[Belzegia-sama]

He appeared.

He finally showed himself.

It seems that he really hadnt been affected by my skill.

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

He appeared almost near my <Slow>s area of effect.

So to speak, it was at the edge of my skills range.

Freaking b*stard.

The moment he entered my skills area of effect, he felt something out of place huh.

When he disappeared, he retreated backwards.

He didnt try getting closer though.

A moment later, the sound of wind resounded

Klaaaang!

A sword.

Its a sword.

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

The effect of my <Slow> made the sword slow.

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

Hes trying to figure out what my <Slow>s effect is huh.

If the time passes while hes 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 <Slow>.

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

Theres no need for him to show up there

Yes, I couldnt 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 <Slow> for the first time, theyll probably be surprised.

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

Thats why he withdrew away in an instant.

Perhaps, for him to vanish from others sight

Does he need to make sure that hes mentally focused?

The moment he entered the range of <Slow>, 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 <Slow>.

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.

<Slow> has also been canceled out.

From here on out, it would be on cooldown.

I wont be able to use <Slow> 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 didnt slow down.

Its quite obvious.

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

However, thanks to <Slow>

I was able to understand the characteristics of the enemys 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.

[Its 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 Does sword strike.

As for me

[rk> ]

I used <Dark>.

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

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

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

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

Even <Dark> was too slow for me to cast huh.

(T/N: <Dark> 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 Im guessing the enemy will be

My enemy within my field of vision Verbally speaking the skills 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 couldnt see our enemy, we couldnt help but be conscious of our backs.

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

Thats why hes 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 werent fighting anyone at all.

In other words, its 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 thats 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. Its just]

[-Eyes huh.]

This freaking b*stard.

He just stomped on a soldier fallen on the ground.

Jumping in for an attack, it didnt matter to him if he stepped on his soldiers 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 dont think Ive seen that in a while.

[However Its alright. For me, whats reflected in my eyes arent everything- I can do this.]

In fact

[Die.]

[ <Da

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.

Thats what you often see in those so-called battle mangas.

Theres 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 didnt hit again huh.

John Doe has already withdrawn away.

He didnt 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 hes attacking and withdrawing at the same time.

For his retreating speed to be that fast.. Thats just too abnormal.

He isnt just someone with the ability to erase his presence.

That speed is also one of John Does powerful weapons huh.

However

I think Im almost certain now.

John Doe

This guy

[.]

If such a thing exists

That will be-

His opening.

<Authors Notes>

We have received one new review since the last update. Thank you very much.

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