Chapter 195: Sei VS Shentu

“Wait up, hey!”

“Kikii! You’re so persistent!”

Sei leaped from branch to branch in pursuit of Shentu. And Shentu, being small, could make sharp turns and tried to shake Sei off with his agile movements. However, Sei, being larger, had the advantage of sheer speed and made sure that he was never shaken off.

“I haven’t practiced much, but I’ll hit him with this!”

Following the seemingly fruitless game of tag, Sei decided to make his move. He pulled out a round well-shaped pebble and a slingshot from his pouch.

The slingshot was a weapon designed for the [Throwing] skill. Therefore, it received correction based on skill level and could be used with corresponding real-life martial arts. Although the term “Throwing” had led players to believe it could only be used with bare hands, it was recently discovered that this was not the case.

The reason why this had not been known until now was because the [Throwing] skill was overwhelmingly unpopular as a skill. For long-range attacks, bows were superior in both accuracy and power. And although small stones, which could be found anywhere, offered a financial advantage, bows still proved to be more efficient in terms of earnings over time. Thus, the only advantage of [Throwing] was negated and bows were the more lucrative option.

This was common knowledge among players, and no one would choose the [Throwing] skill unless they had special circumstances or were particular about it. However, there were always those with unique obsessions, and someone determined to master [Throwing] had emerged.

Recently, a player discovered that slingshots could be used with this skill and shared this information on the bulletin board. As a result, [Throwing] came into the limelight due to its convenience of not being as bulky as bows and the ability to be used barehanded in a pinch. Now, slingshots were somewhat used as a secondary weapon for vanguard players.

Sei, having kept up with the latest trends, had also learned [Throwing]. In his case, the decision was influenced by the fact that he had a companion, Shiitake, who could provide him with throwing items, which he believed could become a formidable means of attack.

The slingshot he used was, of course, made by Iris. It was crafted using threads spun from the fur of a monster defeated in the “Black Death Ice Forest” which added the effect of increasing the throwing speed and water attribute damage when thrown.

Despite his skill level in [Throwing] still being low, Sei believed he could at least make a hit. With this in mind, he placed a pebble on the wider part of the slingshot and spun it to generate sufficient centrifugal force. When he felt he had enough, he utilized a martial technique to release the pebble.

“Take this! Fast Throw!”

“Ugh?!”

The pebble launched by Sei successfully struck Shentu’s torso. Caught off guard by the unexpected attack while mid-air, Shentu lost his balance. Although he managed to grab onto a branch and avoid falling to the ground, he ended up hanging by one hand.

Shentu attempted to climb the branch and escape, but Sei was not one to miss such a good opportunity. As Shentu clambered onto the branch he was holding, Sei was already in the midst of attacking, having swung his newly acquired staff from a high position.

“Take this!”

“Gyaaaaah?!”

The staff Sei had purchased was a long and thin metal cudgel with numerous small stud-like bumps on its surface. Wrapped around its midpoint was a piece of cloth to serve as a grip, indicating that the weapon was primarily intended to be used as a bludgeon at both ends.

Shentu managed to block Sei’s blow by crossing his arms, but the full force of the blow seemed to have taken its toll. Accompanied by a dull thud and a scream, a marker indicating partial destruction lit up above Shentu’s head. Shentu grimaced in pain, while Sei, feeling the impact of his blow, flashed a ferocious smile.

“Kikii…. You got me good…”

“Heh! Your days of scurrying away are over! We’ll kill you ourselves!”

While facing Shentu’s resentful gaze head-on, Sei boldly taunted him. Since he didn’t have the [Appraisal] skill, Sei was unaware of his opponent’s level or race, leaving him unable to accurately gauge Shentu’s true strength.

Even though the attack was executed with full force and without martial arts, Sei realized that even if the other party defended against him, he would get a broken arm at least. If that is the case, he would surely be defeated if he continued to hit him with the staff. That is what he was convinced of.

“…To kill me? A mere monster dares to kill me, Shentu?”

Shentu, who had been rubbing his arm, froze upon hearing Sei’s words about “killing him”. Then, trembling slightly, his face contorted with rage.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself! How could someone like you possibly defeat me, Shentu, who has reached the esteemed level of Zhu Yan?”

“What?!”

Sei’s demeanor seemed to have struck a nerve with the prideful Shentu. He yelled before his tongue suddenly shot out of his mouth in a horrifying manner.

