Chapter 256: Vision

[Belzegia-sama————–]

He appeared.

He finally showed himself.

It seems that he really hadn’t been affected by my skill.

As I was thinking about that, the man disappeared again.

He appeared almost near my ’s area of effect.

So to speak, it was at the “edge” of my skill’s range.

……Freaking b*stard.

The moment he entered my skill’s area of effect, he felt something out of place huh.

When he disappeared, he “retreated” backwards.

He didn’t try getting closer though.

A moment later, the sound of wind “resounded”———–

Klaaaang!

A sword.

It’s a sword.

Still hidden away from my sight———— He threw a sword at me.

The effect of my “made the sword slow”.

Seras then went straight for the sword and flicked it away.

……He’s trying to figure out what my ’s effect is huh.

If the time passes while he’s doing things like this———– the time being bought by my 5000MP will run out.

[…………………]

However……

One strange thing happened.

The first time he attacked……

It was about 5 meters away from where he appeared earlier.

But just now, he appeared just barely within the range of my .

Putting aside 5 meters away, he could have appeared somewhere further away from there.

There’s no need for him to show up there……

Yes, I couldn’t think of any advantage of him appearing there at all.

So, why?

Was it automatically cancelled out?

What caused it?

……Agitation?

Indeed, when one experiences for the first time, they’ll probably be surprised.

The faster one understands the nature of this skill, the more they will think of how “dangerous” it is.

That’s why he “withdrew” away in an instant.

Perhaps, for him to vanish from others’ sight……

Does he need to make sure that he’s mentally focused?

The moment he entered the range of , his consciousness was disturbed?

And if I can mentally shake him up…… I would be able to “cancel” out his ability?

Moreover, if he needs to stay mentally focused……

That also means that it would be harder for him to focus on other things than normal.

Thereupon……

The chance to find an opening in his movements would appear huh……?

At this moment, the enemy seemed to have completely understood the properties of .

Seras had already knocked down several swords that he had thrown in our direction.

Immediately afterwards——– The attacks suddenly stopped.

I glanced at the status screen.

[…………………..]

Time is up.

My 5000MP were consumed.

has also been canceled out.

From here on out, it would be on cooldown.

I won’t be able to use for a while.

Even as my skill was deactivated, time continued flowing.

The only thing my ears can pick up is the deafening groans of the Sixth.

———–Fwoooshhh———–

Once again, a sword was thrown.

Seras knocked it down as well.

But this time…… the sword didn’t slow down.

It’s quite obvious.

The sword just now was to make sure that my skill was still in effect.

However, thanks to ……

I was able to understand the characteristics of the enemy’s ability———- I think.

The key to success would probably be for me “to turn the tables at him”.

Yes, if I were to use that which had been generated by his ability……

[…………………]

And……

Those three……

I dug out a certain memory within my mind.

[Seras.]

[Yes.]

[Can I ask you…… to protect me?]

[Yes———]

The frost on Seras’ ice sword increased in density.

[It’s for this reason that I am your knight.]

He appeared once again.

Diagonally behind us————

The first to react is Seras.

Quickly twisting her waist, she unleashed a sweeping slash.

However, as it turned out, Seras’ attack was a “defensive strike”.

Her sword received John Doe’s sword strike.

As for me……

[———rk> ]

I used .

Among the skills I possess, when it comes to its decisive factor, it’s a rather weak skill.

For example, if the opponent can fight with their eyes closed, the skill is meaningless.

But it’s also the fastest skill I could use, because it only has 1 syllable.

However———— Before I could finish speaking it, John Doe disappeared.

Even was too slow for me to cast huh.

(T/N: was originally 3 syllables in the Japanese raws, as Touka would have to say “Da-a-ku”, but I changed it to follow its english counterpart instead.)

“My enemy within my field of vision”

“My arm pointed towards them”

After securing this, I say the name of the skill.

Even if the direction my arm is pointed to is just towards where I’m guessing the enemy will be……

My enemy within my field of vision → Verbally speaking the skill’s name

As expected though, this process would inevitably be a bottleneck.

Just like that, John Doe continued to attack me.

But this time too, Seras just barely managed to block his strikes.

[Pipiii!]

Pigimaru was also desperately trying to sense him.

Being that we couldn’t see our enemy, we couldn’t help but be conscious of our backs.

However, the enemy seemed to understand this and was setting up his attacks accordingly.

That’s why he’s mixing in attacks from the front, left and right.

Even so————- I feel like my senses are going crazy here.

After disappearing, it was as if I weren’t fighting anyone at all.

In other words, it’s as if his existence and non-existence were alternately being flicked on and off.

[………………….]

However, this guy……

I learned a certain strangeness of John Doe.

As I was thinking about that……

John Doe appeared.

A moment later……

Pop!

It burst apart.

So that’s how it is huh……

Freaking b*stard———–

[Kuhh!?]

Seras somehow managed to react.

But this time, she only somehow managed to barely block his strike.

[Are you alright?]

[Uuuu…… My apologies. It’s just……]

[———-Eyes huh.]

This freaking b*stard.

He just “stomped” on a soldier fallen on the ground.

Jumping in for an attack, it didn’t matter to him if he stepped on his soldier’s head, crushing it under his feet.

And with his stomp, blood and various other things vigorously scattered around.

The burst of blood, even if it was for a moment, took away our attention.

And that burst of blood splashed, hitting Seras on her eyes.

Kashakk!

The visor on Seras’ forehead lowered down, covering her eyes.

Her armor did have such a function huh.

I don’t think I’ve seen that in a while.

[However…… It’s alright. For me, what’s reflected in my eyes aren’t everything———- I can do this.]

In fact……

[Die.]

[ <>

Klaaaang!

Seras blocked his next attack.

She defended me.

“The less you rely on your vision, the sharper your nerves become and the more sensitive they become to the presence of others.”

That’s what you often see in those so-called battle mangas.

There’s actually someone who pulls off such a thing right before my eyes huh……

Even John Doe was momentarily taken aback by this and stopped moving——–

———rk> ]

……it didn’t hit again huh.

John Doe has already withdrawn away.

He didn’t seem to be that shaken by what Seras did.

As I had expected…… My Abnormal State Skill is unable to follow his speed.

[Tsk.]

Even so———– He was this fast huh.

Withdrawing immediately after slashing with his sword.

Rather than immediately……

It feels like his speed is already on the level where he’s attacking and withdrawing at the same time.

For his retreating speed to be that fast….. That’s just too abnormal.

He isn’t just someone with the ability to erase his presence.

That speed is also one of John Doe’s powerful weapons huh.

……However……

I think I’m almost certain now.

John Doe……

This guy……

[……………………….]

If such a thing exists……

That will be———-

His opening.

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The next chapter will be updated on August 16 (Monday), around 9:00pm.

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