Three-Sword Style Ultimate Technique: One Great Three-Thousandfold World!

"Where's Scud?"

Mike turned to Reinhardt.

Even Scud's identity had been exposed?

This had originally been one of Reinhardt's proudest accomplishments. He had planned to mock Blade thoroughly once the truth came out.

So the Joker had been himself?

"Looks like he ran. Pretty sharp, too. I'll leave the rest to you."

Who "the rest" referred to was obvious.

Being treated as "the rest" enraged Reinhardt. He was already an arrogant Vampire. He stomped fiercely against the wall, borrowed the momentum, and slashed down at Mike.

Mike did not move.

Just as Blade had said before, Reinhardt's thoughts and movements were far too easy to predict. Blade was therefore faster than him.

One slash blocked Reinhardt, another knocked his weapon away, and the last cleaved Reinhardt in two.

Three slashes... Reinhardt's pride and two years of training were effortlessly shattered by Blade.

That was why talking trash was fine. It was good for both body and mind. Otherwise, there would not be so many "Don't leave after school" and "Meet me on the rooftop."

But talking trash was also a skill.

If you could fight, then fight. If you could not, run after showing off. The worst kind was someone who could not see their own limits, insisted on fighting anyway, and ended up getting shattered.

Reinhardt had no chance to reflect. How could a dead man reflect?

Norma tossed the family's distinctive ring to Nyssa, shattering the entire worldview of this Vampire girl who valued family and honor.

So, in her father's eyes, power, profit, and status outweighed the ideals she had always believed in.

It felt as though her world was collapsing.

So Nyssa decided to bring Norma before her father and confront him face-to-face.

The security level of Makinos's building was like an impregnable fortress. Honestly, without any unexpected circumstances, it would have been difficult for Norma to break in alone. Even if he did, by the time he reached the top floor, he would either be exhausted or only get to watch Makinos calmly escape by helicopter.

That was why Norma created other mutants. It was not merely because of his appetite, but also to create subordinates who could fight Vampires.

Thus, there were over a hundred Reapers in the sewers.

With Nyssa's help, the Reapers successfully entered the building.

Battle was about to erupt. Gunfire rang out.

Looking up from below, they could vaguely see muzzle flashes and hear the screams of Vampires.

"We're just going to watch?" Blade's expression was complicated.

He was somewhat worried about Nyssa.

It was not love at first sight, nor was it affection. It was simply that walking Blade's path meant being destined for loneliness.

Most lonely people did not enjoy being lonely. They were merely forced into it. That was why his feelings toward Nyssa were rather complicated.

Perhaps, for Blade, Nyssa dying at the hands of other Vampires or Reapers would have been the best ending.

"Let's go."

Using Observation Haki to sense the situation inside the building, Mike found that the Vampires had mostly been cleared out, while all the Reapers were gathering on the top floor.

As they made their way up, bitten Vampires lay everywhere.

These Vampires would also mutate after more than twenty hours, so they had to be finished off.

After killing Vampires for so many years, Blade had never had it this easy.

They continued upward.

The top floor.

Norma was holding Nyssa, his mouthparts sunk into her neck. Meanwhile, Makinos—the supreme high duke of the Vampire Kingdom—lay on the floor, his expression twisted in agony as dark green liquid flowed from his body.

Clearly, the neurotoxin secreted by Norma could directly kill Vampires.

"I ended this dark, filthy family with my own hands, but the pain hasn't stopped..." Norma's face was savage, his eyes bloodshot like a crazed Beast.

It seemed that only slaughter and feeding could ease that pain.

"It's simple. Your existence is a curse. Only death can truly set you free."

Mike drew his blades, silver katanas in both hands and a Nichirin Sword clenched between his teeth.

"A Three-Sword Style swordsman has come to end your lives."

Mike sounded extremely full of himself.

"Come on, let's see who dies first!" Norma casually tore out several steel rebars and twisted them together.

Mike stepped forward slowly, chanting with each step:

"Nine mountains and eight seas form one world."

"A thousand worlds gather to form a Small Thousand World."

"Triple this world, and there is nothing I cannot cut."

"What is Mike doing?" Whistler asked.

"I don't know. Maybe some kind of ritual," Blade guessed.

Blade's guess was extremely close to the truth. This ritual was called "putting on a holy show before others," also known as "showing off."

Black Armament Haki covered Mike's hands and all three blades.

His sword-wielding hands spun the twin blades, as fast as fan blades.

"Three-Sword Style Ultimate Technique: One Great Three-Thousandfold World!"

The three slashes merged into one.

A ring-shaped blade of light swept past.

Clang!

Half of the steel rebar in Norma's hand fell to the ground.

"How strange. The pain is gone." Norma felt lighter than ever before.

"Of course. That slash severed your pain, and also..."

Before Mike could finish, Norma's upper body fell to the floor.

"...your life. Never mind, you can't hear me."

Watching Norma turn to ashes, Mike slowly sheathed his blades.

All the Reapers present also turned to ashes.

Mike's slash had not only killed Norma, but conveniently cleared out all the other Reapers as well.

Blade and Whistler... Blade was doing better, since he had seen Mike's Nine-Sword Style before. Whistler, on the other hand, was completely stunned. The blade light had skimmed past the top of his head, and his scalp was still tingling cold.

Mike: "..."

That slash had shaved off a lock of Whistler's hair, turning the old man into a Mediterranean Sea. So the chill on his scalp was not an illusion after all.

"Ahem..."

Mike felt that he should slip away before Whistler noticed.

"Blade, my mission is complete."

"Thank you."

Blade spoke solemnly.

"No need to thank me. I was paid."

Mike watched Soul Energy and Destiny Energy drift from Blade's body, adding silently in his heart, As long as there's energy to collect, it's fine.

As for money...

The Zoro Possession Card and Nichirin Sword item card had been used for a total of six hours. After the system's utterly ruthless commission was deducted, Mike had only received fourteen thousand US dollars.

How much could a worker earn?

Didn't most of it just end up in the boss's pocket?

Before leaving, Mike said, "I almost forgot. That slash just now also cut through the load-bearing walls, so... deal with it yourselves."

Blade's mouth twitched. Who knew what kind of expression he had behind those sunglasses.

Helplessness, or disgust?

"I want to see the sun."

That was Nyssa's final wish. Blade held Nyssa and watched her turn to ashes in his arms beneath the morning sun.

As for Mike, after going downstairs, he leisurely headed toward Hell's Kitchen. He passed several taxis on the way. Perhaps because he had just slain the Reapers, he naturally radiated a murderous aura. The taxi drivers had just been about to pull over, only to unconsciously slam the accelerator and speed away.

Mike: "..."

After finally flagging one down, the driver immediately looked troubled upon hearing that the destination was Hell's Kitchen. He said Mike would either have to pay extra or be dropped off nearby.

What else could he do?

Pay extra, of course.

But it still felt incredibly lame.

He envied Money Power.