Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Yuan Zhisheng stood firmly on the beam, like a rock standing in a storm. He believed that the other side must be confused, even a little panicked, by the sudden disappearance of the shadow. But they still didn't make a sound, like the most disciplined wolf pack, which chooses to continue lying in wait when the hunter puts away his torch and disappears into the deeper night, waiting for the prey to reveal its weakness or for the hunter to make a mistake.

Time, in the silent standoff in the darkness, passed by second by second. Sparks from the elevator shaft occasionally crackled and flickered, illuminating Yuan Zhisheng's cold profile and the ancient sword in his hand, already drawn, its blade flowing with a dull, blood-red light—"Spider Cutter."

Chapter 664 Clash in the Dark

In the elevator shaft, sparks occasionally crackled and flickered, illuminating Genji. He calculated the time, assessing his opponent's patience in the darkness. One minute and twelve seconds had passed; his time was relentlessly slipping away.

Can't wait any longer.

Without hesitation, he took off his coat, quickly crumpled it into a ball, and weighed it in his hand.

This kind of feint, a tactical maneuver, is not new in itself; in fact, it could be considered somewhat classical. However, in the current environment of extreme darkness and heightened tension, it is often most effective. The ambush in the dark will have their eyes fixed on the broken opening in the elevator door, and any moving shadow appearing from there will instantly trigger their most sensitive nerves.

In a fraction of a second of reaction time, judgment and thought are compressed to their limits, especially when the opponent is armed. More than 99% of trained people will follow muscle memory and survival instinct and choose to fire directly. That is no longer a well-thought-out action, but a neural reflex under stress, an attack driven by fear and pressure and directed at the source of the threat.

"call."

The tightly folded suit jacket sliced ​​through the air like a clumsy black shadow, flying out of the hole and into the darkness of the mural hall. It unfurled in the air, drifting six or seven meters before silently landing on the ground, raising a small cloud of dust.

The expected gunshots did not ring out.

There was no whistling sound of a bullet tearing through the air, no sparks from a bullet hitting a wall or the ground. The darkness was deathly silent, as if what had just been thrown was merely a cloud of empty air, and that there was no one else in this space besides him.

Yuan Zhisheng's eyes narrowed slightly. The other party's composure far exceeded his expectations.

This not only signifies their superior bloodline and resulting psychological fortitude, but also indicates that they have undergone extremely rigorous and demanding professional training, enabling them to perfectly control their instinctive urge to fire and maintain absolute stealth under such extreme pressure. These are no ordinary intruders; they are likely top-tier hybrids with military or special operations backgrounds.

He glanced at the hands of his watch again. Time slipped away relentlessly, like sand through his fingers. He couldn't afford to test the waters any longer; every second of delay increased the risk to the trapped employees downstairs and the chances of the intruder escaping.

Genji slowly crouched down, lowering his center of gravity. His muscles were like springs compressed to their limit, every fiber brimming with explosive power. He hid in the shadow of the elevator shaft beam, his gaze fixed on the hole in front of him, outlined by faint sparks of electricity, and the deeper darkness beyond it.

The next instant, he suddenly exerted his strength!

Without a running start, relying solely on the terrifying power bursting forth from his legs, his body shot out like an arrow released from a bow, or as if breaking free from the constraints of gravity, leaping off the beam at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, clearing the hole, and rushing toward the nearest huge screen wall in the mural hall that could serve as cover.

This was a pure speed contest; he was confident that his explosive speed was enough to rival top-tier supercars for a short time. As long as he was fast enough, fast enough to exceed the enemy's reaction limits, any pre-planned interception would miss, and any barrage of attacks would be left far behind!

The immense wind pressure generated by his high-speed movement caused his shirt, the only thing he was wearing, to cling to his body, its surface rippling violently like flowing water. The dangerous Spider Cutter was already concealed beneath him, his right hand gripping the hilt of the sword, hidden beneath his clothing.

