“Evening training?” Looking at the three jet-black iron plates strapped around Unkawa’s legs, Yahiko could still hear the heavy clanging from moments ago.
His face twitched as he looked at the shirtless Unkawa.
“And you call this evening training?” Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, Unkawa faced the street outside in profile.
Barefoot on a training mat…
A black short blade rested in his hands, held before him in the opening stance of a slash.
Feet.
Legs.
Waist.
Spine.
Arms.
Hands.
A textbook open stance.
Stable.
Rooted.
His core engaged perfectly.
Like an immovable boulder planted in place.
Even complete amateurs like Yahiko and Konan could see the power contained in every movement.
“How do you think I got to where I am today?” Unkawa answered calmly.
He shifted half a step backward, breaking his stationary stance.
His grip tightened around the short blade.
Every muscle in his body tensed.
Veins rose along his forearms.
BZZT!!
A chilling gale screamed through the room.
The blade, clear as autumn water, carved several brilliant arcs through the air.
Flash Sheath — Eight-Point Rush!
After unleashing the high-speed multi-directional strikes…
He didn’t pause for even a moment.
The blade flowed naturally back into its starting position.
Then— Another Eight-Point Rush.
Every slash executed with full speed.
Full strength.
Without holding anything back.
“…” During the few short seconds Yahiko and Konan stood there in stunned silence…
Unkawa had already completed more than a dozen consecutive Eight-Point Rushes.
Only after nearly a hundred repetitions…
Did his movements finally begin to slow.
Even then…
Not a single motion deformed.
He looked less like a person…
And more like a merciless machine built solely for cutting.
Yahiko unconsciously focused harder.
His eyes remained locked on Unkawa’s every movement.
The angle.
The force.
The speed.
“One hundred fifty-one…
one hundred fifty-two…
one hundred fifty-three…” Beside him, Konan began counting silently.
Neither of them spoke.
Both watched in fascination as Unkawa continued swinging his blade.
As though by unspoken agreement…
Neither wished to interrupt him.
Perhaps because they sensed a solemnity unlike his usual gentle demeanor.
Or perhaps because they couldn’t bear to interrupt movements that embodied such terrifying beauty in both speed and power.
Drip…
Drip…
He continued swinging.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Without stopping.
When he reached the one hundred seventy-first strike…
Even Yahiko and Konan could hear his breathing deepen.
His body had clearly reached its physical limit.
Sweat slowly seeped from every pore.
Sliding over sharply defined muscles before dripping onto the floor.
His body seemed forged from steel.
Every muscle fiber straining against itself.
“Two hundred twenty-three…
two hundred twenty-four…” Konan had unconsciously begun counting aloud.
Her cheeks tensed.
But…
Strike number two hundred twenty-five never came.
Unkawa’s arm trembled visibly.
Simply holding the blade aloft had become difficult.
Creak…
Creak…
Yahiko subconsciously ground his teeth.
It almost sounded as though Unkawa’s muscles themselves were crying out.
“This is enough…
isn’t it?” Forcing your body to its absolute limit…
This wasn’t evening training.
It was self-torture.
The two remained frozen in silence for several long minutes.
Just as Yahiko finally opened his mouth to stop him…
Unkawa slowly closed his eyes.
“…Haa.” The sweat-covered face became utterly calm.
Still as water.
Like the single character painted on the scroll behind him— Silence.
Both Yahiko and Konan instinctively held their breath.
The entire world seemed to grow quiet.
No one knew how much time passed.
Then…
Unkawa opened his deep blue eyes once more.
They were deeper than the moonlit heavens themselves.
At that instant— A bone-chilling cold swept over Yahiko and Konan.
BZZT!!
The horrifying shriek split the air.
Before either of their minds could react…
Their bodies moved on their own.
They stumbled backward.
Instantly.
So violently that both fell onto the floor.
“…What?” Yahiko stared blankly.
His left hand braced himself against the ground.
His right hand instinctively touched his own neck.
His fingers found only rough skin.
No blood.
That sensation just now…
It had been like blinking when something flew toward your eyes.
His body had moved completely on instinct.
It had sensed danger before his mind could.
…What did he just do?
Yahiko slowly raised his head.
Unkawa hadn’t moved.
Not a single step.
He hadn’t even turned to face them.
A faint mist of sweat surrounded him.
Within that hazy vapor…
Only those deep blue eyes remained visible.
