC WITH STRINGS]
- CHAPTER 131
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Alpha moved.

She invaded his Maai within a moment and slashed at John Smith with a jet-black sword.

The slash that was aimed for his neck was done with such timing, that it is normally impossible to dodge.

However.

John Smith tilted his head, and dodged it with the minimum required movement.

“———!”

Alpha stopped moving.

She expected her attack to be avoided, and was about to chase after him with a follow up attack.

Instead, she stopped her movement after noticing John Smith’s strings dancing around her.

While observing the movement of the wires, she is simultaneously using her sword to parry and counterattack in between the consecutive strikes.

Speed and sharpness, a battle for supremacy.

This time for sure, she unleashed an unavoidable attack.

“Eh…….?”

Sounds of confusion escaped from Alpha’s mouth.

John Smith just showed her how he’d dodge a perfect attack.

He let the sword approach, and just before it hit, he let it slide along his skin. With that move he used to dodge her attack with minimal movement, he was able to move himself out of Alpha’s large Maai, and exit the battle itself.

“Don’t tell me———- You are..”

Alpha whispered so, and took off her mask. The face of a beautiful elf appeared from underneath.

“———-Shadow?”

Using her eyes to confirm, Alpha was already convinced.

John Smith looked her in the eye for a second, and then removed his mask.

“I have already thrown that name away……”

Sid’s face appeared from behind the mask.
[AIR PRESSURE OFF ONE OF SHADOW'S CASUAL SWINGS DISSIPATES THE CLOUDS IN A FULL SECONDS AND HE SAYS IT COULD REACH THE STRATOSPHERE]
- CHAPTER 131
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Raging magic power swirled and converged onto Alpha.

“I will not be a burden to you forever. If you say you will not talk, no matter what, then——— I will just have to use my power and force it out of you.”

Suddenly—Alpha’s figure disappeared.

John Smith’s face is colored in surprise for the first time.

Her raging magic power, her jet-black sword, her body—-Every sign that indicated she was there before, beautifully disappeared.

What was left is only a red mist.

In the next moment, Alpha emerged from the red mist and cut at John Smith from behind.

With that reddish black sword.

John Smith looked back and tried to dodge with minimal movement like before.

Yes, like before.

“——-!?”

There was a thin red line on John Smith’s cheek.

The reddish black sword suddenly grew longer.

“This sword is a mixture of my blood and slime that increase my strength and control over it. Its form can be freely changed while maintaining its strength. It is one of the results born from Eta’s demon possession research. How is it, surprised?”

John Smith honestly nodded at Alpha’s proud statement.

“Indeed I am, the research and its result’s application is truly great.”

“Do you want to have an honest talk now?”

“No, absolutely not.”

Alpha’s eyes sharpened.

“Then I will come at you with my full power.”

Alpha disappeared and a red mist took her place.

And almost at the same time, she reappeared and unleashed an attack on John Smith.

John Smith’s suit tore apart.

Blood was smeared onto his white shirt.

When John Smith manipulated the strings to counter attack, Alpha had already disappeared into the red mist.

The next moment, another attack came at him from behind.

The speed at which she emerges from  and re-enters the mist is extremely fast.

Ignore the Maai and one-sidedly attack, then unreasonably ignore the law of physics to avoid a counterattack.

Disappear, then reappear.

Appear, then disappear.

Red slashes attack John Smith incessantly from all sides.

John Smith’s suit was already torn to shreds.

He intentionally manipulated the strings to ward off fatal blows.

What he could do, is only to predict Alpha’s movement, and lay a trap of strings ahead of time.

“————!”

There is another tearing on his suit.

It seems like the red mist also acts as a sensory organ, because Alpha seemed to have completely grasped the location of his strings.

The trap was of no use.

It seemed like there was nothing John Smith could do.

“How about it? You ready to talk yet?”

A voice can be heard from somewhere within the red mist.

“No, absolutely not. It was an interesting trick though.”
[PREDICTS TELEPORTATION WHILE WARDING OFF FATAL BLOWS WITH WIRES AND LAYING TRAPS WHERE SHE'LL TELEPORT - DOESN'T WORK BUT ONLY BECAUSE SHE MIST SHE CAN TELEPORT IN ALSO ACTS AS A SENSORY ORGAN]
- CHAPTER 131
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Gettan beat his fist on the table once again.

“Pang”

The thick wooden table was torn into pieces which flew out and hurt Garter’s face leaving a small wound.
[GETTAN IS SUPERHUMAN]
- CHAPTER 134
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I went through the underground passage while drawing such delusions.
However, it is awfully quiet.
All the workers were already withdrawn but there're still guards remaining
behind.
Did they have too much free time and fell asleep. Well, I overdid it and no one
could reach this place after all.
[Fufufu.......]
I showed my white teeth with a smile and walk with a light footstep to the
front of the vault.
[Are.......?]
Why is the vault door unlocked...........?
Moreover, it doesn't seem like it was opened using a key but forced opened.
[N, no way, don't tell me.........]
My security should have been perfect.
[SHADOW GARDEN MEMBERS TORE OPEN A LARGE REINFORCED VAULT DOOR]
- CHAPTER 136
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They clashed violently.
Gettan's naginata is approaching John Smith. But John Smith didn't try to avoid
it.
The naginata continued its approach on John's neck, then it suddenly stopped.

[-----What!?]
Surprised that his naginata has been stopped mid-air, Gettan pulled his
naginata.
John Smith send Gettan's naginata back and composedly said.
[Just now, did you tried something........?]
Gettan furiously click his tongue.
[You bastard..... what did you do. No, a wire huh? Did you used a wire infused
with magic power and stop my naginata.]
[Hou.....to think you would be able to noticed it even with those blinded eyes.]
[Even without an eye you would be able to notice it from other things. After I
lost my eyesight, my detection ability using magic power improved
dramatically.]
[STOPS GETTAN'S ATTACK WITH WIRES, GETTAN NEEDS TO ACTIVELY TRY TO DETECT THEM]
- CHAPTER 139
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gettan's magic power filled the surrounding.
[I can see it, I can see it! I already seen through all of your wires.!! Certainly, to
be able to control this much wires freely, you are certainly skilled. ?
Unfortunately you picked a fight with the wrong opponent this time.]
Gettan distorted his lips and smiled.
[I can clearly see everything! Your skills are too incompatible with mine!]
Gettan once again start attacking John Smith. John Smith takes a distance and
tried to seize Gettan's naginata , but his wire never touch gettan.
[It's useless!! everything you try to do is visible to me.]
John Smith retreats, Gettan chases after him.
Yukime watched the two fought with tears in her eyes. What is reflecting in her
eye is the figure of John Smith fighting in earnest.
Yukime has never seen a moment when John Smith has been so angry.
It hasn't been long since the two met.
But she understood that he wasn't a type who show his emotions.
That same person, got angry.
It was an anger from the bottom of his heart.
He came to take Yukime back and he got angry at Gettan for hurting her.
[John-han.......why.......]
She got closer to him. But that was a business relationship, or so she thought.
John Smith should also felt the same.

