Gurgle!
A mass of bubbles rose from the seawater. Aiou fixed his gaze on them and saw a stream of water sweep toward him like Sword Qi. He immediately leapt away, narrowly avoiding the attack. The water gouged a long mark into the ground, leaving behind a faint layer of frost.
Aiou counterattacked swiftly. After the water stream swept past, the Sea-Calming Divine Chopsticks smashed down toward the sea, but the blow struck empty air.
A sword suddenly stabbed out from the water. Though the blond giant was immensely burly, the sword he wielded was incomparably delicate. It was not a Western-style rapier, but more like the sort of sword used by women—exquisite and refined, utterly at odds with the giant's roughness.
Clang!
The sword collided with the Sea-Calming Divine Chopsticks. It was exceptionally soft and highly flexible, so it luckily did not snap under the impact. Had it been a rigid blade, it would probably have broken the instant it touched the Sea-Calming Divine Chopsticks.
The blond giant was clearly well versed in the way of assassination. Though built like a mountain, he moved as nimbly as a hare. He swiftly submerged himself, then appeared at Aiou's side in the blink of an eye and stabbed again.
Aiou was not afraid of an attack at this level at all.
Simply put, even if he failed to block it, this body's defensive power was completely fine. So, he did not block it.
All right, then.
Aiou had never been especially skilled at fighting. Besides, this body was merely good at taking hits. Against a genuine expert, its flaws could easily be probed out.
The slender sword was like a green bamboo snake, stabbing into Aiou's chest in an instant, yet it failed to pierce his defenses. Aiou lowered his head