Yatari City(3)

The bandit vision bearer was cleaving his way through the ranks of the shogun army, like a rock in the midst of an onrushing river. He sent slashes of strike fused with anemo at the approaching shogunate soldiers that had surrounded him, dispatching them with ease.

Jason frowned as he approached the bandit from behind. While the enemy represented a huge mora bounty, he should probably still be careful. It was the first time he was facing a vision bearer.

When he was paces away from dealing a blow, the bandit turned around at the last second to meet him. Their blades clashed against each other as Jason's strike was blocked, thrusting him violently backwards. The impact sent his fingers tingling.

(I guess that's vision bearers for you, their strength and reaction are a different level from the grunts)

"Interesting…" Upon steadying his stance, he charged at the bandit again; this time; he made use of total concentration at a maximal level, boosting his speed to the quickest he could. The bandit failed to block his attack, and Jason thrusted his blade right towards the stomach.

"!!?"

His attack had clearly connected; but his blade wasn't sinking in. The bandit let out a scream of pain and sent a slash right at Jason. Ducking the blow; he could feel it just barely scraping against his left shoulder.

The reaction of the bandit told him that his attack clearly did damage. But it was not lethal enough. Was that what Uchikoshi meant by how vision bearers have stronger physiques than others?

It seemed that weapons would be an important perfect factor when fighting against vision bearers. Would sun breathing techniques would work with other types of weapon here in Teyvat? He would have to ask Hajime later whether he was able to enhance his nichirin blade with refinement ores.

"Die!" The bandit shouted and lashed out at him once more, forcing Jason to duck again.

"I didn't really want to use sun-breathing here … but I guess I have no choice." He took a deep breath and looked on at the bandit who was sending another slash at him.

He reasoned that since the vision hunt decree was only against vision holders. It should be fine. It would be a bit tricky to explain when asked; but since there were also vision holders in the shogunate army like General Sara, there should be room for exceptions if they were subservient to the shogunate army. At least that was what he hoped.

Jason lifted his blade in front of him, the tip pointed right at the onrushing bandit.

"Sun Breathing: Sunflower Thurst."

His blade became coated in a layer of flames, and then he dashed at the bandit with blinding speed. Jason brought his blade plunging right across the vision bearer's waist, and the enemy's body was instantly incinerated to ashes upon contact, leaving only a crystal ball lying in the midst of it.

"One-hundred thousand mora, in the bag!" Jason picked up his loot, and sent the grey crystal ball - proof of his kill; into his magic pouch with a flick.

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Screams and yells echoed across the battlefield, interspersed with steel clashing as the fight between the shogunate army and bandits continued. Right in the middle, the most important confrontation between the two leaders of the respective armies was taking place. The people near them had long distanced themselves far away from the fight; afraid of being caught up in the aftermath.

"Atone for your crimes! Bandit scum." Sara nocked another arrow, loosing it away at the bandit leader.

"Gahaha, how bout you take off a few pieces of those overly tight clothes? I might consider your request if you do so." Taheiji dived onto the floor in a roll, evading the pulsating arrow that exploded a few paces from him.

The lecherous gaze that the bandit had worn since the start of battle reviled Sara to no end. No one in the Kujou Clan or Shogunate Army had ever dared to speak such unclean words to her before, nor look at her with such perverted eyes.

She nocked another arrow once again, infusing it with electro energy before she fired it at the sky right above where the bandit stood.

"Perish beneath the lightning's fury … Purgatory Thunder."

The arrow exploded right above where Taheiji stood, and a shower of countless small lightning bolts emerged from the smoke; striking the area beneath it. The ground quaked as the explosions from the attack lasted for several seconds before it died down.

"Hmph, you are finished." Sara lowered her bow and scanned the mist that was parting, looking for signs of the dead bandit leader.

"Oh, am I?"

The familiar voice that sounded beside her sent a chill down her spine. Sara froze for a moment, before her instincts kicked in and she sent a punch at the direction of sound. However it didn't hit Taheiji and there was the sound of glass shattering; followed by a strange yellow mist that enveloped her.

Sara stepped away at once from the pungent air that had obstructed her vision, scanning her surroundings. When she found the bandit leader, he was already standing a distance away.

At this moment, she felt her legs growing wobbly and her body heating up.

"You … You. What did you do?"

Taheiji let out a burst of loud laughter.

"So the effects of Valrodine are finally showing." The bandit now walked over to her, his face wearing an evil grin. "I wonder how long you can last against it? Hehe."

Sara's eyes widened. It was the small bottle that Taheiji threw right at her earlier! When it shattered, the strange smell that she inhaled must have caused it. That vile bandit actually used such an underhanded method.

"D-disgusting."

She tried to fight against the stirring sensations, and her thighs pressed helplessly together as she crumpled to the ground on her knees. The scent potion, Valrodine, was a product of the Theocracy of Veshaynia - a nation in a faraway continent. It was used by their clergy in "purification ceremonies". Valrodine had a potent effect in paralyzing females only; and stirring their 'unclean' desires in order to 'purge' them.

When their merchants brought the product over to Inazuma along with their proselyting priests, it caused no end of trouble for the girls in Inazuma. The Raiden Shogun had since forbidden any contact with the Theocracy and outlawed all their merchandise five years ago.

"Don't worry, I'm an extremely gentle person. I will be sure … to treat you well."

The bandit leader was now just a few paces from her. Sara had summoned every ounce of willpower she could, but her body wasn't listening. Her breaths were becoming more ragged by the minute, and her body was crying out for relief. The effects were too strong, and all she could do now was to keep her hands away from touching the tender spot between her legs; it would be too undignified.

"Even if I must die … I will not sully the name of the great Narukami Ogosho." Sara bit down on her lips. She could already imagine the heinous fate that awaited her if she was captured by the bandits. Not only would it disgrace the name of the Kujou Clan, but most importantly that of the Raiden Shogun.

She had failed the Almighty Ruler of Inazuma and been unable to realize her dream of eternity for the nation.

Sara closed her eyes. Just as she was about to summon her own katana to send a final strike through herself. There was a sound of steel clashing against steel; and she looked to see a person standing right in front of her.

(1289 Words)