Keep attacking girls and try not to be killed by them

With a whine of "Ah", Tetodaf turned around and saw the head of the Ryūdō Hall, Shiiki Ruri, standing there with his hand on his shoulder.

Bright red blood continued to flow from between her fingers, no doubt from the injuries she had just received. The only thing that had happened here and now was...

——(You were the one who assassinated me?! How is this possible?!)

——(Shiiki Ruri, why did you want to assassinate me?!)

Tetodav was extremely surprised. Even an old veteran like him who had experienced many ups and downs still stopped for a few seconds at this moment.

At the same time, the stunned expression on Shiiki Ruri's face also revealed her hesitation. Tetodaf could clearly see that it was an expression that would appear when an action failed.

——(Oh no, this guy is going to run away!)

Tetodav reacted immediately. He couldn't let Shiiki Ruri escape safely from this base under the lake after failing to assassinate him.

However, while rushing towards Shiiki Ruri from defense to offense, Tetodav left himself some room for maneuver, because he didn't know whether Shiiki Ruri had any killer moves hidden, and then deliberately pretended that the assassination had failed to lure him into the trap.

"Enemy attack! There is an enemy attack!" Tetodav shouted as he sprinted. In this stronghold of Zhaoye Liuque, there were all kinds of reinforcements. As long as the reinforcements arrived, he would be able to subdue Shiiki Ruri without having to do anything himself.

By then, Tetodav would have plenty of time to slowly interrogate this girl about why she betrayed the organization and herself.

After revealing his assassination intention, Shiiki Ruri immediately used the skill "Mirage Wind and Shadow", which blew up wind and sand in the narrow internal passage, as if to cover his escape.

Tetodav saw Shiiki Ruri use this move from afar, but he did not slow down his pace because he knew Shiiki Ruri very well.

Tetodaf knew very well what skills this cat-man girl, whom he had personally trained, had.

[Note: The above image shows the information Tetodaf knows about Shiiki Ruri.]

·

As far as Tetodav knew, Shiiki Ruri's move "Blinding Wind and Shadow" had no lethality. At most, it was a gamble to blind the enemy's eyes with sand.

In addition to "Misleading Wind and Shadow", two of Shiiki Ruri's other three skills are auxiliary skills, and only one move "White Wind Phantom Weasel" can be considered a killer move.

Although the attack range of "White Wind Phantom Weasel" is large, the initial action of the attack is very obvious. With Tetodav's understanding of Shiiki Ruri and his physical fitness two levels higher than Shiiki Ruri, it is not difficult for him to dodge it.

Therefore, facing Shiiki Ruri's deception, Tetodav can boldly continue to advance.

However, as mentioned above, in order to prevent Shiiki Ruri from hiding a killer move that he did not know about, Tetodav did not use his full strength for the time being, and kept some of his physical strength ready for emergency response at any time.

In the brief two-round fight with Shiiki Ruri just now, Tetodav had already grasped some information that he had never known before.

Based on Tetodav's understanding of Shiiki Ruri, it was impossible for this girl to take half of his life with just two light stabs in the back.

However, the reality now is that Tetodav had two wounds on his back caused by Shiiki Ruri, and because these two attacks did not hit the vital points, he has lost more than half of his vitality.

Given that Tetodav already knows all of Shiiki Ruri's combat professional skills, and Shiiki Ruri does not look like she has quietly completed the advanced trial, then there is only one answer left, that is, Shiiki Ruri is using powerful equipment that Tetodav does not know about.

Speaking of equipment, Tetodaf immediately recalled the white jade flute he had seen in the inner courtyard square. Looking back now, it was indeed rather odd that Shiiki Ruri had the leisure to bring a flute with her during this urgent summons. It was beyond the "she was still a child" explanation.

——(Could it be that…her playing the flute in the square just now was already a foreshadowing?)

Thinking of this, Tetodav felt his body become weak and dizzy.

Such a weak state might be partly due to the injury on his back, but Tetodav clearly remembered that something was wrong with his body before he was stabbed by Shiiki Ruri.

·

Due to his abnormal physical condition and the huge amount of damage caused by the "inconspicuous" attack in a short period of time, Tetodav gradually understood the operating mechanism of Shiiki Ruri's "new weapon".

Although the entire thinking process was long and complicated, it actually took Tetodav only two or three seconds to complete the inference.

When he was about to catch up with Shiiki Ruri, Tetodav set two goals for himself. One was to delay Shiiki Ruri until reinforcements arrived; the other was to be wary of Bai Yudi and other possible killing moves so as not to lose his life.

"Stop! Master Liutang! Why did you betray the organization?! Are you threatened by the enemy?!" Tetodaf shouted loudly at Shiiki Liuli's back.

Such an innocent question was obviously not what Tetodaf really meant.

The reason why he pretended to be kind and asked this question was to influence Shiiki Ruri's mind, and it would be even better if he could get some information.

