I am the protagonist

I don't think I provoked him, did I?

Yamamoto thought about it carefully and realized that there was no such thing.

I didn't do anything last time either; Tsuna even let him go.

"when!"

Yamamoto blocked the Phantom Knight's Four-Wheel Sword Dance in succession.

The sword dance, which previously seemed to have almost no weaknesses, is now starting to become commonplace.

Even though the sword dance was very fast, and it was a coordinated attack of four swords and illusion, I felt no threat at all.

It easily blocked all the attacks.

However, the Phantom Knight's attack made Yamamoto frown somewhat.

Losing composure is fatal for a swordsman.

What's wrong with this guy?

At this moment, the problem of the Phantom Knight gradually began to become serious.

[I've gotten stronger!]

[Yamamoto Takeshi has become very strong.]

The moment his Four-Wheel Sword Dance was easily blocked, Phantom Knight knew that Yamamoto Takeshi's strength had surpassed his.

His sword did not become dull.

But Yamamoto Takeshi's sword became exceptionally sharp.

Completely different from his level two weeks ago, Yamamoto now blocked all of his attacks simply by using his sword.

This already means that his swordsmanship has become inferior.

But the more this happened, the more bloodshot the Phantom Knight's eyes became.

【Why! 】

Why is it that despite my hard work, my skills haven't improved at all?

But this man accomplished in just two weeks what I've spent half my life trying to do?

Even if the Phantom Knight didn't want to admit it, he had to admit that his talent was no match for Yamamoto Takeshi.

The illusion was easily seen through.

Swordsmanship was also firmly suppressed.

This time, Phantom Knight wanted to prove his abilities to Lord Byakuran; he couldn't afford to be suppressed any longer.

"……very good!"

"You blocked my sword so easily."

"Yamamoto Takeshi, you're very good!"

Yamamoto's brow furrowed even more.

Even if he has a naive personality, it doesn't mean he's really a fool.

How could he not hear the barb in those words?

[Is this guy... out of his mind?]

Yamamoto is increasingly convinced that Phantom Knight has some mental issues.

"Since you've reached this level of strength, then I'll show you my full power."

[Yeah, this person is definitely out of their mind.]

Yamamoto was now certain that Phantom Knight had definitely lost his mind.

[Does this guy think this is all the power I have?]

Or does this person think my strength is limited to what I've heard so far?

Yamamoto remembered that he had not used the Vongola Box.

That was just a simple battle using Shigure Kintoki and the Dying Will Flame.

(Gokudera, it seems like there's something wrong with Phantom Knight's mind.)

(Huh? That swordsman can have mental problems?)

(Yeah, I just sparred with him for a bit, and he was being sarcastic and sarcastic, and wanted to show me his skills... I don't know if he's lost his mind.)

Chapter 116 As a swordsman, let me help you preserve your last shred of dignity

(……envy.)

(Jealousy? Is this Phantom Knight's situation...jealousy?)

The answer Yamamoto heard through the communicator in his ear was incomprehensible.

The other answers are all understandable to Yamamoto, such as the Phantom Knight being mentally unstable or having water in his brain.

However, the fact that the Phantom Knight's current state was an expression of jealousy was something he truly couldn't understand.

Chrome was very certain when she gave this answer because she had a deep understanding of jealousy.

(Because you fought Yamamoto for a while, he realized that there was a significant gap between your strength and his, and he became jealous of your great improvement in just two weeks.)

(this……)

(Is he jealous of my abilities?)

That sounds a bit funny. Is it because someone is jealous of someone they want to defeat, or because they are jealous of that strength?

This just sounds ridiculous.

However, Yamamoto couldn't help but think of the Phantom Knight's reaction earlier, and a look of speechlessness flashed across his face.

(...I'm really just jealous.)

(That guy definitely has some mental issues.)

(It's a bit disappointing that a swordsman of his skill would have such thoughts.)

Yamamoto was truly disappointed at that moment.

He hoped to have a direct confrontation with the Phantom Knight, both as a swordsman and as a challenge.

The Phantom Knight's intense jealousy left him feeling helpless and deeply disappointed.

(By the way, he was quite serious when he attacked me just now.)

(Seriously... So, baseball idiot, what are you still hesitating for?)

(The Tenth Boss never told us to go easy on those kinds of guys.)

(Since they've already decided to kill you, then as a swordsman, they should also be prepared to die.)

(Ah, that's true.)

Yamamoto then realized what Gokudera had said.

From the very beginning, Tsuna never told them to show mercy to the other side's guardians. He only told them to fight fairly. He never said they couldn't kill when they encountered danger.

Having figured out the situation, Yamamoto's gaze was no longer as natural as before, but instantly became extremely sharp.

"Then let me see your strength."

The veins on the Phantom Knight's forehead throbbed even more violently.

The skull ring on my finger immediately started to glow.

"Very well! Then let me see your strength!"

At that moment, almost everyone in the audience had the same thought in their minds.

How petty!

"Wow! No matter how loyal someone is, I wouldn't dare to use someone so petty."

Bai Lan also looked helpless at this moment.

"Bai Lan, are all your guardians like this?"

At this moment, Tsuna seriously doubted whether all of Byakuran's guardians were this kind of people.

“Who said that!?”

"It's clearly that guy's own problem! None of the rest of us have such a damn problem!"

At this moment, Lily of the Valley felt like she was grinding her teeth to powder.

As guardians of Byakuran, they possess a certain pride, and they would rather die for Byakuran than die for her.

But they cannot accept such slander.

"Then he's not Bai Lan's subordinate?"

"This……"

"It seems that Bai Lan herself recruited him."

"he……"

Lily of the Valley bit her lip in frustration, looking like she couldn't say anything back.

In fact, she really couldn't refute this, because Byakuran himself recruited the Phantom Knight.

Suzuran, feeling so frustrated she couldn't speak, glared fiercely at the Phantom Knight in the scene.

【It's all your fault, you bastard!】

[Just go and die already!]

Don't let us, the upright guardians, be suspected of being perverts because of you!!

The thought that they were mistaken for those frivolous guardians because of their own people made Suzuran want to strangle that bastard!

"ha!!!"

The Hell Ring enveloped the Phantom Knight in mist.

The figure was once dispersed by the mist, and then gathered again in another place.

But the moment he reappeared, the Phantom Knight had completely transformed from a human into a skeleton clad in armor.

The amount of deathly flames has doubled.

However, Yamamoto remained even calmer when facing the increased number of Phantom Knights.

However, in contrast to the increase in strength, the cool-headedness has been lost.

[This kind of Phantom Knight is easier to deal with.]

Their strength has increased, but people have become easier to deal with.

[...Could it be because of the Hell Ring?]

The Phantom Knight himself was unaware that his strength had weakened; what had increased was merely his raw power, but this mere increase in raw power was utterly useless.

[Is the Phantom Knight so incapable of even judging something this simple?]

[He's definitely lost his mind.]

The image of the Phantom Knight from two weeks ago involuntarily appeared in his mind.

At that time, the Phantom Knights could calmly fight using their intellect, swordsmanship, and illusion magic.

The Phantom Knights of that time were stronger than they are now, and their swordplay was sharper. Especially when combined with illusion magic, their fighting style was even more aggressive.

But now... Yamamoto shook his head.

The current Phantom Knight's strength is even less than it was two weeks ago.

There's no need to continue being polite to him.

Let's see him off as swordsmen.

At least it shouldn't be in this ugly state.

The deathly flames that had not yet condensed on the sword began to solidify, resembling sharp blade energy.