However, that strong feeling hidden inside John Smith......
He came to take back his important thing.
Tokkun ( heartbeat's sfx)
Yukime's heart is beating faster.
Her heart was frozen since the day everything was taken away from her.
No matter what happened , No matter who she has to embrace, She just smile
and accepted it.
Her heart was frozen to protect herself, and it will never melt away.
However, John Smith's burning feeling gradually melt it little by little.
Yukime's eyes already can't follow anyone except John Smith.
[John-han.......!]
Although it seem like John Smith is being overwhelmed, Yukime know that his
true ability was not just at this level.
He will definitely win for her sake.
She believed so.
Then----.
[So that's what you're amounted to.......?]
That was John Smith's word.
[Ku.......]
Gettan's breath has become rough , he stared at John Smith.
It was Gettan who pushed John Smith back but his naginata never reach him.
On the contrary his body is being covered with innumerable small wound.
Certainly, Gettan was able to see all of the wires.
However, being able to see doesn't mean he can dodge it all.
The wires formation John Smith used was like a spider web, once you are
caught you won't be able to escape.
It was a perfect formation to lead his prey around and seal its movement, is
what Gettan guessed.
If one try to forcibly break through they will sustain damages from those
countless wire.
If you can't get close the naginata won't reach, and If you got close--------------.

Before he noticed it , Gettan was forced to eternally swing his naginata that
will never reach his target.
[Why, are you possessing such power....]
Gettan said with a voice as if he was howling.
John Smith composedly walk toward Gettan. His wires already sealed Gettan
escape route before he know it.
[EVEN AGAINST SOMEONE WHO HAS OMNIDIRECTIONAL SENSES AND CAN DETECT ALL HIS WIRES SHADOW STILL BAITS THEM WITH TRAPS AND COMPLETELY CONTROLS THE FIGHT]
- CHAPTER 139
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Gettan movement has become far faster incomparable from before.
When he thought that the snow is blowing up, before he knows it Gettan is
already in front of John Smith.
[OOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo!!]
Gettan came at him with a cry.
John Smith's finger moved and the steel wires cut through the sky.
[--------Hou]
Naginata and wires clashed, the one who was pushed back was John Smith.
A few steel wires dropped from John Smith's finger.
Gettan didn't stop.
Like a beast He keep pursuing the retreating John Smith.
That naginata once again cut off John Smith's wire.
Gettan's naginata is sweeping and John Smith's steel wires dances.
The two's clash continued for a while, and finally John Smith lost all of his wire.
[AAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!]
To him who has lost his weapon, Gettan approaching him with a smile of
madness on his face.
However, John Smith just let out a sigh and stopped moving.
[After all, it's just a wire huh.......]
He whispers so boringly and look at the approaching Gettan.
The two once again clashed.
Responding to Gettan's heavy slash, John Smith took a side-step and dodged
the attack.
The naginata slide along his cheek and his black air is flutter in the air.
His evasion was done with minimal movement.
The step he took was the shortest and fastest move to dodge the attack.
It was a move that at the same time he avoided the attack he's also advancing,
an ideal move.

In other words, it's an art of war.
[Wha!?]
The moment Gettan opened his eyes wide in surprised, John Smith's elbow
already made its way to Gettan's Jaw.
[GaHaa.]
John Smith mercilessly continue his assault on the staggered Gettan.
John Smith's fist penetrates Gettan's stomach His body bent in the shape of く,
what follow was a knee strike to Gettan's upper body.
John Smith's continuous strikes didn't stop there.
Using his fist, elbow and knee to attacks, each time Gettan's body received
those attack it is being unbelievably flown away.
The strongest weapon is your own body, John Smith embodied that statement.
Gettan too, also tries to retreat desperately and escape the storm like attacks.
Due to the tablet's effect his body recovers once the damage has been done to
his body. He is waiting for the storm to stop and retreat to the safe area------.
But John Smith did not stop.
The step he took sealed Gettan's escape, the blow he unleashed rendered
Gettan's leg powerless.
In that instant of offense and defense, everything was already calculated.
Doing so, John Smith continued his one-sided assault.
In such a close range inside his Maai, no matter how the prey moves, it will
never escape that Maai.
He keep assaulting his prey like he is doing a routine work.
[Gah....Aha....Gu, Guo,, Geho.]
Gettan's bone was smashed, his fangs and internal organs destroyed, but it
soon recovers.
That scene is already like an endless torture.
Red blood splattered on the white snow carpet and made a stain.
And little by little the strength and speed of John Smith's fist are rising.
It was as if he was testing how much Gettan could endure.
[Say it, you have something you wanted to say right......]
[Gah....Guf.]

While continuing to punch Gettan, John Smith spoke.
Finally, he has reached his limit.
Gettan's recovery has stopped.
Seeing that, John Smith spread his Maai for half a step-------- and used his right
leg to kick Gettan with all his strength.
Gettan received the kick with the side of his body, He rolled down violently on
the snow.
[I hate kicking, it destroy my balance.]
John Smith said so boringly.
[DESPITE HOW GOOD HE IS WITH WIRES, HE'S WAY BETTER AT CQC - BAITS GETTAN BY NEVER GOING INTO CQC DESPITE GETTAN CUTTING THROUGH ALL HIS WIRES AND THEN BEATS THE FUCK OUT OF HIM UNTIL HE OVERWHELMS GETTAN'S REGEN]
- CHAPTER 140
----------------------------------------------------------------
Saying so, He pat Yukime's back with a hand filled with magic power.
[I healed your scar, let's look forward to the future.]
He said with a small voice.
Yukime took a night's rest in the capital, she used the real banknotes to
exchange it back to gold coins and return to the hideout.
Her wound was healed by John Smith. That ugly scar on her back had
disappeared beautifully.
Her physical and mental wound healed, she now truly believe that everything
is over. It was supposed to, but the word [Cult] Gettan mentioned still linger in
her ears.
[HEALS ANOTHER PERSON'S WOUND THAT A FROM IMPALEMENT THAT HAD ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY HEALED BEFORE]
- CHAPTER 141
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“He’s looks shifty. Kill him.” Said one of them while another pulled out his sword.
I immediately lowered my head submissively.

“P-please, spare me, mercy, please—!”
“—Begone.”
My pleas were all but fruitless and a sword was already making its way to cull my life.
I sighed, and kicked it away.
The sword broke off in the middle flew off with a clang.

“—Wha!?”
“Come on, you could’ve at least gone “He looks shifty, capture him”.” I said to the grunts who only kept staring eyes wide.
[CASUALLY KICKS A SWORD IN HALF]
- CHAPTER 144
----------------------------------------------------------------
“On your guards, he might be trouble…”
The soldiers surrounding me all drew their swords now.

