If There's Even the Slightest Chance

At that moment, the previously boisterous scene fell silent.

Below the stage, the warriors all watched the scene above. The cheers and excitement from before were gone, replaced only by the attitude of spectators enjoying a show.

On the stage, Kurusu Kunoichi closed his eyes and slowly drew his sword with an expressionless face.

Opposite him, Fang Li took a deep breath and placed his hand on the dagger at the small of his back.

The atmosphere around them grew solemn.

Below the stage, Kibito Aragane had frowned from beginning to end. Watching Fang Li, who had not even taken a stance, he could not help but speak up.

"Kurusu, don't go too far."

"There's no need to worry." Kurusu Kunoichi opened his eyes and stared at Fang Li. He did not raise the sword in his hand, merely saying, "I'm not so low as to use violence against an ordinary person with no martial arts training."

As a warrior who had practiced swordsmanship for many years, Kurusu Kunoichi could easily tell from an opponent's stance whether they had trained before.

Therefore, looking at Fang Li's posture, which was riddled with openings, Kurusu Kunoichi was certain that this Wanderer had never practiced even the slightest bit of martial arts.

Kurusu Kunoichi said coldly, "If you step down now, I can still pretend nothing happened."

Fang Li merely smiled and shook his head, making Kurusu Kunoichi's gaze turn somewhat inquisitive.

"I know you haven't trained in martial arts." Kurusu Kunoichi spoke bluntly. "Why would someone like you, with no martial arts training, challenge a warrior like me?"

Upon hearing Kurusu Kunoichi's words, everyone around them turned their eyes toward Fang Li.

Under the gazes of so many people, Fang Li fell silent for a moment before answering honestly, "I just wanted to try."

"Try?" Kurusu Kunoichi was taken aback again.

"That's right, try." Fang Li nodded and continued truthfully, "I know it'll be difficult for me to beat you, but if there's even the slightest chance, then isn't it worth trying?"

According to the space's assessment, Fang Li had only a one-in-ten chance of defeating Kurusu Kunoichi.

That one-tenth was probably only possible because Fang Li possessed the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, wasn't it?

After all, in terms of attributes alone, only Fang Li's AGI (Agility) was worth mentioning, and even that was merely 1 point higher than the average for a well-trained twenty-year-old human male.

As for Kurusu Kunoichi, this genuine warrior likely exceeded average standards by 5 points in STR (Strength), VIT (Vitality), and AGI (Agility), with only his INT (Mystery) being an exception.

In other words, in terms of attributes alone, his opponent completely crushed Fang Li.

Moreover, his opponent was not a Kabane who only knew how to charge headlong and understood nothing beyond attacking.

There was no way the swordsmanship he had honed for years could lose to Fang Li, a young man who had still been an ordinary student just one day ago.

The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were a trump card that could allow Fang Li to win, but it was also a trump card he could not use.

This was merely a spar, not a fight to the death.

If he used the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, one careless mistake could kill Kurusu Kunoichi.

When that happened, Fang Li would probably be torn to pieces by the enraged warriors of the Yotsuyu Clan.

For that reason, the ten percent success rate given by the space was effectively unusable.

Fighting Kurusu Kunoichi would only be more difficult than the mission's rank suggested.

Even so, Fang Li still wanted to try.

The 3,000 Exchange Points were one reason, as they were no small temptation.

But the main reason was that Fang Li had a way to win.

An extremely dangerous method.

"Does not knowing martial arts mean I can't defeat a warrior?" Fang Li drew his dagger, fixed his eyes on Kurusu Kunoichi, and said, "Let's try."

"...Is that so?" Kurusu Kunoichi's expression returned to its cold severity. He slowly raised the katana in his hand, its tip aimed at Fang Li, and spoke in a deep voice. "You have courage, but whether you're merely talking big or truly have some skill, let me try and find out."

At those words, Fang Li stared at the sharp sword tip aimed at him, yet his heart became inexplicably calmer.

Originally, with so many people watching, Fang Li had been a little nervous.

But the moment he faced a battle, just as when he fought Kabane in the forest, his heart would fill with an inexplicable calm.

In battle, the worst possible outcome was nothing more than death.

As long as something was connected to death, Fang Li's heart would not stir in the slightest.

At the very least, ever since childhood, Fang Li had only been afraid when his father or teachers got angry. Other than that, he had never feared anything else.

There was a saying that put it very well.

"If you aren't even afraid of death, what else is there to fear?"

That saying practically applied perfectly to Fang Li.

Whether he was fighting Kabane or even a warrior stronger than Kabane, it was all the same.

"Attack." Kurusu Kunoichi looked at Fang Li and said directly, "I won't hold back."

"Is that so?" Fang Li actually smiled meaningfully. "But I think you will hold back."

Those words made Kurusu Kunoichi freeze.

At that very instant, Fang Li suddenly stomped the ground and shot forward.

The stage was not particularly large, with a diameter of less than ten meters.

The distance between Fang Li and Kurusu Kunoichi was not far either, only around two or three meters.

For Fang Li, whose AGI (Agility) had reached 6 points, a distance of two or three meters could be crossed in the blink of an eye.

Thus, by the time Kurusu Kunoichi reacted, Fang Li had already rushed in front of him.

—!

The moment Kurusu Kunoichi reacted, his eyes sharpened almost on reflex. The katana in his hand suddenly rose, then resolutely slashed down at Fang Li's head.

Whoosh—!

The sound of wind being cut apart rang out.

The sharp katana sliced fiercely through the air, like lightning descending from the heavens as it cleaved down at Fang Li's head.

Under such circumstances, the wind pressure split apart by the blade crashed against Fang Li's head as he charged before Kurusu Kunoichi, making his bangs flutter wildly.

It had merely been a hurried, instinctive slash, yet it showed no mercy whatsoever.

Of course, to Kurusu Kunoichi, that strike had only been intended to force Fang Li back.

Though Fang Li had never trained in martial arts, his speed was not weak.

In Kurusu Kunoichi's eyes, with Fang Li's speed, he should have been able to evade that slash.

Then Kurusu Kunoichi would follow with an upward slash to knock the dagger from Fang Li's hand, and it would be over.

However, something happened that Kurusu Kunoichi had not expected.

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