Chapter 10 – Kibamaru Masanari
Roland didn't pause. With a sweep of his arm he scattered handfuls of ash clumps and pottery shards drawn from his storage space in every direction.
These odds and ends had come from white treasure chests and were worth next to nothing; their only use was to cloud the enemy's sight.
Using the burst of ash as cover, Roland whipped his katana through the air, weaving like lightning among several Lone Shadows and Ninja Dogs. In moments they all lay dead.
Twenty-three seconds left!
Roland sucked in a breath and, through the drifting dust, lifted his gaze to the rockery where Kibamaru Masanari sat watching the fight as if it were a play.
Interesting—truly interesting! To think the Hirata Family had a master like you—what a delightful surprise!
He rose slowly from the rockery, unhurriedly drawing the katana at his waist while sounding a strange, lilting whistle.
Barks erupted below the rocks; several Ninja Dogs phased from shadow into solid form, backs arched, fangs bared, eyes locked on Roland with murderous hunger.
Compared with the dogs that had earlier beset the two samurai, these were more numerous and far bulkier—clearly far tougher to handle.
Add to them a powerful elite Lone Shadow, and victory would obviously cost him dearly.
Let's play, then!
Kibamaru looked down contemptuously from above.
The next instant their blades crashed together.
Speed and strength—passable, but… not enough!
The Lone Shadow snapped a kick straight at him; Roland blocked with a lifted knee.
Kibamaru instantly switched to a sweeping leg that caught Roland in the ribs, while Roland hammered a heavy fist into his chest.
Both grunted and stumbled back several steps.
Before Roland could draw breath, the Ninja Dogs lunged, fangs and claws streaking toward every vital point.
Roland slashed arcs of steel, batting the hounds aside in a mid-guard stance; the instant Kibamaru thrust in with his sword, Roland sidestepped, flinging the dogs wide and evading the strike.
He seized the brief moment while Kibamaru was still airborne, unable to find footing, and met him blade-to-blade, smashing him away with all his strength.
Roland wove a tight ring of defense around himself; though he managed to kill a dog here and there, he was steadily forced onto the back foot.
The Buddha Candy's effect is almost gone—I have to finish these beasts fast. Right now my options are limited; it'll have to be another trade of wounds!
Just as he steeled himself to risk everything, two figures burst out behind him.
It was the two Hirata samurai!
After being rescued they had rested only briefly; now they charged back in, using blade and body to shield Roland from the dogs' snapping jaws!
Lord Blackday—quick! Cut them down!
Roland seized the opening they gave him. Switching to a low stance, he lashed out again and again; under the cold flicker of steel the Ninja Dogs were bisected one after another.
What?!
Kibamaru, who had been knocked away, had regained his footing and returned just in time to stare in shock.
He tried to whistle up more dogs, but Roland would never grant him another chance!
Ashina Cross Strike—augmented by the ability Torrent, the slash came too fast for Kibamaru to dodge.
Steel flashed; an arm spun skyward.
Aaaargh! Bastard—my arm! My arm!
Kibamaru sprang up, rammed a foot against Roland's shoulder, and flipped backward to open distance.
But Roland pressed far too fiercely; each time a gap appeared he closed it at once, and fresh wounds striped his foe.
Even when Kibamaru parried, a strange force surged through Roland's blade into his body, wrecking his balance—an ugly, jarring sensation.
That was the Ashina Style's special effect: torso damage!
A peculiar shock transmitted on contact, disrupting centre of gravity and stance until the enemy's entire fighting form collapsed.
Simple—and brutally effective.
Kibamaru had fought Ashina practitioners before; he knew that if this continued he would die.
No more delays—let the Bandits handle the rest. He had to retreat—now!
Reading the retreat in Kibamaru's wary eyes, Roland feigned exhaustion and deliberately left an opening.
Kibamaru took the bait. He vaulted high, flipped, and brought one leg down like a battle-axe.
If the blow landed he could seize the tempo, drive Roland back, and escape.
But would events unfold as he hoped?
No!
Roland grinned; a short hop backward was enough to evade.
Damn—!
Kibamaru realised his danger too late.
The strike missed; the descending leg slammed the ground and his stance dipped.
Roland stamped on that leg—crack!—snapping it instantly.
Then, twisting at the waist, he whirled a roundhouse kick that hurled Kibamaru against the rockery.
torso damage flooded past the man's limit; his knees buckled and he crumpled forward.
At the same instant a fist-sized red dot appeared over his heart in Roland's vision.
Roland drove his blade through the dot—and through the heart behind it.
Execution.
You have slain Lone Shadow Kibamaru Masanari.
Kibamaru Masanari was an elite of the Interior Ministry; you gain 4.9% World Source. Total World Source: 13.9%.
At last—he's dead.
Roland exhaled; suppressed fatigue surged through him. After such a string of battles even he felt drained.
Next, hold this ground and wait for Nishiki Waichi to arrive.
He stowed the blue treasure chest dropped by the Lone Shadow, then turned to find the two samurai lying motionless, their duty done.
Roland sighed in regret; these Hirata warriors had defended Hirata Estate to the last, earning his deepest respect.
Not only had the pair bought him the opening to break through at the end—before he had even arrived,
Inoue Inosuke had shaken off Lady Butterfly's illusion first and shattered it with a Singing Seed, blunting the Lone Shadows' surprise attack.
Later, while Lady Butterfly toyed with them from the shadows, they had held out until Roland came, even killing six Lone Shadows in the process.
Such conduct stirred even Roland, who knew this was only a game.
The new-generation neural narrative is uncannily vivid—these samurai feel almost human!
For no reason at all, his eyes suddenly stung.