Just like a snake lying in the shadows, an attack that concealed its shape with its speed assaulted me.
If I took it head-on, it would bite through even my bones. It was a bite fierce enough to make one think that even poison would have been kinder. However, I conceded the first move and, having had predicted the snake-like movements, met his approaching hand with my own.
I did not let him have the first move in vain. I made sure to take full advantage of the momentum of that iron plate like arm.
The skin on the back of my hand was cut to the base. Even a well-made razor wouldn’t leave such a mark.
I felt a small pang of pain, but it was a small price to pay in order to borrow that momentum. I used my blocking right hand to control the direction of his strength.
However, this old man just had to lift his arm. In using the strategy of moving from the defensive stance, I had to make use of that opening—if my body had been a little bigger, he wouldn’t have had a chance to dodge.
Now then, originally I would have loved to smash that grinning face into a different expression, but… I felt a little uneasy trying to use such a big move with just that much. I curved my hand slightly.
In doing so, the direction of that powerful momentum shifted. It now pointed towards the heavens. The fierce, lightning fast whip was deflected with an ounce of force and rose towards the sky.
“Ge-”
Chester leaked a small grunt. On his brow there was a layer of sweat.
Well of course he would. That left hand pointed towards the sky, that defenseless body, it was practically asking for a fierce attack. I would be troubled if he did not panic.
I left my right hand just like that and begun to amass magic power into my left hand. Now then, just how effective would this be against him as he was now?
Shijima style palm thrust, ‘fierce’—I gathered the bursting magic power into the palm of my hand and struck out!
From this position, even someone like Chester would have his hands full just trying to nullify the power.
Chester jumped straight back but, the palm of my hand struck home on his flank.
The old man’s body flew parallel to ground as if though he had been rammed by a raging bull.
If he were a normal martial artist, there was no doubt that from the resistance I felt in my hand, he would be dead; however, he was the man that brought together all of the martial artists underground.
It would be one thing if he had taken a direct hit but, having had jumped back, I am sure it only served to wake him up.
“It looks like you haven’t lost your edge.”
“Nonsense. I haven’t even had breakfast.”
He smiled, even as he had blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
It was because we had both recognized each other’s strength that we could have small talk like that.
Aah. This is fun. Was fighting always this fun?
It was as though I had eaten a small helping of the world’s finest food. I couldn’t stop it. There was no way I could stop it.
Before we noticed it, both Chester and I were smiling hard enough to cramp our cheeks.
We no longer needed any words. The second time, we both attacked at the same time.
It was frustrating to admit it but, if he didn’t let his guard down, Chester was strong.
That supple whip-like left arm was troublesome. From a completely relaxed state he could, in an instant, go from zero to max speed.
Not only that, his snake-like movements were crafty, and he could control them at will. The destructive power was enough to smash trough steel.
Having had been blessed by heaven with a long reach, his area of attack was incredible. Even my past self was burnt by that range of attack. To my current self, with the body of a child, the distance felt absurdly wide.
However, I did acquire more maneuverability to make up for this. Of course, it did not change the fact that I was still at a disadvantage, but that was something I had known from the start.
To beat him as he was, I needed the resolve to step through the gates of hell.
That old geezer was aware of his own strong points since long ago. He will obviously make the best of his reach in the fight.
It is frustrating to simply admit his strength, but he came up with a plan beyond outstanding.
By the time that he entered into my range of attack, I was completely enveloped by his range.
…Just like a fierce snake striking, he aimed precisely at my temple. I tried to defend against it by meeting it with my own arm. Had I not aimed to block it from the start, I most likely would have been unable to guard against it.
I had to at least keep my stance. If I collapsed, it would all be over. Taking a hit to the vitals was even more out of the question.
In a second, I made the resolve to take a hit. It’s coming, it’s coming, here it is!