The Battle Against Zen'in (3)

third person pov

After killing Jinichi and Satoshi Zen'in, Ryoma kept killing off the unfortunate Zen'in clansmen who encountered him, strengthening himself at the same time.

Now, with blood all over his face and torn robes, Ryoma Kurogane finally arrived before the main headquarters of the Zen'in Clan.

"Naobito Zen'in, I have exterminated both the Kukuru and the Akashi units. I have killed many of your clan members. You are all that is left. Come out and face me." said Ryoma with a loud voice.

After a few seconds, the main doors of the building opened.

Out came a younger-looking Naobito Zen'in. He wore a dark green robe and had his hair tied in a ponytail.

Naobito looked at Ryoma with an expressionless face.

"So my brothers were that incompetent, huh. Dying to a 9-year-old brat like you. Truly pitiful." he muttered.

"Haha, it sounded like you plan on surviving this encounter with me for a second there, old man." replied Ryoma, a smirk appearing on his face.

"..."

"You know, I can't even be mad at you, Ryoma Kurogane. I might even say that this, what I'm experiencing right here, is divine retribution. For it is I that murdered your family." said Naobito, looking Ryoma in the eye.

"..."

"Your father, Ryoichi, kept messing up our plans against the Gojo Clan. He and his clan had to die."

"..."

Both stood in silence for a moment.

"Stop talking about the past, Naobito Zen'in. You should focus on not dying rather than thinking about some useless bullshit that won't help you in a battle." said Ryoma, breaking the silence.

Naobito blinked in astonishment, then laughed.

"Haha, you're right, Ryoma Kurogane! If only you were born in Zen'in Clan! You would have become the Clan Leader after me!"

And with that, both took up their fighting stances.

Naobito was the first to make a move.

He activated Projection Sorcery, moving very fast in an unpredictable manner. Ryoma couldn't even react, thus getting touched by Naobito.

Within a few miliseconds of getting touched by Naobito, Ryoma suddenly froze. He couldn't move.

As soon as Ryoma got stunned, Naobito appeared before him and landed a powerful punch strengthened with cursed energy right in the solar plexus area of the child.

"Gah! I can't breathe!" thought Ryoma.

Naobito didn't let him off, appearing before him again and landing a kick on the already falling boy's shoulder.

Crack!

"He broke my shoulder even though I have increased durability and vitality from all the lifespan I stole. I might have underestimated him." thought Ryoma.

As Ryoma got up from the ground, he used RCT to heal his broken shoulder.

"Is that all you got, brat? I expected more with all the words that came out of your mou-"

Slam!

Without letting Naobito finish his sentence, Ryoma caught him off guard by using Jinichi Zen'in's innate technique and summoned twelve missile fists that slammed on Naobito's back and skull. This way the same strategy he had used against Satoshi Zen'in. Even Naobito couldn't react in time.

Using the moment, Ryoma strengthened his already strong body with cursed energy and instantly charged towards the falling body of Naobito Zen'in. He lightly touched the man with his hand and instantly backed off in order to analyze what he stole.

Seeing that Naobito aged about 20 years after he got touched by Ryoma, it was clear that he stole Naobito's lifespan.

"Heh, look at you, now you really are an old man, huh." said Ryoma with an amused expression.

"..."

"Interesting. Ryoma Kurogane, you already stole my brother's innate technique. Now you steal Jinichi's CT? Haha! Are you that much of a fan of our Clan?" exclaimed Naobito, who had already stood up and had a bloody face after the fall. He examined his aged body with dissatisfaction in his eyes.

Ryoma, before pondering for a second, decided to use his newly developed flame arrows that he could conjure by using Blazing Courage.

When he saw Naobito dash towards him with Projection Sorcery, he jumped away as far as he could and exclaimed:

"Inferno Barrage!"

Countless arrows made out of flame rained down on Naobito, expending Ryoma's cursed energy.

But just before the first arrow pierced him, Naobito activated Falling Blossom Emotion, blocking them all.

"Should have known better." thought Ryoma. "Might as well learn from him while I can."

"I guess I'll have to burn myself for short bursts of incredible strength when he activates his CT."

Just then, Naobito activated Projection Sorcery again and dashed towards Ryoma.

Instantly reacting to the threat, Ryoma strengthened his body with cursed energy and activated Blazing Courage and RCT at the same time, achieving an incredible level of strength.

He dodged almost every attempt of Naobito, but just as the 1 second of Projection Sorcery was about to end, Naobito managed to touch Ryoma on the back of his neck, stunning him for another second.

Without wasting any time, Naobito again appeared before Ryoma and this time kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby tree.

Ryoma quickly deactivated Blazing Courage and RCT and dashed away to safety to try and regain his breath. He would try the same strategy again. He believed that it would work.

-

As the two sorcerers of peak Grade 1 strength fought and exchanged blows with each other, a child with white hair and bright blue eyes watched everything that happened from the house that stood in front of where the battle took place.

"This guy might actually exterminate the entirety of the Zen'in Clan." he thought with a slightly shocked expression on his face.

"I wonder, could he beat me thought?"

...

ch7 end.

A/N: short chap again because I already uploaded one today. If you have any suggestions leave them in the comments, they can be really helpful. ty