341 Rescue Operation-03
With another tap on the ground, the two cylinders flew parallel to each other, rushing towards another group of samurai. These samurai were not like the easily subdued soldiers from before; they possessed sharp instincts. They attempted to dodge and parry, rolling out of the way, but the cylinders suddenly changed their angle, spinning in tandem and cutting through all the samurai in their path.
Seeing this, the shogun quickly channeled his power to control the weather, intensifying the rain.
Sizz... Sizz... Sizz... Sizz... Sizz... Sizz...
The sizzling sound of water evaporating resonated as the rain touched the thin line of heated invisible laser. This time, the thickness of the rainfall made it possible to see a thin line connecting the two cylinders.
"Is that... a laser? But... Why can't we see it? It has enough power to even cut people, why?" One of the shogun's men uttered after witnessing such a scene.
An interesting fact about lasers is that some operate at wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, such as infrared or ultraviolet light. While these lasers can still cut or burn objects, they are invisible because they emit light outside the range detectable by the human eye.
Atlanteus had crafted this weapon for himself as a trump card against adversaries, as it could only operate within a certain range around him.
"Now that you see it, you can avoid it. The old man only has this little toy!" The shogun said, attempting to reignite the morale of his troops.
"Capture him! Anyone who succeeds will receive a noble title and a rich reward from me!" The shogun roared, commanding everyone to attack the old man.
Hearing this, numerous soldiers and warriors rushed towards Atlanteus, eager to capture him and claim their rewards.
Atlanteus didn't say anything. He tapped his cane on the ground twice, and the laser cylinders quickly spun around him in a clockwise motion, changing angles constantly and cutting through all the samurais and warriors who tried to capture him.
The courtyard fell into a deathly silence; the remaining samurais and warriors didn't dare to move. Only the sound of rain and the sizzling of evaporated water could be heard within the courtyard.
They had all witnessed firsthand the severe consequences of attempting to capture the old man.
"Be aware, you damn brats. Even if you see it, it doesn't mean you have the ability or skill to avoid it," Atlanteus warned the surrounding warriors and soldiers.
Now, the shogun began weighing his options. Should he use Koyuki's life as leverage to make the old man listen to him? Or should he follow the old man's wish to trade Koyuki's safety for his own? But if he chose the latter, the blame he would receive for the wrong decision would be severe. Even though he could quell it, the long-lasting resentment would still affect his rule.
Suddenly, a feeling of dread and instinctual danger warned her, prompting a swift retreat from the door leading to the final level. A clean cut separated the railing leading to the downstairs, the wooden rail dropping to the floor.
Transforming back from mist into her human form, Maria crouched on the ground, examining the lock of hair cut by the blade. It should have been an impossible feat, as no ordinary weapon could touch her in mist form—unless it was specifically built to harm the immaterial.
The source of the cut burned with malice. Maria rose, her gaze locking onto a figure emerging from the shadows – a man in his mid-twenties, clad in a suit that seemed out of place in the castle's depths. His eyes, a mix of amusement and surprise, held the glint of a predator, and the sword resting on his shoulder spoke less of samurai discipline and more of a gangster's swagger.
A flicker of recognition crossed Maria's face. This was no ordinary guard; this was Kazuto Genzai, a rising star in the Japanese underworld, notorious for his bloodlust and hedonism. Her gaze then shifted to the katana in his hand, its polished surface humming with an unsettling darkness, the accumulated suffering of countless souls who had fallen victim to its edge.
"That katana," Maria's voice held a dangerous edge, "is no ordinary weapon. Where did you acquire it?" She unsheathed her dagger, her eyes narrowed as she assessed the threat before her.
The man, seemingly unfazed, offered a nonchalant shrug. "Oh, this? Found it in some forgotten shrine." His gaze flickered briefly towards Maria, but his dismissive tone betrayed his feigned disinterest.
In a heartbeat, Maria was upon him, her vampiric speed a blur as she launched into an attack.
Clank!
Steel erupted in a deafening clang as blades met in the dim hallway. The man, seemingly anticipating her move, parried with effortless grace, using only one hand. He spun, surprise briefly flickering in his eyes before dissolving into a confident smirk.
"Rough move, dollface," he drawled, his voice smooth as oiled silk. "Sneak attacks ain't cha." He launched his counteroffensive, his blade a blur of deadly intent.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
Steel shrieked in a desperate tango as their blades clashed, the discordant rhythm echoing through the oppressive silence of the hallway. Each blow, unpredictable and vicious, landed where Maria least anticipated, forcing her into a frantic dance of defense. Minutes bled into what felt like an eternity, every clang ringing in her ears like a death knell.
Slash!
Then, a searing kiss of pain. His blade found its mark, slicing through the soft Atlantean steel armor as if it were mere silk. Her dagger clattered away, a hollow echo in the vastness of her own despair. With a gasp, she stumbled back, blood blossoming across her pale skin like a macabre rose.
Panic clawed at her throat. The familiar warmth of her healing of her vampiric nature, a constant companion for centuries, remained stubbornly absent. A chilling wave of weakness washed over her, stripping away her supernatural edge and dragging her back to the suffocating reality of mortality – a sensation long relegated to the dusty corners of her memory.