Spare Them Beneath the Blade!

It was New Year's, they were already here, and the kid was still young—

By the usual script, the next line should have been someone dying...

Huai Shi stepped forward, instantly entering Overlimit State. With his blood nearly boiling, Yu Steps received a terrifying boost and kicked up a hurricane.

—Salted Fish Backstab!

Though it had clearly been a spur-of-the-moment decision, it looked as if it had been planned for ages, so experienced it was infuriating. He seized the instant Masato launched his counterattack, striking from both front and back!

When Hasegawa turned around and saw the blade rushing toward him, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Masato had already knocked aside Hasegawa's spear-blade, stepped forward, and swept horizontally at his waist.

Bisect!

It was as though Hasegawa had grown eyes in the back of his head. At the critical instant, the key-spear in his hand suddenly contracted. Its cross-shaped frame blocked Masato's focused strike, while the pointed cone at the butt of the spear abruptly lifted, aimed straight at Huai Shi's throat.

It was practically as if Huai Shi had deliberately thrown himself at it.

As his movement stalled slightly, Huai Shi's vision blurred. He only saw a shadow suddenly emerge from behind Hasegawa, transforming into a vicious figure with an indigo face. Its arms shot out and its hands clasped together, seizing the opportunity to clamp onto Huai Shi's sword blade.

Under the thrust of the Blade of Resentment, the insubstantial palms were sliced open, and the Source Matter within rapidly spilled out, devoured by the flock of crows.

Facing Masato, Hasegawa's face had also turned indigo, entirely different from the shadow emerging behind him. It made him look as though he had two heads and four arms.

If this had been the right place and