Hozoin - Kasaya-tō (Buddhist Robe Sword)

This is a unique swordsmanship originating from Japan's Sengoku period, created by monks who were both monks and warriors living in turbulent times. The monks wore long, flowing robes, which served as natural camouflage. The long robes perfectly concealed the hand movements, the angle of the blade, and even the trajectory of the strike, making it impossible for the enemy to predict how the monk held the sword, when to strike, or where to aim under the robes.

In fact, by subtly changing the way one holds the sword and adjusting the subtle movements of the wrist and elbow, the kasaya can launch a slash from almost any incredible angle, even from the user's own blind spot—behind their back.

Therefore, the kasaya knife was also known in history as the "assassination knife of monks," famous for its unpredictability and difficulty in defending against it.

Later, when the renowned spear master Hozoin Inei was in charge of the temple, he considered this technique too insidious and contrary to the upright spirit of martial arts, and thus abandoned it. To this day, the kasaka still exists in secret within a few sword styles that are considered unorthodox or despicable by the traditional swordsmanship community.

Genjiro was completely unconcerned. From the day he first held a real sword, Tachibana Masamune, who taught him swordsmanship, had clearly told him: "A sword is a blood-stained and deadly weapon. The person who wields a sword is essentially a demon walking among men."

Since the essence of both the sword and the swordsman has deviated far from being honorable, wouldn't it seem pedantic and ridiculous to impose such a moral judgment of baseness on the technology that humanity created for more efficient killing?

His objective was clear and ruthless: the battle had to end as quickly as possible, at any cost. Even killing the intruders on the spot was acceptable. Only in this way could the secrets within the mural hall be kept safe, and only then could precious time be bought for the innocent, trapped employees downstairs to escape.

however--

Just as his toes were about to touch the floor of the mural hall, and his body leaned slightly forward due to the high-speed sprint, he was about to strike the mural.

Suddenly, a lateral pulling force came from beneath my feet!

"what?!"

Warning bells rang in Genji's mind, but the momentum couldn't be countered. He lost his balance and, with tremendous forward momentum, slammed hard and solidly forward onto the ground in an extremely ungraceful and pathetic manner!

This type of fall is commonly known in China as "dog-faced mud."

He still fell into the ambush. And the person who set up the ambush was a scoundrel who was well-versed in combat psychology and didn't play by the rules.

A thick, purplish-red rope, pulled up and taut at some point, lay about thirty centimeters above the ground. Its dark color made it almost invisible in near-darkness. It was thin enough not to obstruct a light suit jacket from flying by, but enough to trip a heavy adult male sprinting at full speed in a critical moment.

At that moment, the dark figure arrived as expected, rushing forward from the darkness on both sides with lightning speed.

The figure attacking from the left wielded a long weapon clearly a sword or saber, its blade slicing through the air with a low, dangerous whistling sound, aimed directly at his neck or vital organs. The figure on the right employed high-speed, precise bursts of fire; bullets, as if guided by eyes, struck the ground or walls very close to his sides, sending up a trail of dazzling sparks and fragments of stone, forming a highly intimidating barrage.

The other party did not intend to kill him immediately, but left him a sliver of hope to capture him alive. As long as he gave up resistance and surrendered, he would not be directly harmed. But if he dared to make any move, the next second, those precise bullets would mercilessly pierce his body, completely "fixing" him to the floor.

Worse still, in the instant he tripped and lost control of his body, the Spider Cutter that Genji was holding slipped from his grasp and was now stuck diagonally into the screen wall a few meters away, the blade trembling slightly and emitting a faint hum.

Unarmed and surrounded.

Genjiro made his judgment. He raised his hands, making an internationally recognized gesture that signifies surrender and giving up resistance, and lay motionless on the ground.

