The heavy frozen-fish war blade came crashing down like toppling storm clouds, carrying bone-piercing cold!
Clang-
At that critical moment, the long sword in Iaian's hand had already returned to its sheath without anyone noticing.
As the sound of something cutting through the air whistled rapidly overhead, he kept his eyes closed, seemingly relying entirely on his senses to determine where the monster's attack had reached!
"Iai!!"
Okamaitachi's startled cry rang out nearby. In an instant, a dazzling light flared, and a ringing sword swept upward like lightning, its thunderous gleam flashing like a meteor!
"Iai Slash!"
Foul-smelling, icy blue blood dripped down, instantly freezing into hexagonal ice flowers on the ground. A thick arm clutching a huge frozen fish flew high into the air, taking a full three seconds to crash into the ruined shop with a bang.
"...Huh, what happened?"
Frozen Fish Monster tried to swing his right hand, but his severed arm below the shoulder was already nowhere to be found. His abruptly unbalanced body stumbled and fell to the ground.
-An opening!!
The raised sword slashed like lightning toward Frozen Fish Monster's obviously vulnerable human neck. Yet a second before the strike landed, the fallen monster suddenly lashed out with a kick as swift as an afterimage, striking Iaian in the stomach.
His steel armor abruptly caved in. His entire body nearly folded in half as the monster's counterattack sent him crashing through several pillars and flying away.
Iaian twisted in midair and came down in a superhero landing, dropping to one knee to dissipate the impact.
Seeing the monster already back on his feet, he gritted his teeth in frustration and pounded the ground. "Cough, cough... Damn it, I was so close!"
"Mwahahaha, what a shame! You were so close!"
Frozen Fish Monster laughed wildly