However, Tetodav's shouting did not shake Shiiki Ruri. Instead, it made her use the skill "Wind Step in the Air" and widened the distance between her and Tetodav in one breath.

——(Even though we were so close just now, should we still choose to evacuate?… For safety’s sake, let’s try again!)

Tetodav continued to keep a backup plan. Under the current circumstances, he only needed to rely on his physical advantage and his understanding of the terrain of the stronghold under the lake to be able to steadily entangle Shiiki Ruri.

As long as he doesn't take any risks himself, this farce will end when the reinforcements arrive!

9.269 - Two Games

Inside Zhaoye Liuque's base under the lake, on the side of the spacious inner courtyard square.

The cat-man girl, Shiiki Ruri, climbed walls and climbed high above the eaves, and the dove-winged man, Tetodaf, followed closely behind her.

Thanks to the effect of the skill "Wind Step in the Air", although Shiiki Ruri is far behind Totado in attribute values, he seems to still be able to maintain a certain degree of lead by virtue of his technical advantage.

Tetodaf was not at a disadvantage either. He only needed to flap his wings twice when he was about to be thrown away to shorten the distance between him and Shiiki Ruri.

Yes, in this relatively narrow space of the base under the lake, although Tetodaf could not fully utilize the advantage of his flying ability, it was actually not a problem for him to catch up with Shiiki Ruri.

However, Tetodav did not do so.

This wasn't because he suddenly got stupid and wanted to play a game with Shiiki Ruri, nor was it because villains have always died because of their talkativeness, but because Tetodaf was still considering the "two games" between himself and Shiiki Ruri.

·

The winged man Tetodaf, as the chief leader of the secret intelligence organization Zhaoye Liuque, has extremely rich operational experience.

Facing the leader of the branch of his own organization, he knew very well what he needed to be wary of.

At this moment, on the surface, he had an overwhelming advantage, but in reality, he and Shiiki Ruri were playing two "games".

The first game is about whether Shiiki Ruri has really given up on the assassination... or is she actually "pretending to escape while actually waiting"?

Judging from the inference just made by Tetodav, Shiiki Ruri is fully capable of turning from escape to offense the moment Tetodav catches up with her, and using her hidden killer to deliver a fatal blow.

In order to avoid this situation, Tetodav simply gave up. He just had to keep tracking and not lose sight of Shiiki Ruri.

Once the reinforcements from the lakeside stronghold surrounded them, even if Shiiki Ruri had a hundred trump cards, it would be of no use.

The second game is relatively complicated. What Tetodav is concerned about is whether the current situation of "the enemy flees and I pursue" is "real".

Judging from the situation of the battle just now, Tetodav felt that Shiiki Ruri was retreating "actively" rather than "passively". In Tetodav's experience, such a retreat was very likely to "lure the enemy deep into our territory". After all, the person who could decide where both parties would go next was not Tetodav, but Shiiki Ruri.

If Shiiki Ruri's assassination attempt was not carried out alone, then she is very likely luring Tetodaf into a trap now.

If the reinforcements from the base under the lake cannot arrive before then, the situation will suddenly change to an extremely unfavorable one for Tetodaf.

Due to concerns about these two levels of game, even though Tetodaf has a two-level combat professional class suppression over Shiiki Ruri, he does not dare to easily close the distance to decide the outcome.

However, these are not big problems for Tetodaf. After all, this is the base of Teruya Ryuque!

Nearly a minute has passed since Tetodav shouted "Enemy attack". If nothing unexpected happens, the first batch of reinforcements will arrive within thirty seconds, no, within ten seconds.

——(Hmph, come on, little Liuli... You don't have many seconds left to make a fuss.)

·

Tetodav, who was confident, kept chasing after Shiiki Ruri.

While Tetodav was waiting for reinforcements to arrive, Shiiki Ruri was also "waiting."

Only three or four minutes had passed since the assassination attempt was launched, but Shiiki Ruri's state of mind had changed twice in such a short period of time.

The first change occurred when the assassination failed. When Tetodaf's skill interrupted Shiiki Ruri's third thrust, forcing her to retreat, she immediately realized that she would not have another chance.

As the hope of success was once extinguished, Shiiki Ruri decisively chose to retreat. Only by escaping from here alive could she have the possibility of creating the next assassination opportunity.

Then, while escaping, Shiiki Ruri noticed that Totodaf was "indecisive". This guy seemed to be worried about something and didn't dare to catch up easily.

After realizing this, Shiiki Ruri's mood changed for the second time. She suddenly realized that Tetodaf had already determined that she could not escape from the base under the lake. This guy was waiting for reinforcements to surround him, and then he would stand in a completely safe place and wait for her to be captured.

Shiiki Ruri was very dissatisfied with Tetodav's plan, but she had to admit that it was impossible for her to escape at her speed, and she had no ability to break out by force.

Now, she has no allies to rely on, and the only option left is to fight head-on.

