Unusual Fate Records

Chapter 402, Section 94: Barbed Caltrops (Part 1)

Akira Akahoshi stared straight at the man in the black trench coat before him, his resolute face revealing a deep voice:
"This is our first meeting, although we've had quite a few dealings before, Kagami."

Jin Ziyue stared into his eyes, his indifferent gaze revealing no emotion: "What do you want to say?"

Akira lowered his eyes, glanced around at everyone, and said, "It's nothing. If you want to get out of here, do your best to defeat me."

That's all I have to say.

Jin Ziyue reached out, and the carbon blackened, crystallized, and reorganized, condensing into a long blade. The cold light, like truffles, dripped from the hilt to the tip.

Fu Xun changed back into the few remaining [Iron Horse and Ice River] armors, and a chill gradually emanated from his body, causing frost to form on the ground.

Chen Ruolan also sensed the hostility towards Chi Xinghuang from the two of them, baring her teeth in anticipation, while still supporting the weak Qi Tongshan.

Qi Tongshan's face was still a little pale, but he was able to open his eyes and, with Chen Ruolan's support, observed the battle.

Jin Ziyue had already swung his sword first, the black lattice longsword slashing at Chi Xinghuang's body. The opponent neither dodged nor avoided, letting the longsword leave shallow white marks on his body.

Then, Fu Xun's [Iron Horse and Icy River] surged like a tidal wave of snow. In an instant, the cold wind howled, and the raging snow lashed against Chi Xinghuang's body. The opponent's response was a punch that sent the roaring snow froze for a moment, then, following the opponent's fist's intent, it swept back, lashing out at Fu Xun and Jin Ziyue.

Fu Xun also realized that this guy had just used the command to suppress them, and he had never seen such a novel use of the [Standardized Rules] technique.

He had seen ordinary "conservatism" before, but it was mostly about solidifying oneself. Someone like Akira Akahoshi, who could externalize the rules and apply them to external objects, was simply unheard of.

Judging from the opponent's robust blood energy, the chill brought by [Iron Horse and Icy River] did not have the desired restrictive effect.

Perhaps three hundred years of experience allowed this commander of the Otherworldly army to find a different way to use his skills, and his fist techniques were also quite sharp. The solidified air was his best weapon, and any rigidity created by "sticking to the rules" required a higher level of rules to break through.

In other words, their pronouncements alone are not enough to break the opponent's armor of rules.

Akira Akahoshi did indeed take a different approach; all matter could be solidified under his control, even the surrounding air could become an indestructible cannonball.

His imposing figure stood tall, his right arm raised high, as if he were holding a shot put weighing dozens of kilograms. As he threw it high into the air, Jin Ziyue and Fu Xun could only scatter and dodge from both sides.

Jin Ziyue frowned slightly. The opponent's "Standardize the Rules" had more than just these uses. He seemed to be on guard against something. He did not use the original effect of directly stunning people. Even so, under normal moves, it was difficult to break through the opponent's defense on a physical level.

Conversely, Akira Akahoshi also found it difficult to inflict truly effective damage on them. While the men's boxing style was indeed fierce, their upright and unyielding style was relatively easy to identify, thus providing more opportunities for evasion.

What we need to be most wary of is the other party's unexpected confinement.

Fu Xun dodged the invisible projectile formed by the opponent's air confinement with a backward leap. It exploded on the ground with a bang. Because it was a domain space with horizontal and vertical lines, the invisible projectile hit the ground like a stone sinking into the sea, creating ripples before quickly disappearing.

Jin Ziyue vaguely realized that what the other party wanted to do was not to fight him, but to delay and imprison him and his group here.

Since ordinary attacks were ineffective, Jin Ziyue immediately changed his strategy. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he had already switched to [Soul Prayer Dream], with the destiny attribute: 'Soul Eye'.

As snowflake-like patterns spread across his pupils, Haruko Sada's voice echoed in his mind: "Uncle, you've come to find me!" "Haruko, I need your help," Jin Ziyue murmured to himself.

"Whoa! Let me bestow upon you the most powerful weapon!"

A girl's voice sounded.

A wisp of white spirit climbed onto Jin Ziyue's black longsword, as if a sentient smoky fairy was swaying on the blade. As white lattices appeared in Jin Ziyue's pupils, the chill from the blade gradually intensified.

Unlike Fu Xun's [Iron Horse and Icy River], this is the chill of a blade. Through the destiny of [Soul Prayer and Dream Invocation], Jin Ziyue can use his soul power to guide out the additional status of Sada Haruko, and also gain spiritual vision when using it.

Akira Akahoshi's soul truly surprised Jin Ziyue. Compared to his physical body, his soul was the source of his towering, mountain-like aura. It was hard to imagine that even in a dark realm like the Otherworlders, someone could cultivate such an upright and unyielding spirit to its utmost.

His soul and destiny were perfectly integrated; otherwise, the forceful confinement of the entire helicopter space would likely have been unsustainable. Jin Ziyue's judgment based on the energy of an ordinary person's destiny was somewhat flawed; the other party's will and soul resilience far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Jin Ziyue understood that this was a formidable opponent. This resolute character, coupled with his unwavering adherence to conventions, made him an insurmountable mountain.

Even so, Jin Ziyue still swung his knife steadily.

The way swords are wielded on a spiritual level is not the same as in the real world. Akira's strength is reflected in his adherence to rules and his unwavering loyalty. When the spiritual levels collide, Jin Ziyue bursts out with a phantom of the same height as him.

Physically, the two were locked in a stalemate, with Akashi Akira's arms crossed to block Jin Ziyue's longsword. In terms of their spirits, two opposing auras—one chilling and fierce, the other as solid as a rock—clashed violently.

Jin Ziyue frowned, and a booming sound began to ring in his ears. Even his soul was incredibly resilient. Just the force of the impact was enough to overwhelm him.

Akira Akahoshi, whose soul was also attacked, was slightly moved. He did not have Jin Ziyue's attack methods, nor could he enter a state of spiritual vision. Relying solely on his own physical and spiritual strength, he realized that Jin Ziyue had attacked his soul when he was struck.

However, it only made him shake his body and regroup, and a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

He was also testing the attack methods of Jin Ziyue and others.

I've tried it myself. If the strength of the rules is equal, the limit of my defense is six hundred years of the power of the decree. With three hundred years of decree energy, it can withstand a decree with twice the lifespan of itself, which is already quite unsolvable.

Jin Ziyue's attack methods are comparable to those of a five-hundred-year-old Otherworldly being.

He knew full well that his destiny only granted him an ironclad defense.

But enough is enough.

What he needed to do was keep Jin Ziyue and the others here. As long as his defenses remained intact, none of the four of them could leave his territory.

Akira Akahoshi glanced at the four people and remained silent.

The people that Minister Wu wants to capture alive are all here.