Chapter 14: One Against a Hundred"Isn't this interesting?"
"These rich brats from Hakumai are really stupid."
"To dare say things like that to us—how naive can you be?"
The bandits' sneers overlapped, their noisy chatter grating on the ears. Yukiko's eyes burned with fury, and she nearly drew her sword to hack these people who dared disrespect Ren.
However, Ren had already warned her not to act rashly. She forced herself to endure it, her chest heaving as she stared at them with eyes sharp enough to tear flesh.
"This woman's glare is terrifying, hahaha."
"Women and food delivered right to our doorstep. No need to be polite."
Shutenmaru listened to his subordinates' clamor, his expression growing darker. The aura Ren was giving off was not weak, and the single strike that had smashed through the mountain gate was proof enough that this was no easy opponent.
Even so, he was not afraid. In all of Kuri, he was effectively the strongest, and Ren, not even 2 meters tall, hardly looked threatening.
With that delicate-looking face, he seemed like someone who lived off women. Still, if a fight could be avoided, Shutenmaru preferred to save the trouble.
"I don't care who you are," Shutenmaru said coldly. "You can enter this mountain stronghold, but leaving it… that's impossible."
"You want to keep me here with just you lot?" Ren sneered, glancing around. Nearly 100 people had surrounded him, yet none were worth a second look in his eyes.
"You scum!" Yukiko shouted angrily. "It is your honor that Lord Ren has come to rule you, and you actually dare to resist!"
"Honor?" Shutenmaru ground his teeth. "People like you, born in peaceful villages, could never understand those of us born in hell."
Born into Kuri, he had learned from the moment he could walk that if he did not plunder others, he would be plundered himself. So he picked up a blade and fought endlessly, until he became the leader of the Head Mountain bandits.
Kill or be killed—that was the fate of Kuri.
"Are you done talking nonsense?" Ren rotated his sword slightly, Shutenmaru's resentful face reflected on the mirror-like blade.
If this man could rise to become a bandit leader, it would not have been impossible for him to rebuild Kuri and even become a daimyo. Whether the Kozuki recognized him or not hardly mattered.
Yet he had chosen this path instead. If so, what right did he have to wallow in resentment?
"Once I defeat you, you will acknowledge me as your lord," Ren said calmly. "I will become the daimyo of this land and make Kuri the wealthiest region in the country."
Those words made Shutenmaru hesitate for a moment, though he could not tell whether they were empty boasts. In any case, submission would only come after strength was proven.
"Men, attack!" Shutenmaru roared. "Kill this ignorant fool—and bring the woman back!"
At his command, the bandits surged forward, shouting wildly. These people were scum cast out from other villages, long since resigned to sinking into this hell.
They cared nothing for Ren's words. This land had been like this for hundreds of years, and no one had ever changed it.
The woman behind him was even more beautiful than a courtesan. If they could seize her and indulge for a few nights, even death afterward would be worth it.
Most of the lust-driven fiends bypassed Ren entirely and rushed straight toward Yukiko.
Seeing this, Yukiko took half a step back and drew her sword. Ren had told her not to act rashly, but he had never told her to wait helplessly.
Even so, the sheer number made her tense, though Ren standing before her filled her with confidence.
Fortunately, none of them could break through Ren's defense.
He swung his blade, and a fierce wind rose instantly. Sand and stones were swept up from the barren ground, forming a swirling current that pulled the bandits toward him before violently flinging them back.
"Your only enemy is me," Ren said lightly as he stepped forward.
"Damn it, kill him!"
Those thrown aside were not seriously injured, but hatred filled their bloodshot eyes as they raised their weapons and charged again.
At that moment, Ren finally understood how Uchiha Madara must have felt when facing countless enemies alone. Crushing the weak was, undeniably, exhilarating.
Even without his absorption ability, Ren's strength was formidable, roughly comparable to Luffy in Second Gear during the Water 7 arc. On top of that, he had already grasped both Armament and Observation Haki.
Charging into the crowd, he clearly perceived the trajectories of every incoming blade. The shouts and movements all slowed under his senses.
He casually shifted half a step aside. The next instant, a sword stabbed into the space he had just occupied.
Ren turned and slashed, striking the attacker's arm.
"Your movements are too slow."
He did not use much force, careful not to kill them outright. Otherwise, that blow would have split the man in half, or at the very least severed his arm completely.
Before long, dozens fell to the ground.
Shutenmaru watched with a grim expression. He had never imagined that someone other than himself could defeat nearly 100 samurai alone.
But it was not over yet.
Shutenmaru still stood.
Haki surged around his body, his presence swelling dramatically. Already tall, he now seemed like a giant before Ren.
Those unable to use Haki could not see it, but they could feel the oppressive pressure it radiated. Yukiko's Haki had only just reached the entry level, yet even she could sense how terrifying Shutenmaru's aura was.
It was so overwhelming that it made her struggle to breathe.