-Vol 5: A New Life-

-Corrosion Vs Destruction(2)-

It was the first time Kenshin coming across an opponent who had a poison type skill. It was a well-known fact that dealing with poison type skills was one of the most annoying and deadly things ever. Without enough preparations, even the high-level hunters wouldn’t dare to fight a poison type monster. Furthermore, dealing with a poison type skill user was even more dangerous. As evidence, Kenshin was already forced to a corner with just a mere ten needles used by his opponent. He was sure the young man hadn’t used much MP with that attack of his.

“Ugh! This won’t do…” Kenshin then changed his tactics. His destruction manipulation not only can attack, but it can also defend. With shape manipulation mixed in, he could easily mold it to anything he wished…that is as long as he had enough MP. Now his MP had already reached four digits and with skills like [Passive Regeneration] and high amount of INT and WIS, regaining MP wasn’t also that difficult.

Grinding his teeth, he extended his arms to both sides of his body. Kenshin imaged two military-grade shields in his mind, thinking of every minute details down to last bolt and thickness. At the same time, purple colored magic power poured out of his palms ad coagulated on both sides like a whirlpool of water.

With a flash of purple light that had a hint of redness in it, two perfectly identical military shields formed on both sides of him…each held in one of his hands. Unintentionally he had added a bit of redness in it, hence the red color. He came into a sliding halt and put forth the two shields on the way of incoming needles. One of the shield was to his right while the other was to his back.

*chichi*

Forming the shield took two seconds, and during that period, Kenshin was incessantly running around. Finally, when the needles impacted on the purple-red shield, a cluster of purple and violet color light exploded while making a sound akin to a burning haystack. After a quarter of seconds, the needles lost the fight against the shield and dissipated into purple smog which was erased from the existence by the purple-red light emitting off the shield made by Kenshin. Finding that the needles were seized to exist, Kenshin didn’t waste any more time and closed on the young man while holding the shield. In his hurried state of mind he didn’t notice the smog being erased by the lights from his shield…which would have been giving n him some great ideas about utilizing his skills properly.

The youth named No 5 was startled, and a whole lot surprised when he saw his opponent making such massive shield out of thin air. And was even more surprised to find his poison needles losing a fight with those shields made out of pure magic energy. It was his first time encountering such things. In his carrier as a hunter and a hidden assassin, he had seen many skills and had fought many battles. But his ability had never failed him ever to poison something, even inanimate objects. After his skill surpassed the level of 10, he had gained another property, which was a homing effect. From then on he has never lost a battle, whether it's against a strong hunter or a powerful monster.

It's not that he had never encountered any powerful hunters ever, he had fought to a standstill against a level 99 hunter even…but he had never met someone whose skills directly opposed his at the same time had a property similar to his. But he wasn’t given much time to think as Kenshin was already onto him with his purple shield raised high.

No. 5’s hands turned a deep shade of violet, as a few drops of steaming liquid dripped from it and fell to the floor, making hissing sound in the process. The wooden floor instantly rotted away, forming tiny holes on it. A huge amount of violet light emitted suddenly out of his palm and started to turn into a whirlpool-like how Kenshin had done earlier. After settling down, the whirlpool had turned into a long and thick broadsword like that of a metal slab. Using all the strength on his body, he rotated once and sent a heavy strike towards Kenshin.

Kenshin didn’t expect such a turn of events, he didn’t foresee this young man making such a large weapon in such a small time frame. He could only bring his two arms to the front and block the approaching metal slab like a broad sword.

*Ting*BOOM!!

When the sword and shield impacted with each other, a huge booming noise was produced. The impact was so strong that, even Kenshin with all his strength was pushed back a few steps while the youth was thrown back and landed on the wall opposite to him heavily. The broadsword had already dissipated the moment it touched the shield made by Kenshin. Though the shield was also not unscathed. A deep trench was formed on both shields which were in the form of a straight line. Due to being pushed back, his consciousness wavered making the shield made by destruction magic dissipate into thin air. Before Kenshin stabilized himself, a thin purple colored sword came at him, aiming for his eyes.

This time Kenshin didn’t have 2 seconds to construct another shield, the sword was too close to him. Using his [Highspeed Movements] to its limit, he coiled his body backward, successfully avoiding the first attack. Then with a roll, he jumped back. One of his hands had already formed a shield to block the incoming homing sword. Sword and shield met each other again, this time Corrosion and Destruction fought a battle of dominance against each other, each trying to destroy the other.

Again this time the sword lost, Kenshin knew exactly why he was the winner every time. His [Destruction Manipulation] provide a high amount of defense. The ATK capability of No 5’s skill wasn’t enough to break through that defense. Besides in a real battle, the momentum was also counted as a form of ATK, which on a situation like this contributed to DEF.

Kicking the ground, he accelerated towards No 5, who seemed to have a frustrated expression on his face. He had eaten losses again and again and still unable to land a blow against his opponent. His pride was taking hits every second as he fought against Kenshin, there was also another problem, he seemed to have become low on stamina and magic as the battle drags on.

He had thoughts about escaping, but he clearly knew running away would be impossible as long as this enemy was standing in front of him. In their little group, No 5 wasn’t a frontal fighter. He could be regarded as a support, an assassin or thief in RPG parties. For an assassin character like him, he was badly ill-matched against the paladin-like opponent he was facing. Unless he escapes, sooner or later he would be tired to death, and that would end. Another reason that prompted him to have such thought was because of the skill this man had showcased. Unexpectedly his corrosive poison lost against it.

No 5 was in a dilemma. He wasn’t sure if he should run or fight to death.