Therefore, Shiiki Ruri's mentality changed from escaping to fighting for her life. Since she couldn't escape, she would fight to the death with Tetodaf and burn out the last value of her life!

However, when it comes to fighting to the death, Shiiki Ruri is not going to do it mindlessly. She can now clearly feel that the effect of the "Bewitching Sound and Mind-Captivating" skill of her "White Jade Flute Dagger·Moon Shadow Dragon Roar" is still there. In other words, Tetodaf's overall resistance must still be negative.

As long as Shiiki Ruri can find an opportunity to stab Tetodaf twice more, her goal of assassinating Tetodaf can still be achieved!

Shiiki Ruri silently made a decision in her heart, and then quietly activated the fourth-level skill, Wind Ninja Curse.

As the light magic power surged throughout her body, Shiiki Ruri's body began to gradually become more flexible, and the explosive power of her limbs also reached a new level.

In the next twenty seconds, as long as Shiiki Ruri does not suffer any damage, her agility attribute will continue to increase until it reaches ten times its original value, and then last for up to three minutes!

However, if she receives even a small amount of damage, her agility attribute will instantly drop to one tenth of its original value and will not recover for one minute.

Such a huge gamble is made just to fight for that slim hope, to add ten times the ability value and the enhanced state of "White Wind Blessing" to fight for the opportunity of a counterattack across two levels of strength!

——(Five seconds…)

——(Ten seconds…)

——(Fifteen seconds…)

As time passed second by second, Shiiki Ruri's speed became faster and faster.

When the skill activation time reached nineteen seconds, Shiiki Ruri's agility attribute had increased to more than nine times its original value. Invisible white wind wrapped around her body, making her movements seem like she was flying on the ground!

——(Mr. Aldi, I'm sorry, I might have to break my promise...)

——(Auntie Magee, I'm sorry, meow, I must avenge you!)

·

·

[Note: Mr. Aldi, the old appraiser of Cuilin City, had an agreement with Shiiki Ruri. For details, see chapter "9.258 - Counterattack Strategy"]

9.270 - Close Combat

——(Something’s wrong. How come this girl’s speed…has gotten so fast?)

Just when Tetodav judged that reinforcements were about to arrive, Shiiki Ruri in front of him suddenly sped up.

Tetodav also noticed that Shiiki Ruri's speed did not increase explosively, but gradually. This way of change immediately reminded him of Shiiki Ruri's fourth-level skill: Wind Ninja Curse.

——(I see… Are you speeding up at this critical juncture because you anticipate that my reinforcements are about to arrive?)

The previous train of thought made Tetodav subconsciously believe that Shiiki Ruri wanted to speed up the evacuation, but when he discovered that Shiiki Ruri did not escape to the exit in a straight line, but was moving in a strange zigzag path, the judgment result of inertial thinking was immediately overturned.

——(No... that's not right, she's not running away... this girl wants to fight again!)

Realizing the danger, Tetodav immediately slowed down his pursuit. He looked back and forth all the way, worried about Shiiki Ruri's dying struggle!

Based on Tetodav's understanding of Shiiki Ruri, the "Wind Ninja Curse" can be said to be a gamble skill that will not be used unless it is absolutely necessary.

This girl took the initiative to use this trick without any great pressure, and she undoubtedly wanted to risk everything to kill Tetodaf!

——(You little bitch, I know what you're planning... You want to take advantage of me and kill me right when I pounce on you... Haha, no way!)

Tetodav slowed down further. He just had to keep Shiiki Ruri within his sight and there was no need to take the risk himself.

As for Shiiki Ruri's "Wind Ninja Curse" skill, although Tetodaf's response of ignoring it will allow Shiiki Ruri to easily increase her agility attribute to ten times, as long as he creates an opportunity to hit her once next time, he will be able to make this girl suffer the consequences.

Moreover, Shiiki Ruri's skills do not consume magic power... If she activates the fourth-level skills in advance, she will undoubtedly waste a lot of magic power!

——(Little Liuli, little Liuli... Your assassination attempt was both reckless and impulsive. You lose this battle...!)

Before the incident was over, a smile appeared on Tetodav's face. In his opinion, the assassination was about to come to an end.

However, the subsequent development of the matter did not go as Tetodav had expected.

·

Ten seconds passed...

Thirty seconds passed...

The reinforcements that Tetodav had been waiting for didn't show up at all!

——(What’s going on? Is it that my voice isn’t heard?)

Tetodav didn't think that no one heard his shouting just now. There were quite a few people in the inner court square not far from the scene of the incident!

So, did Shiiki Ruri do something?

Since Tetodav's usual equipment, the 'Siren Cloak', happened to have the skill 'Sound Barrier', and the 'White Jade Flute' that Shiki Ruri had already used this time happened to be a new equipment, he naturally came up with such a guess.

[Note: The "Sound Barrier" silences all sounds made by the wearer. For details, see chapter "9.236 - Underground Serpent"].