After suffering the backlash, Shinji was rather speechless.
Human throats were far too fragile. Yet every time the backlash hit, his throat was the first thing to suffer.
It made him cough up blood every time. He really was possessed by Uchiha Itachi!
Where was my Foolish Otouto?
Didn't have one?
Just a Husky?
That would do.
Shinji extended his index finger and held it just above the part of Hozuki Mangetsu's forehead that had failed to turn to water. A bead of blood rapidly condensed into a needle.
Then he withdrew the cursed energy gathered in his throat before asking again, "Still want my sword?"
Feeling the faint prickling between his brows, Hozuki Mangetsu fell somewhat silent. He had no doubt that if his next answer failed to satisfy the other man, that sharp needle would pierce his head.
And he bitterly resented it!
He felt he had yet to unleash his true strength before that strange ability of his opponent's completely countered him, defeating him outright.
Furthermore, his opponent seemed to know the weaknesses of the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique very well. The electric current that appeared out of nowhere inside his body had left him almost powerless to fight back.
As though he had seen through his thoughts, Shinji suddenly moved his hand away.
"I really like giving people chances. Take the previous owner of this Kubikiribōchō, for example. After taking this sword, I didn't kill him. Instead, I waited for him to recover from his injuries and challenge me again."
"But I believe everything comes at a price. If you get another chance, you have to be prepared to pay another price."
"So after his second defeat, that Demon of the Mist's life belonged to me."
"Now I can give you a second chance too, but