“Seriously, you guys are the 10th group already. This is getting bothersome.” I muttered.
One leader-seeming soldier came up front and said, “Am I supposed to believe you’re responsible for the recent assassinations of our men? A kid like you… no matter, we shall make sure now.”
“Too late. That won’t make me a ‘no-name’ boy.” I told the man as I sliced off his neck with my slime sword.
His gaze, that of a decapitated head, turned to the sky. The moonlit sky from a back alley tainted with blood splatter.

“F-fiend! Kill him!”

“Hey, maybe I’ll get lucky with the 11th…” I muttered after nonchalantly finishing off the grunts.
This kind of felt like being a secret assassin I guess.
The fight was over fast and the smell of blood permeated around me. I checked my clothes.
Good. Not a drop on them.
[EASILY DISPATCHES A GROUP OF ARMED GUARDS WITHOUT TRYING]
- CHAPTER 144
---------------------------------------------------------------
I was walking out of the alley while thinking, when I sensed multiple presences approaching.
I determined their number via sound and mana signatures… 7 of them, should be soldiers.
They might be looking for the bunch I left back there.

“Oh, this could work.”
I fell on my ass in front of the alley and waited.
Soon—

“D-dead, in the alley, they’re…!” I pointed down the alley and croaked in a terrified voice, making sure the soldiers were within earshot.
I took special note to be on the verge of sobbing, like a helpless mob.

“What!? Dammit, don’t tell me—”
The soldiers rushed into the alley.

“Dammit! It keeps happening!”
“Fuck, once we catch him, I’m swear I’ll!”
“Oi, kid! You see who it was!?”
One of them screamed at me as I was pretending my knees had given out.
[SENSES A GROUP OF SOLDIERS FROM A LONG WAY OFF THROUGH SOUND AND MANA SIGNATURES - HAS TO WAIT FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN IN EARSHOT]
- CHAPTER 144
-------------------------------------------------------
With a single step, I got into arms length of Zack, grabbed his neck and lifted him up. His feet now dangled in the air.

“Fuh, ker, yer, gon, pay, for…” Zack croaked in pain.
“Can’t work the body without food. I mean, I can easily survive going on nothing for a month, but I’ll get a little weaker if I do. So I really don’t want to skip meals. I guess I can go out into town and eat. And, sleeping outside isn’t really a problem… Oh but, I don’t want to sleep outside in the rain, I guess.” I spoke while gradually tightening my grip.
“St-stahhhp…”
“Mr. Zack, you have two choices. Live, or die. Choose wisely now.”
[CAN LAST A MONTH WITHOUT EATING OR DRINKING]
- CHAPTER 145
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I let go of his neck. He sat down and looked up at me while massaging his throat.
“Who the hell are you? How come you’re this strong when we’re not supposed to have mana…”
“Who can say…”
“You’re no student. A spy… no, someone from the underworld…”
“Perhaps, but would I really reveal that?” I said, putting some strength in my gaze.
“…Tsk” Zack tsked and looked away.

“Fucking politics… whatever, I ain’t involved, just do whatever you gotta do.”
“That I will, Mr. Zack. That I will.”
“… Yeah, sure.”

I turn my back to the dejected Zack and grab the door handle.
“Ah, right. I don’t think I need to tell you, but do keep this on the hush hush.”
“… I know.”
“Just a friendly warning. You see, I honestly don’t care if I have to kill you and everyone else in your little Doem Camp—” I said, momentarily releasing a strong helping of mana and bloodlust.

“—Wha!? But your mana’s supposed to be…”
“As if this trinket can seal me…” I said finally, opening the door and exiting the room.

“… Fuck me with a sledgehammer. I just had to pick up a freakin’ monster…”

Listening in to Zack’s muttering from the other side, I did another mental fist pump.
[BASIC POWER SUPPRESSORS DON'T WORK ON CID]
- CHAPTER 147
---------------------------------------------------------------
I breached Zack’s room with him completely unawares.
“—!? Oh, it’s you. How’d you even do that…”
Once he noticed I was there, Zack’s eyes bulged in shock.
Hehehe, nice reaction. I really liked this guy and his totally cliche reactions.
[GOOD STEALTH FEAT]
- CHAPTER 149
-------------------------------------------------------------
I heard the lock click as soon as the door was closed.
I too checked my surroundings and seeing no one there, I revealed myself.
I turned the door handle. Locked, as expected.

I jutted some slime into the keyhole and picked the lock. Lockpicking is something I learned in my past life so it was a breeze. What’s a power in the shadows if he can’t open a few closed doors?
Incidentally, I have my slimes hidden inside my body so they won’t find anything even with a full pat down.
[CAN PICK LOCKS AND HIDE HIS SLIMES REALLY WELL]
- CHAPTER 150
--------------------------------------------------------------
“Done it now, bitch!”
The guy who got slapped grabbed and raised the club at his waist.

Yeah, this be no good.
Clara can’t handle that. Worst case, the club cracks her head open and she’s dead.

Yeah, sorry, but I don’t like it if some no-name mob suddenly kills a major character.
“—Huh?”
Muttered Clara, her eyes wide in shock.
Right before her eyes, the man who was about to swing down a weapon at her, had spontaneously collapsed. The club he was holding was flung high into the air.

“—HUH!? What just happened!?”
“How’d he just!?”
The rabble were scared and confused.

“It can’t be— OWL?”
“Find him!! He’s here somewhere!”
“…Owl?”
Both Royalists and Doem Camp went on guard.

I was the culprit though.
It was simple. I had a piece of slime detach from the bottom of my shoe and burrow underground. Then I had it shoot out from under the guy and hit him under the jaw.
No one noticed, but that’s fine. That right there was very much was a power from the shadows would do.
[SLIME CAN BURROW UNDER GROUND AND ATTACK AT EASY FTE SPEEDS TO KO A GUY WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING IT]
- CHAPTER 151
-------------------------------------------------------------
“What’re you laughin’ at!!”
The man smacked the boy’s face with the butt of his knife.
But the boy’s smile didn’t falter, not in the least.
“You don’t seem to realize you’re in deep shit, brat.”

Another smack.
Stronger this time. Enough to break the cheekbone, maybe even knock loose a tooth.
Still no reaction from the boy.
The boy simply kept on looking at the man with a grin across his face.

“—!”
“Oi, you goin’ easy on ‘im or what?”
From the side, one of the man’s comrades came up and punched the boy in the face.
“That’s how ya punch a face. Leave ‘em half dead and they’ll never— Huh!?”
That punch was meant to knock the boy out cold.
But the boy just stood there as if he felt nothing. The spot where he’d been battered had remained spotless.

Those emotionless eyes still peered at the 5 men.
It was freaking them out.