Chu Zihang's blade stopped just centimeters away, the cold edge lightly grazing the skin of Yuan Zhisheng's nape, sending a chill down his spine. Caesar, meanwhile, darted forward and pressed his Desert Eagle, with its terrifyingly large muzzle, firmly against Yuan Zhisheng's right temple.

Both men were panting heavily, their chests heaving, and beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, a result of their intense burst of energy, their focused ambush, and their successful surprise attack. They had exhausted every last ounce of their strength and energy for this decisive moment.

What tripped Genji was the thick, purplish-red rope that had been wrapped around an ancient shrine in the hall. It was almost as thick as an adult's arm and was exceptionally strong; it was said to be more than enough to bind an elephant.

Chu Zihang remained highly vigilant, holding a knife in one hand to suppress Yuan Zhisheng, while using the other hand to reach towards Yuan Zhisheng's waist and lower back to check if he was hiding any other weapons or dangerous items.

However, just as Chu Zihang's hand was about to touch Genjiro's belt...

Genjiro, who had been showing signs of submission, suddenly swung his head to the side and slammed his hard forehead against the Desert Eagle gun barrel that was pressed against his temple!

"clang!"

The Desert Eagle is renowned for its astonishing recoil and stopping power; at close range, it can even shatter the skull of a large animal with a single shot. The sheer size of its muzzle is enough to send chills down the spine of any ordinary person. Yet, Genjiro dared to use his own skull, made of flesh and blood, to deliberately strike the muzzle of this deadly weapon!

Yagyu Shinkage-ryu - Muto-tori - Ryuko-chuitsu!

This is an extremely rare fighting technique in Japanese Kendo, specializing in disarming opponents and close-quarters combat. It was brought to its pinnacle by the swordsman Yagyu Sekishusai Muneyoshi. Its core principle is to break into the opponent's stance in a flash, disarming them and then taking their weapon barehanded. Thanks to his unparalleled skill in disarming, Yagyu Sekishusai often went out without a sword, believing that any sword in the world was usable by him!

Caesar made a fatal mistake; he got too close. Chu Zihang also misjudged the situation; he was overly confident that a gun pointed at his head could completely subdue an emperor!

The gun barrel veered off course under the immense impact. At the same time, Yuan Zhisheng, lying on the ground, sprang to his feet as if springy, using the recoil from the impact and the incredible power of his core to spin rapidly. He not only easily broke free from the thick rope that was wrapped around him, but also, in the midst of the spin, swiftly extended his right hand, using only his index and middle fingers to grasp the blade of Chu Zihang's long sword, which was already close to the back of his neck!

It wasn't a grip, it was a pinch! As if it weren't a sharp blade, but a bamboo strip that could be manipulated at will!

Immediately afterwards, Yuan Zhisheng raised his hand above his head, using two fingers as a fulcrum to guide Chu Zihang's knife, making it glide lightly over his shoulder along an exquisite arc like a tamed fish, and then silently and deeply pierced into the screen wall beside him until the hilt was gone.

The whole process was so smooth that Chu Zihang didn't even have time to make an effective counterattack before the weapon was already in his hands and out of his grasp!

Mirror Heart's Ikebana Stream: The Dance of the Basara!

Despite its name, "Dance" is actually the embodiment of the highest level of footwork in swordsmanship. In Edo period Tokyo, there were three major swordsmanship dojos: the "Shigakukan" of the Kyōshin-meike-ryū, the "Genbukan" of the Hokushin-itō-ryū, and the "Renbeikan" of the Shindō-mūnen-ryū.

The three schools have very different styles. Among them, the master of the Kyoshin Meiji school, Momoi Haruzō Naomasa, is a famous and handsome man. His swordsmanship emphasizes body movement and positioning. His footwork is unhurried, elegant and graceful, which has earned him the reputation of "Momoi of Position".

At this moment, Genjiro was demonstrating the essence of this footwork. After escaping, seizing the sword, and throwing it away in one fluid motion, his body did not stop. Instead, like an elegant dancer, he began to spin around Caesar, who was filled with shock and rage and was pursuing him with all his might.

