Chapter 160 - #159 Zank the Beheader (2/2)

”Guys, let's go back to the mansion.” Akashi said to other 2 guards as he turned around to return back.

”Huh? Y-Yes!” They were obviously surprised by his sudden change of mind but they still followed him without any questions.

---Kurome's side---

Kurome who was walking together with the other 2 guards was constantly watching the surroundings with a cautious expression. She didn't even bother to hide her outfit so it was completely visible that she wasn't the part of the guards.

”Are you perhaps looking for me, miss?” They suddenly heard an amused voice behind them which made them swiftly turn around while readying their weapons except for Kurome who kept her hand on the hilt of her sword without drawing it out.

Kurome looked at the man in front of her with narrowed eyes.

”Two of you, get back. Don't get involved in this.” Kurome ordered and despite them wanting to argue with her order, they stepped back after they received stern look from her.

”So you are the one who killed those 4 guards, last night? You sure are an insane person.” Kurome said in cold voice while spreading her feet, putting her left hand on the sheath of her sword and right hand on the hilt of her sword. getting into the stance suitable for Iaido.

”Kuku, you can call me Zank the Beheader!” He said with a crazy smile while showing both of his hand blades.

'It's still incomplete but it should be enough to take him out in one go but I still haven't practiced it enough to use it without this stance...I have to somehow provoke him into attacking me first.' Kurome thought with narrowed eyes.

”Kuku, then it must be a very scary technique if you have to stand still to perform it!” The man suddenly said while holding back his crazy laugh.

”?!” Kurome's eyes widened in shock and knew that she fuċkėd up.

'That thing on his forehead...is that a Teigu?' Kurome thought while gritting her teeth.

”Bingo! It's called Spectator but I would like you to experience its true power first-hand, kuku.” He replied and guards who heard this one-sided conversation were looking at him with a strange expression.

”Show me! Show me your thoughts! What will you do now that I have discovered your trump card?! Kuku” He laughed like a maniac.

”Heh, I am just angry because I won't be able to practice it on you, that's all!” Kurome released a smirk before she dashed forward, making him smile ear to ear.

She couldn't perform her new technique without a stationary stance but she was able to perform Iaido even while moving with just its efficiency being slightly lowered, nevertheless, it was still a dangerous move.

When she was close enough, Kurome drew her katana, performing a wide attack from the left at an extreme speed.

*Clang*

”So happy!” The man smiled happily and blocked her attack as if he already knew from before where she will attack.

'Hm? Oh, right, he can read my thoughts...Asshole.' Kurome immediately realized why he was able to block her attack quite effortlessly despite her using a technique that was able to catch off-guard someone in an armor type Teigu and injure him.

”Come on, no need to be so rude!” He said while quickly jumping away from Kurome and just a second later, Kurome's katana became coated in yellow lighting.

'Hm...then let's change the strategy.' Kurome thought and did as Akashi previously advised her. She started fighting by her battle instinct while occupying her thoughts thinking of all various insults about the man.

They started to clash their weapons and in a few exchanges, it was visible that Kurome was on the winning end but he was still capable to block her attacks even if they were unpredictable and she hasn't planned any of her attacks which slightly puzzled her.

”Even if your only thoughts are your insults at me, I can still predict all of your movements by seeing even the smallest twitch of your muscles!!” He shouted with an excited smile while pointing at his Teigu with the tip of his hand blade. Despite him being slightly affected by her lighting, the exchanges were always short so his movements weren't much affected so she stopped wasting its power.

”Thanks for the tip!” Kurome said with a smile while performing an overhead slash with everything she got.

”Useless!” Despite her attack being almost twice as fast as before, he was able to react and crossed his hand blades in front of him to intercept her attack.

*Clang!*

”What?!” Despite him blocking her attack in time, he was forced to kneel on one of his knees by the power behind that attack.

”?!” While he was distracted, Kurome kicked out towards his midsection which he was unable to react in time and was blown away into one of many old unused buildings.

'What kind of strength is that? Is that even possible for someone so small to have so much raw power?' The man thought with a surprised expression when he got out of the rubble and immediately was forced to kneel due to the damage on his body.

”Have you really thought that I was using my full strength the entire time? I was taught to never use my full strength at the beginning of the battle. Giving you an exciting battle and confidence in blocking all of my attacks eased up your guard and I used that against you. Even if you can read my attacks, if your own mind can't keep up after being surprised out of nowhere, the little hints you get from that little thing on your forehead won't matter at all.” Kurome said with a smile while pointing her katana at his forehead.

'After I take your head, I am sure, his mood will brighten up' Kurome thought when she walked up near him and got ready to behead him.

”How lukewarm, trying to please someone you care about, kuku” The man said with a crazy laugh.

Kurome only glared at him before she slashed her katana at him but before her weapon could make a contact with his neck, she stopped her attack in midway.

”?!” She widened her eyes when she saw a kneeling Akashi with a battle-scarred appearance.

The man's mouth curled up.

”Kill him!” Kurome only woke up when she heard shouts from the guards who were spectating everything but it was already too late and Akashi in front of her attacked her midsection with his hand, however, Kurome still gritted her teeth and also resumed her attack.