The tongue, slithering and approaching with its thick and sharp venomous barbs, was like a whip and a spear at the same time. This served as Shentu’s ultimate and lethal weapon.

“But you’re too slow!”

“What?!”

Sei was slightly surprised, but that was all. Having seen Jigoro use the [Evil Demon Tongue] before, the shock of the first encounter with this skill wasn’t as significant for him.

Furthermore, having recently been involved in a mock battle with Genjuro, Sei had become accustomed to rapid thrusts. Thanks to this experience, he was able to easily dodge the attack.

“Whoa, there!”

“What?!”

However, Sei didn’t just dodge; he went a step further. He skillfully twirled the staff around the tongue and yanked it as hard as he could with a fishing motion.

Shentu was caught off guard by this maneuver. Suddenly pulled forward like a bonito fish on a line, he was thrown into confusion by the unexpected turn of events. His penchant for operating from the shadows and his lack of experience in facing danger directly proved to be his downfall.

“Hmph!”

“Gyaaaaaaah?!”

With a forceful pull, Sei then delivered an upward kick to the approaching Shentu’s jaw. Since Shentu’s tongue was extended out of his mouth, he ended up biting it off.

Shentu was kicked away and managed to avoid falling to the ground by grabbing onto a branch with his hand at the tip of his tail. However, the damage he suffered was significant. Not only was his physical strength diminished, but the loss of his tongue, his weapon, was a greater setback.

“Ki…Kiki! No-Not bad at all! Would you consider serving under me, Lord Shentu?”

“Huh?”

Shentu attacked in anger after his pride was wounded, but the harsh counterattack he received brought him back to his senses. He was not the type of Yokai who relied on physical abilities in combat in the first place. So he realized the folly of engaging in a brawl with Sei who was a warrior.

Fearing that he might truly be defeated if things continued like this, Shentu began to entice Sei while covering his mouth. From Sei’s perspective, this was an incomprehensible act, but it was so unexpected that he found himself listening to his opponent’s words. Seeing this, Shentu let out a sly and unpleasant grin.

“Fool! ‘Freeze’!”

“Ugh?!”

Upon hearing Shentu’s command, Sei twitched and then became immobilized. Controlling others with words was Shentu’s special skill.

Shentu belonged to the Zhu Yan race, a Yokai from Chinese mythology who was known to be a harbinger of war. Perhaps due to this legend, the Zhu Yan race possessed the skill called [Incitement].

This skill which could agitate NPCs and make them aggressive would be difficult for ordinary players to find a use for. However, Shentu, being an NPC himself, had mastered its use effectively. He would incite conflicts among other Yokai and then attack the weakened parties before reaping the benefits like a fisherman.

However, a turning point arrived for him who had been engaging in such sly tricks. The catalyst was an item contained within the drawstring bag he wore around his neck.

“Kikikikiki! Thanks to this seed, everything started to go smoothly!”

Shentu caressed the drawstring bag tenderly with a blissful look on his face. Inside was a special item known as the “Peach of Immortality Seed”. This seed came from a plant that only grows atop treacherous mountains in flower country, known for its ability to accumulate magic power.

It could be used like an external battery, where using the stored magic power within the seed could enhance the power of martial techniques and magic spells. Additionally, it had the ability to amplify the effects of skills activated by magic power. This was important.

Originally, Shentu was just an ordinary Yokai living deep in the mountains on the frontier of the Flower country. However, after acquiring the rare “Peach of Immortality Seed” his skill of [Incitement] was enhanced to the point where he could even brainwash others.

The “Peach of Immortality” and the seed were considered legendary treasures among the Yokai dwelling in Flower country. Even though Shentu had obtained such a powerful item, he was aware of his own lack of strength. Fearing attacks from those coveting the seed’s power, he ventured to the “Heavenly Spirit Island” where no one knew about the seed.

From then on, he cleverly ingratiated himself with a horde of baboons whose appearance resembled his own and became a member of their group. He eventually brainwashed the entire horde and ascended to the position of their effective ruler. He even schemed to extend his control over the entire island, leading up to the present situation.

“Tch, I’ve used up the power of the seed… Such an annoying nuisance!”

“……”

Shentu punched Sei, who was motionless like a stone statue, over and over again with his unbroken arm. Since his movements are blocked by brainwashing, Sei wasn’t even allowed to speak let alone resist. He was utterly at Shentu’s mercy.