“— Is that it?” Finally said the boy.
“—!! You’ll regret that!!”
Furious, the man began pummeling the boy with ferocious fists.
He punched like no tomorrow, until his breathing became rough.

“See, this is what happens when you— HUH?”
“— Are you done?” Said the boy, ever smiling.
His face revealed not one bruise.

“This kid’s fucking strange.”
“Tsk. Gimme the knife.”
The man from the side took the knife and stabbed the boy in the ribs.

— But,
“What, how—!?”
The knife, penetrating only the boy’s clothes, stopped there. Even putting more strength into his arm, the man couldn’t cut the boy’s skin.

“O-oi, what’re ya playin’ around for?”
“Stab him, do it!”
“Sh-shaddap! Knife ain’t going in!!”
The man tried stabbing again and again.
The knife never penetrated even skin deep.
[TANKS A BEATING WITH NO DAMAGE AND CID'S SKIN IS COMPLETELY KNIFE PROOF]
- CHAPTER 154
----------------------------------------------------------------
His breathing had gone arid as the man stepped away. His eyes couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed.
“W-what, the hell are y—”
“— So you’re done?”
That’s when the boy swung his fist.
Yet, no one saw it move. Such was its speed.

What they saw was the result only.
The boy’s fist had punched through the man’s chest and come out the other side.

“Ah… ahyauu…”
The man dropped to the ground, creating a large pool of blood.

“Wha!?”
“N-no, fuckin…”
“D-did this guy just punch a hole through…”
“Hyai…!”

Splich, splich.

The boy walked on the the bloody floor.
“— Done?”
He taunted the men, still grinning.

The remaining mens’ faces stiffened.
“Goddamn… w-we’ll take ‘im down with all of us!!”
“D-don’t mess with me!!”
“D-Die, fucker, dieeee!!!”
“H-hyi-hyeeeeeeee!!”

Four shadows converged on the boy. The flame in the lamp flickered.
— Dancing shadows.
Once the flame regained its calm, on the floor of the cellar lay 5 corpses with holes for a chest.
[FTE PUNCHES THROUGH PEOPLE'S CHESTS]
- CHAPTER 154
---------------------------------------------------------
Maximilian drew his knife. The sharp blade glinted in the flame of the sole lamp.
Right. So I’ve failed.
Too bad. Let’s kill them now.
I was about to go Shadow-mode and unleash slime hell on them when— I sensed her coming.

Not a moment later, the lamp went dark.
“Someone’s there!!”
She had arrived.

Wearing a pitch black slime bodysuit, with her slime sword, she launched a fierce attack towards Maximilian.
“Damn you…!”
Maximilian also reacted fast to the sudden assault.
He quickly turned and avoided the blade coming for his neck, then jumped back to take distance.
It wasn’t a perfect dodge however, as blood gushed from his shoulder.
“Bastard! You must be… OWL. And you’re a woman.”
She didn’t answer.
Some of the other men were already down on the floor near her. She’s gotten more skilled.
[DETECTS SKILLED PERSON WITH SLIME BODYSUIT APPROACHING]
- CHAPTER 157
--------------------------------------------------------
Clearly outnumbered, the guards were quickly losing ground.

To the eye, it seemed that the Royalists had the upper hand in this field.
However, I was sensing a large number of people approaching from outside the walls. Most likely, reinforcements for the guards. Some of them were magiswords too.

Magiswords are going to snuff out this riot instantly.
All the camp prisoners had mana sealing collars, after all.
A magisword against an ordinary civilian is like pitting an adult against a child. The child being the certain loser.
[DETECTING PEOPLE APPROACHING A PRISON, MAGISWORDS DAB ON NORMAL PEOPLE]
- CHAPTER 160
----------------------------------------------------------
And that’s when I, erasing my presence, used super speed and took on Shadow’s voice.

“—Seems the fight is over.”
Shadows voice resounded from everywhere.

“Huh? What was that!?”
“Who’s there!? Show yourself!!”
“I can hear him but from where!?”

With my presence completely concealed, no one here should see me.
“—Do you not have a duty to fulfil?”
This is exactly what I wanted to do.
The moment when all hope seems lost, a voice from the shadows makes its entrance!

“What is going on? Is that the OWL?”
“No, that isn’t OWL.”
“Just find him! He’s got to be close!”

The rabble are going into a slow panic. Nice.

“—Know that your sister still fights. So long as you don’t falter, surely you will reunite…”
“Eh, my sister…? Wait, who are you!?”

I replied with power in my voice.
“My name is Shadow… I lurk in the shadows, hunting the shadows...”
“You’re shadow!? The one who appeared at the God of War Festival…?”
“Shadow!? The man said to have defeated Beatrix, that Shadow…?”
“T-there’s no way! Why the hell would Shadow be here!?”
“Shadow being here means, isn’t Shadow Garden allied with the royals…?”

Yes, YES, hype it up!

“—If you lack power, let me loosen your shackles.”
I said, launching the many pieces of slime I prepared underground, and breaking every single mana sealer at once.

“T-the collar...”
“B-but how, it’s completely destroyed...”
“So it’s true, he really is Shadow… why…? No, this is our chance!”

As the hundreds of collars broke and fell, I said some final words.
“—Struggle, fight. Grasp your fate with your own two hands...”
I then let off explosive mana, dying the courtyard a brilliant purple.
[ZIPS AROUND AN ARENA AT FTE SPEED WHILE CONCEALING HIS PRESENCE JUST TO HAVE A COOL EFFECT WITH HIS VOICE. USES PARTS OF HIS SLIME SUIT TO BREAK HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUAL SEALING COLLARS SIMULTANEOUSLY]
- CHAPTER 160
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I didn’t quite plan on making a scene, quite frankly...”
Maximilian took in his surroundings with just moving his eyes.
He saw Clara at Guin’s mercy, Batt bloodied and laying still, and of course, the knife at his own throat.

“Well, aren’t you calm. I can slit your throat anytime I want, buddy.”
“Kuku… I suppose you think you have the upper hand now. Sad to say, I don’t quite see it like that.”
“You ain’t makin’ sense.”
“My only concern is how much of my power I should reveal to you lot. I’d sincerely wanted to end this maintaining the face of a minor villain.”
“The face of a minor villain…? Wait, so you’re involved with them… the real Evil lurking in the shadows…?”
Zack took a quick glance at the black haired boy laying propped up a side wall.

“Ho… Zack, you seem to know something you shouldn’t… how unfortunate.”
“... Unfortunate?”
“Yes, indeed very unfortunate… since now I must kill everyone here.”
“-- WHAT!?”
Suddenly, Maximilian had vanished. Having lost sight of his mortal foe, Zack’s knife was now stuck in thin air.

