Chapter 256: New research material
Gyokko’s face twisted in rage, the mouths on his face baring jagged teeth. "How dare you insult my creations! I’ll turn you into one of my masterpieces!"
I smirked, stepping back slightly. "Oh, I’d love to see you try. But you know what? I think I’ll sit this one out. Let’s see how my companion handles things." I cast a glance at Shinobu, signaling with a small nod. "Your stage, Shinobu."
She didn’t respond to me directly, her focus entirely on Gyokko. Her movements were precise and deliberate as she unsheathed her blade. The thin, delicate design of her sword almost made it seem ornamental, but I knew better.
This would be the perfect opportunity to observe her combat style. I wanted to see how she handled herself against a foe like Gyokko, one of the Twelve Kizuki. But more than that, I had plans for Gyokko—I wasn’t going to kill him. He would be sent to Demiurge’s farm for study. For now, though, I was content to watch.
Gyokko made the first move, his grotesque form lunging forward with surprising speed. His vase-like lower half dragged against the ground as his infant hands extended toward Shinobu like serpents. Each hand grasped and swiped, aiming to trap or wound her.
Shinobu reacted with a dancer’s grace, sidestepping his attacks and weaving between the writhing appendages. Her movements were fluid, almost mesmerizing, as though she were performing a choreographed routine. With a swift leap, she closed the distance, her blade flashing as she aimed for Gyokko’s torso.
Her strikes were fast and precise, aimed at vital points, though they lacked the brute force of a heavier blade. Gyokko hissed, his grotesque mouths snapping as her blade sliced into his midsection, but it became clear that her strikes weren’t as effective as she’d hoped. His flesh was resilient, his body regenerating almost immediately.
"You think that little toy can harm me?" Gyokko taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. He reared back, summoning more of his grotesque sculptures—twisted, humanoid forms that began crawling toward her. "You’ll have to do better than that!"
Shinobu didn’t falter. She pivoted gracefully, darting around the monstrous figures as though she were gliding. Her fighting style was unlike anything I’d seen before—less about brute force and more about precision and evasion. She moved in and out of Gyokko’s reach, striking at opportune moments, each slash of her blade deliberate and controlled.