“Haa…” Unkawa exhaled.
A white stream of breath coiled into the air like a serpent.
The next moment— His thoughts shifted.
A familiar panel appeared before his mind.
Villain Template System Main Template Name: Tsukimisato Unkawa [∞] Level: 4 Attributes: Strength: D → CSpeed: C → BSpirit: B+Energy: F Abilities: ① Sensory Type Pure Eyes (91%) ② Body Manipulation Type Nanaya Assassination Arts (99% → 100%)Presence Concealment (99% → 100%) ③ Material Manipulation Type Lethal Projectile (24%) Sub Templates (3/4) ① Nanaya Shiki [Serial Killer] ② Bullseye [Adamantium] ③ Tama [Stand: Stray Cat] Level Advancement Level 4 → Level 5 Cost: 3000 Points (Increases available quest slots and template slots) Available Quests: 0/2 Current Points: 2200 Crack!
Unkawa looked down at his hand.
He slowly clenched his fist.
A smile spread across his face.
“…This feeling is addicting.” He could clearly feel blood coursing through every vein.
His exhausted cells seemed infused with new vitality.
Strength that had already been spent…
Was surging back again.
An incomparable power flowed through every inch of his body.
If his previous self had been…
A furnace containing restrained flames…
Then now…
He was a dormant volcano.
Outwardly calm.
Yet magma churned beneath the surface.
A terrifying sharpness hid within this body.
This…
Was power he had truly mastered.
Power that genuinely belonged to him.
The Templates granted only abilities.
They did not provide the original character’s physique.
Even the highest-ranked Crimson Template…
Would never make someone invincible overnight.
No matter how powerful an assassination art…
A sword technique…
Or any template ability…
Without a sufficiently strong body…
None of them could display their true potential.
The four attribute values represented only a rough measurement of his physical capabilities.
From F…
To S.
His body was still developing.
He still had a long road ahead.
Furthermore…
Once an equipped template ability reached 100% proficiency…
It became permanently mastered.
It no longer occupied a template slot.
And in some cases…
He could even wield it better than its original owner.
“The Nanaya Assassination Arts…
and Presence Concealment…” Unkawa nodded faintly.
“Finally mastered.” He raised his eyes toward the two children.
Before he could say anything— Whoosh!
Yahiko suddenly leaped toward him.
“Boss Unkawa!” His face became completely serious.
He took a large step backward.
Then— Bent forward nearly one hundred eighty degrees.
The tremendous bow resembled the downward swing of a greatsword.
Even producing a sharp gust of wind that lifted Unkawa’s bangs.
“I’m sorry!” Yahiko shouted loudly without raising his head.
“I was wrong before!” “I’m truly sorry!” Seeing Yahiko suddenly perform such an enormous bow…
Even Unkawa subconsciously stepped backward half a pace to avoid the wind.
“…If it’s only about that…” “There’s really no need to go this far.” The corner of his eye twitched.
For once…
His expression carried genuine speechlessness.
“If I’m walking my own path…” “And every barking dog along the roadside makes me stop to throw stones…” “I’ll never reach my destination.” Petty people became angry over insults…
And joyful over praise.
Unkawa…
Simply didn’t care.
The higher a person flew…
The smaller they appeared…
To those who could never leave the ground.
Yet…
Yahiko’s next action genuinely surprised him.
“No!” “Please forgive my rudeness!” “This is the greatest wish of my life!” Completely ignoring the subtle mockery hidden within Unkawa’s words…
Yahiko never raised his head.
Still bowing…
He extended one hand.
His voice was utterly sincere.
“If possible…” “Please teach me how to become stronger!” Behind him…
Konan, who had remained silent until now, froze.
Her heart skipped.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on the paper flower hidden behind her back.
An impulse welled up inside her.
Then…
She quietly stepped forward.
Holding the blue paper flower with both hands…
She offered it to him.
“…” Looking at the two children— Different motives.
The same resolve.
Unkawa narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Silence filled the room.
Only when a bead of sweat slid down Konan’s temple…
Did she suddenly feel someone take the flower from her hands.
She looked up in surprise.
Unkawa gently tucked the blue paper flower into her light blue-violet hair.
“Remember this.” A smile appeared on his face.
His meaning ran deeper than his words.
“This…” “…was your own choice.” “Now…” “Show me your determination.”
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