The next instant, snow flurried upwards and blood rained down.
“Gahhh…!!”
Multiple bodies fell to the white ground, dying it red.
At the center of them stood Maximilian with a sinister smile. He flicked his sword to shed off the blood.
[MAX IS FAST ENOUGH TO CASUALLY FTE BLITZ MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH A STARTING POSITION OF HAVING A KNIFE AT HIS THROAT]
- CHAPTER 163
-------------------------------------------------------------
Maximilian clicked his tongue and took distance.
“That coat must be an artifact. A good one too to have blocked my sword. I shall relieve you of it soon enough...”

Once again, Maximilian vanished.
“Over here.”
Maximilian was approaching from behind.
--But before that.
“Wrong way.”
Before Shadow could turn, Maximilian appeared from under him.
“-- Weakling.”
Maximilian’s strikes came from all directions, and even from above, successively and without pause.
Shadow couldn’t even react as he was cut away at from every which way.

Then finally--
“It is done.”
One last powerful blow sent Shadow to the ground.
Shadow rolled on the snow before crashing on the camp wall.

“All artifacts have a limit to their endurance. Now your precious coat is finished.”
Maximilian moved his gaze from Shadow to something to the side.
“So you finally show yourself-- OWL.”
At some point, a female form had been already standing where Shadow lay collapsed-- dressed in her pitch black bodysuit, it was OWL.

“How sad, OWL. You’re all but too late--”
“Kindly, shut up.”
OWL turned to Maximilian.
“... You dare.” Maximilian’s tone raised in ferocity.
“You’re of no concern now.”
“Foolish. Shadow is finished, and the same fate awaits you next--”
“You don’t seem to realize that you’ve been played.”

“Played...?”
“Lord Shadow, please allow me a question.”
OWL asked Shadow who was buried rubble.

“... You may.”
Shadow answered after a pause.
Violet mana then blew away the debris, and Shadow slowly stood up.

“You! So you have that much power still--!”

Maximilian was half in a panic but in contrast, OWL was calmness itself.
“Sir, why do you not show your true power?”
“... I wished to fully judge the power of that man. For reference, as it were...”
“For reference… I understand now. I have one more thing I must ask.”
OWL asked with a tinge of anger in her tone.
Shadow nodded his assent.
[TANKS AN ATTACKS THAT SENT HIM INTO A CASTLE WALL HARD ENOUGH TO TURN IT TO RUBBLE]
- CHAPTER 165
------------------------------------------------------
He quickly stood up and glowered at Shadow.
“You will not underestimate me…!”
He then pulled out a red lozenge and swallowed it.
“Now you’ll pay for that attitude. I will have you know despair.”
Maximilian’s mana surged and his eyes were dyed blood red.
“Behold-- It is your death that will be swift!!”
Maximilian blurred.

He was suddenly behind Shadow.
“-- An afterimage.”
A slash faster than sound cut Shadow from behind.
It wasn’t able to cut through Shadow’s longcoat.
Shadow turned around.
Faster than that, Maximilian once again blurred.
“That too-- an afterimage.”
Yet again, Maximilian cut Shadow from behind.

“As I thought, you have no means of reacting to my speed. Yes, that is inevitable. I am not your average Awakened I’ll have you know...”
Seeing how slowly Shadow was turning back, Maximilian spoke.
“I am no 3rd-- I am a 2nd.” He sneered and blurred once again.
“Slow! You’re too slow, Shadow!! Now taste the power of a true 2nd of the Order!!”
Maximilian’s voice came from all directions.

Relentlessly, he made slash after slash upon Shadow.
His afterimages seemed to be everywhere at he did.
“This is my sword-- the Coldblood Kaleidoscope!”
The myriad Maximilians in the fierce blizzard truly appeared as if he came out of a cold and deadly kaleidoscope.

“Soon enough, that artifact of yours will be exhausted! That will be your end!!”
The endless slashes had numbered to more than a thousand now.
Shadow couldn’t do a thing, he just stood there and took it.
Each slash caused the snow to jump, turning everything white.
And finally, it ended.
“Huff… huff… fool.”

Maximilian wrested control of his breathing.
The ground around him was gouged.
Coldblood Kaleidoscope tended to have that effect on the landscape.
It was impossible to stay standing after a relentless onslaught like that.
Maximilian was about to sheathe his sword, when,
“WHAT--!”

Beyond the veil of snow, stood a form.
As the uplifted snow slowly drifted back to the ground, the identity of the form was made clear.
“It’s not, possible...”
That form was of course-- Shadow.

Shadow was standing there, having withstood Coldblood Kaleidoscope-- without injury.
Without a scratch on him, the man in black stood as if the fierce rush from just now was but an illusion.

“How are you uninjured after my Coldblood Kaleidoscope!? Th-this is impossible, no artifact like that could exist...”
“Artifact…? Might you be curious about this?”
Shadow said indicating his garment.

“There’s no other way! I am stronger than the likes of you! Just because you have that ridiculous artifact, don’t think…!”
“This, is no artifact. It is made of Slime.”
“Th-that is absurd! No Slime can withstand what I did!!”
“Correct. By itself Slime is very weak as material. However, what would happen if it were to be infused with mana of incredible proportions…?”
[CID'S SLIME SUIT TANKS AN ONSLAUGHT OF OVER A THOUSAND SUPERSONIC CUTS THAT GOUGED OUT THE GROUND BENEATH HIM]
- CHAPTER 166
--------------------------------------------------------
“Oh? Even if I show you this…?”
Shadow’s longcoat warped.
Within the white blizzard, the jet black garment expanded to both sides like wings.
No, they were wings.
Jet black wings like that of the devil had manifested out of the coat.

“T-that… isn’t, no, that’s not...”
Maximilian could think of only one material able to change shape so freely.
--Slime.
And nothing else.
“M-monster… you’re, you’re no human, you monster!!”
His expression warping, Maximilian rushed at Shadow.

However, the blazing speed of his sword was easily stopped by the now transformed devil wings.
“Slow...”
“N-no… you can’t react to my speed...”
Despair dyed Maximilian’s face.

The pair of wings had split into four.
They flapped once, allowing Shadow to be lifted into the air.
Maximilian was speechless.

“Know this. The quantity of my mana is not so different from your own.”
Jet black wings flapped in the white blizzard sky.
“If well compressed, it only appears hundred-fold more powerful when released. I simply do that whenever I use it… like so.”
Shadow gathered mana in his wings.
The violet mana collected on the wings and appeared as small feathers.
[SUIT CAN SPROUT WINGS THAT CAN FIGHT AGAINST SUPERSONIC OPPONENTS AND ALLOW FLIGHT/FLOATING]
- CHAPTER 166
---------------------------------------------------------------
Jet black wings flapped in the white blizzard sky.
“If well compressed, it only appears hundred-fold more powerful when released. I simply do that whenever I use it… like so.”
Shadow gathered mana in his wings.
The violet mana collected on the wings and appeared as small feathers.