Caesar gripped the Dick Tudor hunting knife in his left hand while holding the Desert Eagle in his right, constantly trying to aim and fire, gritting his teeth and using every trick in the book. The flash of the blade and the bullets intertwined to form a dangerous net.

However, Genji's figure was as light as a willow catkin swaying in a gentle breeze, or as if he possessed precognitive abilities, always managing to slip past the gleaming blades and the scorching bullets at the last second. His movements were unpredictable and his rhythm elusive. Caesar exerted all his strength, yet felt as if he were chasing a phantom, watching helplessly as his opponent repeatedly and easily slipped through the deadly barrier he had constructed, barely even touching the hem of his clothes.

Within seconds, the outcome was clear.

Cesare Gattuso, the ace of the undergraduate department of Kassel College, and Chu Zihang, the ace of the executive department and a super A-level specialist, joined forces and used ambushes, raids, firearms, and melee weapons. They used almost all their strategies and strength, but they still could not subdue Amaterasu no Mikoto of the Snake Clan and Genjiro, who possessed the bloodline of the Emperor!

Chapter 665 Imperial Majesty (Part 1)

Although the series of swift exchanges just now was brief, it gave Caesar and Chu Zihang a completely new understanding of the strength of this ace of the Japanese branch. At this moment, he leaned against Chu Zihang's back, which was also soaked with sweat, panting heavily, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead like lightning.

The spider-shaped ornament that was stuck in the screen wall is gone.

In the chaotic instant when Chu Zihang was repelled, the ancient sword seemed to have been silently snatched away by an invisible ghostly hand, disappearing once more into the darkness. Caesar quickly scanned several possible hiding places in the hall: the shadow of the massive shrine, the pile of overturned file boxes, and the deep crevices between the murals depicting ancient secrets…

Got nothing.

He immediately activated the Word of Power: Kamaitachi. An invisible wind spirit spread outwards from him, capturing the subtlest sound vibrations in the air: Chu Zihang's heavy yet restrained breathing, the thunderous pounding of his own heart due to the sudden blood rush and strenuous exercise, the soft "patter" of sweat dripping from his forehead onto his clothes, the still-sizzling sparks from the elevator shaft in the distance...

However, apart from that, there was no sound. There was no third heartbeat, no rustling of clothes, no breathing.

In the mural hall, it seemed that only he and Chu Zihang were alive from beginning to end.

Caesar broke out in a cold sweat. He knew that it wasn't that Genji had really disappeared, but rather that the other's bloodline purity was so high that it could suppress his basic physiological activities—heartbeat, breathing, and even the sounds of metabolism—to an almost non-existent state.

This far surpasses the ordinary ability of hybrids to conceal their aura. It feels more like fighting a demon that can emerge from any direction at any moment and vanish into nothingness, defying the laws of physics and transcending common sense. This is a super hybrid, this is the Emperor. Before him, many rules considered common sense can be easily broken.

Just as Caesar was fully focused on searching for his target, and the Kamaitachi's sensory network was stretched to its limit—

Chu Zihang made a move!

Without any warning, he shifted his position from back to back with Caesar, keeping watch together. The long sword in his hand, which had just stabilized, drew a cold arc and instead of slashing at the darkness, he fiercely cleaved towards Caesar's throat!

Anyone else might have been shocked, hesitated, or thought their companion had gone mad or been controlled. But Caesar was not. Without the slightest hesitation, the instant the sound of the blade cutting through the air reached his ears, his body, following an almost instinctive fighting rhythm, suddenly lowered and leaned forward, almost touching the ground.

Because they had been enemies for far too long. Through countless simulated battles, real combat confrontations, and even overt and covert competition at Kassel College, they had etched each other's fighting habits, reaction speeds, and even an indescribable aura into their very bones. This understanding, born from the most intense competition, had now become their most reliable tacit agreement.