“Phew… This has unexpectedly taken up too much time… I need to hurry.”

After having his fill of beating Sei, Shentu began to ponder his next moves. The invasion of their territory by not only the Yokai at the foot of the mountain but also Onis and Yengu was something he didn’t expect.

However, Shentu thought again that this might actually be a good opportunity. If a significant force had ventured out, then their stronghold, the “Heavenly Spirit City” would be left vulnerable. Perhaps the forces led by the Barbarian Baboon King could easily win then.

The ones left in their territory might be annihilated, but if a strong fortress could be easily captured in exchange, the overall gain would be positive. This was the conclusion drawn by Shentu who regarded the baboons merely as pawns.

“Kikik… Kikikikiki! Luck seems to be on Lord Shentu’s side after all! Maybe I should even pray to the goddess today!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“?!”

Shentu had been basking in the illusion that fate was on his side and that he would be turning even accidents to his advantage. However, he was abruptly brought back to reality when a heavy blow struck the top of his head from behind. As he fell from a thick branch, his world turned upside down and in his distorted view, he saw Sei wielding a golden cudgel swung down.

“I was saved by you, Tess.”

Sei said so as he gently stroked the head of Tess who was perched on his shoulder. The undoing of his brainwashing was thanks to Tess, his familiar. The fairy had evolved from a Phantom Pure Fairy into a Phantom Element. What saved him was the new power it gained through this evolution.

The Phantom Element was a subrace of the Light Element and although it might have less attack power, it possessed a unique racial skill known as [Manipulation]. This skill allowed Tess to create illusions, such as mirages, or dispel them. It could do something similar to Isam’s [Witchcraf] and could even cancel it.

It was this power of [Manipulation] that had successfully freed Sei from his brainwashed state. The process had taken some time because the [Incitement] skill had been strengthened by the “Peach of Immortality Seed”.

Shentu, who had not even been aware of Tess’s presence, let alone its powers, received the most damaging blow to his head that he had ever experienced, rendering him stunned. Unlike before, he couldn’t instinctively grab onto a branch with his hands or tail and was left to fall under the merciless force of gravity.

“Perfect timing, Phil! Finish him!”

“Wooooooooooo!!!”

Just before Shentu was about to crash into the ground, Phil finally caught up. This delay was because while Sei and Shentu were jumping through the trees, Phil was navigating through areas that required detours when traveling by land.

Like Tess, Phil had also undergone evolution. He had evolved from an Ice Edge Wolf to an Ice Edge Brave Wolf. With this evolution, his howls now had the added effect of strengthening allies and granting resistance to fear-induced status ailments. This was likely influenced by his numerous encounters with fear-inducing enemies in the “Black Death Ice Forest”.

Empowered by his own roar, Phil lunged forward with his horns which were now enveloped in a layer of ice. Shentu who was now suspended in the air and stunned had no chance to escape. A charge comparable to Roja’s struck him directly in the abdomen and Phil’s sharp horns pierced through.

Phil’s charge didn’t stop there; he only came to a halt after embedding his horns into a nearby large tree, causing it to sway violently and creak ominously. This was proof of the tremendous power of his charge.

“Gobo… ob… ey…”

Even though he was impaled by Phil’s horns and trapped between his head and the large tree, Shentu was stubbornly clinging to life. As he began to recover from the stun, he immediately attempted to brainwash Phil.

However, he bore serious wounds that brought him to the brink of death and his breaths were faint and laborious, making even the act of voicing commands a tremendous effort. Yet, strangely, his mind was exceptionally clear. In his desperate situation, he found himself questioning his circumstances.

He couldn’t fathom why he who was supposedly favored by fate was subjected to such a plight. It was a mystery that deeply troubled him. However, at the same time, he was filled with an unfounded confidence that being favored by fate, he could find a way out of this predicament if only he could seize an opportunity.

“This is the end! Wheel Crushing Strike!”

But Sei showed no mercy to the barely mobile Shentu and ended it by unleashing a powerful martial technique. With a movement resembling the rotation of a wheel, he continuously struck down his enemy, effectively erasing what little health Shentu had left.

And with that, Shentu disappeared while still clutching onto his questions and baseless confidence. The mastermind behind the turmoil on the Heavenly Spirit Island was thus swiftly defeated.