“Hyii… Monster… no, Demon Lord…!”
“Quality easily trumps quantity when it concerns mana. And quality comes from control. To that end, the amount of control you can exert while you release… determines everything.”
Those feathers, were beautiful yet cruel as the devil himself--

“I. AM. ATOMIC RAIN.”

As they fell on Maximilian.

Violet mana rain dwarfed the raging snow storm.
Its light enveloped Maximilian, erased the snow and swallowed up everything.
As it fizzled out, having ended everything, only a large crater remained where the walled camp once stood.

All was quiet for a time.
Then, the jet black wings flapped, taking their bearer high into the snowy sky.
[NUKES A PRISON CAMP INTO A GIANT CRATER WITH FEATHERS FROM HIS WINGS THEN FLIES OFF]
- CHAPTER 166
----------------------------------------------------
“Ah, thank you very much! Let me massage your shoulders to repay you!”

“Oh, really? Actually, I really get stiff shoulders.”

Great! Now I can become the mob character who flatters people and massage their shoulders.

In fact, I’d noticed that they had somewhat stiff shoulders at a glance. I was quite good at massage. I thought highly of my knowledge of the human body. Since I knew how to destroy a man, then naturally I should know how to treat him.

I touched the shoulder of ojisan sitting there, and checked his bones and muscles. The reason for this seemed to be that the muscles around his shoulder blades were too stiff and his spine was somewhat distorted.

I used my wrists strength to massage his shoulders and relax his muscles. My wrists strength was limited, so I secretly injected magic to further relax his tendons and adjust his spine and shoulder blades.

Well done. Perfect.

“That’s awesome! My shoulders are as light as feathers! Oh, what’s going on?”

Ojisan smiled and shook his shoulders.

Well, I didn’t waste my efforts to practice massage skills on my sister and Alpha.

“Oh, really? Actually, my neck is also hurting.”

“I feel pain in my waist recently. Could you help me with that?”

“Just, just leave it to me.”

I also massaged the remaining two ojisans. Maybe being a plastic surgeon or a masseur was a better choice for me. Powers in the shadows were also very proficient in medical care.

“Wow! It seems like I’m flying in the sky!!”

“Now even if a hundred people will fight against me together, they won’t be my match!!”

Their happiness was the most important thing.
[GOOD AT MASSAGES]
- CHAPTER 171
-----------------------------------------------------------
Our troops morale was sky high. Because of it, it felt like our victory was sure. Even though our combat power was zero

Whilst we were approaching the Rajta Count’s castle, I used my magic power to secretly scout it out. To my surprise, our situation was terrible. There are over 500 enemies in the castle.

It’s bad news – enemy number was more than 500.

Goldoh said there was only around 100 enemy soldiers.

There might be trouble.

We were definitely going to lose.
[DETECTS ALL 500 ENEMIES STATIONED WITHIN A CASTLE FROM OUTSIDE THE WALLS AS HE APPROACHES]
- CHAPTER 172
----------------------------------------------------------------
A tremendous black rose blossomed in the sky.

That black rose glowed slightly due to the magical power, which demonstrated it’s existence whilst bathed in the moonlight.

It was so beautiful that everyone could get lost in it’s beauty. But at the same time, everyone felt an enormous pressure coming off of it.

“The [Black Rose]…in fairy tales, that…”

“Is it that [Black Rose]?”

“In Oriana, it’s well known in Oriana… the symbol of the empire…the [Black Rose] in the legend…”

The petals of the tremendous black rose gradually expanded.

Then it suddenly broke into pieces and drifted down towards the ground.

Beautiful pieces of the rose, fell down to the ground and finally landed on the right hands of the [Vow of Black Rose] members.

That petal left a black mark on everyone’s hands that looked as if it was carved directly into their hands.

The shape of that black mark was exactly a piece of beautiful rose petals.

“Does it mean… I’m selected by the [Black Rose]…? I couldn’t even get on with my job. I escaped there and abandoned myself….”

“Why? Why me…? I’m here for money… not for the country…”

“I’m rubbish. I mortgaged my wife… Ah! [Black Rose]! Will you give strength to such a person like me?”

The black mark on their right hands flashed intensely as if it was responding to their words.

The next moment, an incredible power emanated from the marks.

“What…is it the power of the [Black Rose]?! If such a person like me was also qualified to fight…the power, I will fight for my country.”

“What a great power it is! [Black Rose], could I also do something for my country?”

“I know… If so, a loser like me has another chance to it again… Thank you very much.”

All of them raised their weapons in their right hands at the same time.

The brave and beautiful gesture was their way of making an oath to the [Black Rose].

“How’s that possible? Is it really [Black Rose]?”

Frightened expressions emerged on Rajta Count’s soldier’s faces.

The [Black Rose] was the symbol of Oriana – justice.

“Ha-ha! We are the Vow of Black Rose! In the name of the [Black Rose], we should impose justice on the rebels!”
After releasing my magical power into the sky, I wanted to attempt something new – use a mysterious power to strengthen the soldiers.

Winning a battle with the help of a mysterious power was very common plot in many stories. Namely, the plot of investigating the mysterious power while asking the question “what is it…”

Reinforcing the soldiers from a distance was also a test for my abilities.

At first, I would release the magical power into the air in the shape of Black Rose. Then I would scatter it, and infuse the magic into the soldiers with the petals to temporarily reinforce them. Up to this point, there was no problem.

The problem was, the soldier’s body could not bear such strong magical power, if I infused it into their bodies sharply.

Although they could be reinforced, the effect would be weak. The effects would not be enough to fight with the magic swordsmen.

So, here was the test.

When the magical power entered their body through the petals, I created magic lines in their bodies that could withstand my power. I reinforced everyone in the [Vow of Black Rose], so I had to focus my full attention on the ultra precise operations. I almost thought that my brain would explode.

In short, I could reinforce the soldiers from a distance, and I named the skill [Shadow Marionette].

“Haha!! What a strong power!! I killed three people at once!”

“Ora! Ora! Ora!! Can you keep up with my speed!?”

“Huhuhuhu!! Who dares to stop me! I will send you flying to the other side!!”

Now after my reinforcement the [Vow of Black Rose] got a new momentum to break through.

The small amount of soldiers that was surrounded, somehow had suppressed the enemy, which was commonly thought of as impossible.

“What’s going on? Quickly, stop them! No matter what, you have to stop them!”

If the enemy breaks through their defences right now, they would be defeated.

So, obviously, the magic swordsmen were sent over.

“Humph! It is you again!”

“Poof! You have blocked my spear!”

“Humph! You have remarkable skills!”

As expected, the three ojisans were stopped again, and thrown into a disadvantageous position by the magic swordsmen.

Although both sides were around the same power level thanks to my enhancement, ojisans were amateurs, and the magic swordsmen were professional soldiers. Basically, ojisans were not a match for the magic swordsmen in both skills and experience. They were doomed to fail.