At the same time that Caesar knelt before him—

A shadow, like a ghost, emerged from the darkness behind where Caesar's head had been. Genji's figure seemed to have been ripped directly from the shadows of the wall, and the Spider Cutter in his hand fell silently toward the back of Caesar's head!

Natural Soothing Flow - Heartfelt Wishes.

This sword technique, derived from staff fighting, doesn't pursue extreme speed. Instead, it concentrates all the body's power into a single point on the blade, emphasizing overwhelming force. If it weren't for Chu Zihang's seemingly treacherous strike, based on his instinct for danger and mastery of the battle rhythm, forcing Caesar to dodge in advance, Caesar might not have even noticed the impact!

"clang!"

The clang of metal clashing, accompanied by brilliant sparks, exploded in the dim light.

At the critical moment, Chu Zihang's longsword narrowly blocked the heavy Spider Cutter! The instant the blades clashed, a scorching wave of heat rushed towards Yuan Zhisheng's face. Chu Zihang's longsword, which had been saturated with high temperatures during the release of the Monarch Flame's domain, had cooled considerably, but still contained astonishing residual heat within its blade.

Genjiro's usually placid face twitched slightly.

Chu Zihang showed no intention of sheathing his sword and retreating.

After parrying the first blow, his arm muscles bulged, and with the exact same posture, the exact same angle, and even more ferocious power, he unleashed a second strike! It was aimed at the middle of the Spider Cutter's blade, and sparks flew everywhere!

Then came the third cut, the fourth cut, the fifth cut, the sixth cut...

Each strike is faster than the last, each strike heavier than the last!

Each strike landed precisely on almost the exact same spot on the Spider Cutter, producing a dull, metallic clang. With each blow, the Spider Cutter trembled violently, causing Genji's wrist to dip slightly and his feet to involuntarily take a step back. Before the sparks from the previous strike had even completely died down in the air, an even more intense burst of sparks erupted from the next strike, until finally, the sparks rained down, weaving a brief but dazzling net of light between the two.

Chu Zihang's rapid strikes, while not as fast as Inuyama He's, which was enhanced with the ninth-level Instantaneous Power and whose strikes were as fast as lightning, contained a purer, more powerful force in each strike. This forced Genji to maintain a defensive stance with his sword held upright, making it difficult for him to find an opening to counterattack.

Before Genjiro leaped out of the elevator shaft, Chu Zihang had secretly activated his bloodline. Using the Lionheart Society's secret Blood Explosion technique, he temporarily crossed the dangerous bloodline threshold, pushing his physical abilities to inhuman limits. Facing an emperor like Genjiro, he had no guarantee of victory, but such a person, even without certainty, would never choose to retreat or engage in hit-and-run tactics; instead, he would immediately wager everything—show hand!

At this moment, he was unleashing the ultimate interpretation of the Thirteen-Flash Basic Sword Technique, honed through countless tedious rehearsals. In the simplest, most direct, and most clumsy way, he continuously slashed, forcing his opponent into a pure test of strength, seeing whose stamina, endurance, and even weapon would give out first.

Legend has it that ancient sword masters could execute thirteen consecutive strikes in one go, the thirteen forces converging at the same weak point of the opponent's weapon in an instant, ultimately severing it, hence the name "Thirteen Consecutive Flashes of the Broken Blade." However, for a hybrid with dragon blood and superhuman physical abilities, thirteen is far from the limit. Chu Zihang's highest record is two hundred and thirty-four consecutive strikes. At that level, numbers lose their meaning; all that remains is the endless, surging light of the blade.

Caesar had mocked Chu Zihang's swordsmanship more than once, calling it a tree-chopping machine—monotonous, repetitive, and utterly devoid of technical beauty and artistry. But now, witnessing this tree-chopping machine actually causing the humanoid dragon to retreat step by step, Caesar couldn't help but secretly applaud this simple yet incredibly powerful violent aesthetic.