During those brief two seconds of respite, when their Simple Domains collided and the neutralization of their barriers stalled Kusakabe's offensive, the horrific, bone-deep sword wounds on Li Shunchen's body rapidly healed under the immense, pure Cursed Energy of Reverse Cursed Technique. The recovery was visible to the naked eye, and one could even hear the friction of new flesh growing wildly. Not a single scar remained.
Standing opposite him, Atsuya Kusakabe stared at the little monster who had not only returned to full health in an instant but had brazenly "pulled out" his signature skill without changing a thing. He had completely lost the will to keep fighting.
How the hell am I supposed to fight this!?
Kusakabe let out an utterly devastated wail in his mind.
This fight is impossible! No matter how many times I cut him, he can instantly refill his health bar with Reverse Cursed Technique like nothing happened. That was bad enough, but now he's gone so far as to watch a few moves and take a few hits, then learn the New Shadow Style: Simple Domain I spent so many years practicing, right here in the middle of a fight!? Is this guy even built like a human...!?
Without the slightest hesitation, Kusakabe obediently followed his heart-his cowardly heart-and slid backward, instantly putting a full five meters of safety between himself and Li Shunchen.
At the same time, he promptly dispelled the faintly glowing Simple Domain beneath his feet. He even pushed the Samurai Sword that had been wreaking havoc moments earlier snugly back into its sheath with a click.
He recoiled as though avoiding a venomous snake, as if being even half a second slower would let the unreasonable monster across from him swallow him whole, leaving not even a scrap of