However, it didn’t matter. Now, it was time for [Shadow of Marionette] to shine.

I started to manipulate the magic lines spread in everyone’s body.

Then…

“What’s this? Why is my body moving!?”

Ojisans movements changed drastically. I improved their spear fighting skills through remote manipulation, which made them superior to the magic swordsmen in fighting with a spear.

“Why am I blocking attacks from blind angles? I can’t see the enemies too!”

It didn’t matter even if they couldn’t see the enemies clearly. They could receive blows from any direction.

“It’s no use escaping from me! You can’t dodge my spear!”

It had an automatic tracking function that could predict the enemy’s future actions.

The magic swordsmen were defeated by the ojisans with improved skills thanks to my remote manipulation.

The magic-swordsmen were doomed to fail.

This was the overwhelming power of [Vow of Black Rose].

It was hard to describe the new skill. It was ‘problematic’ or ‘unsatisfactory’, because of two problems.

First, it was really a heavy burden for me.

So far, I had never even tried to control nearly a hundred soldiers with magical threads.

Using my magical detection to understand and master the whole battlefield information was already a heavy burden for me. What’s even worse is that I had to control every soldier’s every action using the magical threads at the same time. There were only a few soldiers that I could focus on controlling at the same time. To tell the truth, my brain feels like it’s going to explode.

Secondly, what I wanted was the “What is this power…” play, in which people investigated the mysterious powers origin as the story gradually developed.

At this stage, this power should still be a mystery. The truth wouldn’t be revealed until the [powers in the shadows] came to stage at the end of the story – that’s how the story should proceed correctly.

But why…

“The [Black Rose] is at our back!”

“Yo! The [Black Rose]!” Please lead us to a victory!!”

“Go! Soldiers chose by the [Black Rose]!!”

… Why would the fairy tale of the [Black Rose] take away the chance of my show?
[CID'S SHADOW MARIONETTE MASSIVELY AMPS AN ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND ALLOWS HIM TO HAVE REMOTE CONTROL OF THEM - HIS CONTROL IS SO FUCKING GOOD THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM (A HUNDRED PEOPLE) CAN DO THE RIDICULOUS SKILL BULLSHIT THAT CID CAN DO NORMALLY]
- CHAPTER 174
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The petals of the broken rose fluttered down and landed beside Goldoh and Quinton.

The petals touched their right hands and carved two black petal-shaped marks.

“What is this…?”

“My wound is healed-“

When they touched the petals, the magic power began to emanate from petals and their serious wounds were healed in an instant.

“Strength is overflowing from me…”

“What is this power…?”

The black magic power constantly gushed out from Goldoh’s and Quinton’s bodies, like the heat emitted by the sun.

“This… This is the power of the [Black Rose] in the legend!! Such a powerful magic power, I can only kill you two here!!”

The count, driven by anxiety, launched another attack at them.
[BLACK MARIONETTE WORKS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE FAR AWAY SEPARATED BY MULTIPLE WALLS DEEP WITHIN A CASTLE - ALSO GIVES PEOPLE REALLY GOOD HEALING FACTORS]
- CHAPTER 175
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Count Rajta slashed at them with his sword.

It looked like something was leading the bodies of Goldoh and Quinton in a way that allowed them to avoid the slash, that earlier managed to nearly defeat them in one hit.

“How is it possible!?”

Count Rajta  eyes widened in surprise.

However, he was not the only one who was shocked.

“Did my body just move automatically… no wait, did it predict the attack?!?”

“No, magic is rolling in my body. Is this the power of [Black Rose]?”

Although they were somewhat confused, they still held their sword.

“Is the legend of [Black Rose] true?”

“Are we the selected people? I don’t know why, but if we have such power – we can win!”

The two men attacked Count Rajta  from both sides.
[EVEN PEOPLE WHO SHADOW IS NOT IN SIGHT OF, SEPARATED BY MULTIPLE THICK WALLS AND STUFF, GETS CID'S COMBAT SKILL THROUGH THE MARIONETTE... SOMEHOW]
- CHAPTER 176
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In the battle with Count Rajta , Quinton, who was twined by the black magic, gained the upper hand gradually.

“How can this be possible? Does the [Black Rose] have such a great power?”

The power of the strikes were so tremendous that the floor under Count Rajta ’s feet began to crack, followed by the entire room in an instant.
[MARIONETTE STAT AMP MAKES PEOPLE EZ ROOM BUSTERS]
- CHAPTER 176
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“EVIL GOD・INSTANT KILL・BLACK ROSE SWORD!!”

The magic of the Black Rose was approaching Count Rajta .

“How could it be possible?”

Count Rajta was engulfed by the magic and evaporated completely.

Beautiful petals danced in the air.

The blow was so violent that it attacked through the city wall. Then the silver light from high above the night sky penetrated the hole.

The petals like snowflakes fluttered down and dyed the ground black.

They looked down and only found all soldiers of the [Vow of Black Rose] looking up at Goldoh.
[MAGIC ATTACKS ARE ALSO MASSIVELY AMPED]
- CHAPTER 176
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While I was searching the surroundings with my magic, I found two familiar breaths for some reason.

The first breath that gave forth quite ominous magic came from the upper floor of the castle.

“Isn’t this Violet-san?”

I made her acquaintance in the Holy Ground. She was like a phantom in the fantasy story. Although she had disappeared at that time, she seemed to be living in secret somewhere in this world.

I thought it was Violet-san’s breath. I was unable to approach her as there were lots of people there, so I decided to greet her after those people left.

The second breath came from the underground area of the castle.

“What brought us here?”

I stopped making preparations and infiltrated in the underground area of the castle.
[HIS SENSES LET HIM DETECT PEOPLE BY THEIR BREATHING PATTERNS]
- CHAPTER 177
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In the underground area, Epsilon perceived a powerful magic wave.

“This magic is…?”

It seemed that something had happened outside.

As far as Epsilon knew, only her master and herself could release such powerful magic. Her master could change the wavelength of his magic, so it was impossible for Epsilon to recognize his magic accurately. Besides, she didn’t believe that her busy master had come to this castle on the border.
[CID'S MAGIC WAVELENGTH CHANGES CONSTANTLY SO YOU CAN'T DETECT HIM THROUGH MAGIC]
- CHAPTER 177
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Epsilon’s heart began to beat violently

There are sounds of footsteps behind her.

Those footsteps belong to the one who could save her right now.

The one who could overcome and shatter any obstacles in front of his face.

“You are… here….”

She looked at the person behind her with watering eyes.

Standing there was an ordinary black-haired  boy.

“Damn, damn it. My feet…”

The assassin whose feet were cut off stopped the bleeding with magic, and turned his glare on the boy.

“Who is this … small fry? Who on earth cut off my feet? Damn it. Anyway, go die!”

After finishing his words, he charged with his sword ready  and aimed at the black-haired boy.

