Benkei—whether or not people knew the stories surrounding Minamoto no Yoshitsune, they had probably heard his name.
What he was most famous for was likely fighting to the very last moment to protect his lord, then remaining upright even after being pierced by countless arrows, dying on his feet.
That legend alone showed just how hard Saijo Taiga's Shadow was to kill.
"Watch out!" Asai Narumi warned them as she drew her bow to its fullest. Leaping aside to evade the attack, she loosed an arrow at the same time.
Used to working together, Hoshikawa Teru charged after it without a word and slashed directly at the Shadow's leg.
Just as Shadow Saijo was drawing his blade to strike the front line, the blow hit him. He recoiled half a step in pain, temporarily resolving the crisis for the teammates under attack.
However, after the Shadow took two steps back, bent slightly at the waist, and held his breath, the wound on his leg quickly healed.
"This really is troublesome." Hirotsugu Morofushi pulled his eye away from the scope and let out a breath. "Even Benkei's weak point can't deal effective damage to him."
"That recovery is way too fast." Shimabukuro Kimiye, who had retreated from his attack range, frowned deeply.
"After all, he is 'Benkei.'" Asai Narumi cautiously backed up to stand with them. "That isn't his biggest problem."
The biggest problem was that this was not a true, stat-boosted version of Benkei. At his core, he was Saijo Taiga, a member of the thieves' group.
A madman willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goal.
This was no warrior who had inherited the spirit of bushido. He was a criminal who would poison his blade.
"The poison is extremely potent." Akemi Miyano frowned after cleansing the