“Eh?”

The black-haired boy disappeared.

Missing its target, the sword struck on the slate and let out a crashing noise.

“Where, where is – aga.”

A big hole appeared in the man’s chest.

The figure of the boy could be seen through the hole. He was holding the exposed heart in his hand.

“My, my… heart… ha?”

The assassin covered the hole in his chest with his hand, and fell down.

He writhed for a while and then stopped moving. Blood flowed from the now dead body

“Who, just who are you…?”

The only assassin left asked with trembling voice.

“Betya!”

The boy threw away the broken heart in his hand.

“Who, who are you?”

The boy, seemingly bored, stared at the man.

“What did you do? How did you get the heart…”

“Like this.”

The boy’s figure appeared  before the assassin before the latter even sensed it.

He placed his hand on the assassin’s heart.

“Thump, thump.” The man’s heartbeat grew faster.

“What – how is it possible? When did you… I can’t sense the flow of your magic…”

“Shadow-sama… how beautiful…”

Epsilon couldn’t help but mutter. She was mesmerized by the beauty of her master’s magic.

“You said Shadow-sama!? You, you are —”

The boy watched the panicked man with a bored look on his face.

Then ─

“You, are a mob character.”

He muttered in a low voice that only the assassin could hear.

“Eh?”

The man’s heart disappeared.

Blood squirted from the hole in his chest.

The boy squashed the heart and turned around.

“This is… Sha…dow…”

The man moaned, pressing on the hole in his chest.

“Mordred… sama… please be careful…”

Then he fell on the slate and died.
[EZ BLITZING SUPERHUMAN SECOND NAME BOIS]
- CHAPTER 179
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I raised my hand and condensed a small amount of mana that could not be perceived at my fingertips.

“That skill is ⋯⋯”

There’s a faint blue-and purple glow.

“Atomic Radar.”

After finishing my words, I broke down the mana to an even smaller bits and released it into the air.

The mana spread like fireworks and soon disappeared.

“Is this the skill that compresses the mana at the minimum limit to decompose it into particles so that it can be spread out to detect its surroundings precisely? To be able to see this ultimate magic compression skill and miraculous control ability by my own eyes… I’m so touched that I’m near to tears.”

Epsilon said with watering eyes.

She was the type of person who always exaggerate.

“The most amazing thing is that in fact anyone, in theory, can use this skill as long as he has a little mana. However, there is only one person who has acquired this amazing skill in this world, and that is Brother. This is a testament to the height of magic control that Brother has reached, an unparalleled technique .”

“Uh-huh.”

“There has never been such a skilled magic-swordsman like Brother . Of course, there will never be another one in the future, because Brother is No.1 in any timeline.”

“Ah, I just found something, I think.”

I interrupted Epsilon whose words were pouring out like a flood.

Epsilon had been such a person since the very beginning. She was a good girl who always desperately extolled me. I used to listen to her flattering remarks every morning while drinking the black tea she served me.

However, holding a high self-respect, Epsilon had a critical evaluation to any people other than me. Such a character made it easy to misunderstand her.

“That’s Brother for you. In such a short time, you found an important clue. With such speed and precision──”

“Here, come with me.”

“── Brother is the only magic-swordsman who has a detection skill in this world. Ok, let’s go right away.”

“It’s right here.”

I walked along the underpass and stood before a wall.

“This looks like an ordinary wall. That’s it – is this a hidden door?”

“It seems so.”

But I didn’t know how to open it. What should I do? Should I just split it in half?

“Sid-onii-sama.”

Epsilon looked at me with sparkles in her eyes.

“It seems that it has been subtly hidden because of the artifact. Even if the whole Shadow Garden investigated this , it would take quite a while to find it. If it was not Sid-onii-sama, we couldn’t have found this door.”

Epsilon pulled out a brick from the wall casually and injected magic into it. Then huge magical symbols appeared on the wall.

[ATOMIC RADAR FOR SUPER PRECISE SENSORY STUFF]
- CHAPTER 181
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At the instant of being freed, Freya lunged at me with her sword.

Her beautiful sword was dazzling.

However, there was no rationality in that.

A sword without rationality was very boring.

I avoided her sword and stood behind her.

Then I put Slime Sword against her neck and whispered.

“──Do you want to meet your end here?”

Freya froze. She just kept her posture wielding sword and did not move.

“Even though you’ve lost your head, you can still notice the mana on the sword? The sword which can completely erase your soul…”

Time temporarily stood still.

I pressed the sword against her neck as she wielded the sword.
[WHEN DYED WITH HIS MANA, CID'S SLIME SWORDS CAN ERASE SOULS]
- CHAPTER 182
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“Although it’s okay to fight with you here… it’s too early.”

Mordred said, distorting the space. A gap appeared along with a loud noise.

“Come in from the main entrance next time – unwelcome visitors.”

Ah, it turned out it was not time to fight against the boss.

“You are right… well.”

I felt the power released from the space, which was totally different from magic.

As expected, it was the same type as what I felt at the Holy Ground – that was to say.

“I am… atomic.”

I released magic regardless of whether it would blow all over.

　◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

“This is…”

Mordred was shocked.

The blast brought by Shadow the moment he teleported caused enormous damage to the space.

All pods were destroyed, and a large hole appeared in the space. If Mordred distorted the space to warp back later, it would have been completely swallowed by the magic released by Shadow.

It was like a black hole that could swallow the world. It would take some time to fix the space.

“This guy can use magic to affect space… No, it should be that he deliberately prepared magic powerful enough to destroy the space.”

Mordred could only think of  so.

“That is to say, this guy knew it from the beginning. He knew where this space is, and what this space is for…”

cold sweat started dripping from Mordred’s face.
[I AM ATOMIC CAN DISTORT SPACE COMPLETELY]
- CHAPTER 192
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Doem sat up against a big stone.

He had no idea how he ended up here.

“You woke up.”

Doem heard a boy’s voice from above.

This boy was looking down on him.

Dark hair, dark eyes – an ordinary person you could find anywhere.

Doem couldn’t feel his magic power.

He could hear his voice and see his figure, but the boy blended into the darkness so well, that one would still doubt if he really existed.

“You… who are you…”
[GUD AT BLENDING IN WITH DARKNESS]
- CHAPTER 194
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CHAPTER 194 - BRAIN WAVE MANIPULATION OR SOMETHING IDK
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“Those super zombies are very strong. Once caught by them, even elite magic-swordsmen can’t escape. If they surround us, we will be finished.”
[SUPER ZOMBIES STONK]
- CHAPTER 199
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Since I would become a literal meteor if I ran too fast, I dashed after Christina at a Mob Swordsman-level speed.
[LITERAL LITERAL METEOR TIER SPEED OR METAPHORICAL LITERAL METEOR TIER SPEED IDK]
- CHAPTER 200
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