Chapter 57

As the dolls attack, Hisashi swerves to dodge every single one. Compared to the three attackers before, now, there are ten. Among them, three use projectile weapons while the rest uses a variety of close to middle-range weapons like polearms.

However, compared to before, they seem to be weaker… or worse in skills. They seemed more like controlled dolls now compared to before. He has a theory that it has to do with the number. They are easier to dodge compared to the near-flawless combination before but they have higher numbers which requires him to move more.

"Old man, don't expect me to be merciful just because Aime's your daughter," Hisashi said to the old man as he kicks one of the doll's head.

The next second, a second severed head came flying away. Hisashi dodges all the projectiles as he flashes behind the spearman and slashes him across the shoulder with the wakizashi. He continues for a few more but then, a sword attacks him from behind.

"You want to challenge my stamina? Unfortunately for you old man, I don't have that leisure." Hisashi said so as his eyes emit a white glow and lightning. His mana was also white which covers the body of all the dolls. As if an invisible thread was floating, the white mana was connected to the old man's hand which then turned into lightning.

"ARGH!" The old man said as he felt the shock in his hands, shaking it. Blown away, he then recovers and tries to control any of the dolls but was surprised. His connections with them were severed as he heard a thud.

The bowman on the three was also affected as it fell down. However, it didn't stay down as he then saw it stand up and aim his bow at himself. Before it can shoot him, he raises his sword and uses it to parry the incoming arrow. Then, activating his Qi, he moves quickly away from his position.

When he turned around, his eyes grew wide as he saw his dolls moving by themselves even when the connection was severed. He looks at Hisashi who now sheathed his wakizashi and moving his left-hand fingers.

"Impossible! How can you control my dolls?! How are you doing this? Not only can you use different sorcery types but also mine? How?!"

"How can you even control ten with only five fingers?" The old man became hysterical. He once again took his scroll and summons five more. His mana allows him to summon many but he needs to reserve some to heal them. However, seconds after he summon them, he once again felt the shock in his hand as the doll turned on him again.

"You took my daughter from me! Now, you're taking what I have left too?! My sorcery! My dolls! My life! If only you didn't come into her life!" The old man said as he takes his sword and charge at Hisashi.

On his way, Hisashi uses some of the dolls to hinder him but surprisingly, the old man was very skilled with the sword. It even made Hisashi wonder why he uses his dolls or why he didn't try to use them in conjunction with his skills.

Seeing the difference in strength between the old man and the dolls, Hisashi releases his mana. This causes the dolls to be disassembled into many different parts. He also wanted to give back the same energy to the old man and learn from him what happened to Aime.

The iron sword and wooden sword clashed intensely. In terms of pure sword skill, the old man was just as much as skilled as the younger teen. Even with the edge in practical experience, Hisashi wasn't losing. On the contrary, his face was as relaxed as before. The old man can't see this though given his hat.

A few dozen minutes later, Hisashi finally saw the old man start to huff. Just when he charge to attack one more time, Hisashi move quickly and swung his sword. This hits the old man's arm causing him to let go of the sword and tend to his broken hand.

"What happened to Aime? Tell me now and I'll spare you." He said as he walks to the old man.

"Spare me? Who do you think you are? Do you think that I will yield to you? I WILL BE YOUR DEMISE! YOU FRIVOLOUS FUCKING KID!" The old man's anger hasn't dissipated. He takes out his scroll as mana covers his body.

[Doll Sorcery: Gongjunim Inhyeong Gisa] (The Princess' Doll Knight)

Suddenly, all the dead dolls move towards him and it starts to change shape to cover his body. Meanwhile, Hisashi simply watches as he observes the change in mana and ki.

Soon, the old man was covered in doll armor and a sword. His mana is swelling and his ki was as malicious to him as earlier.

Hisashi just sighs as he threw something meters away from him, stabs the ground with his wooden sword and the earth covers his sword. He then watches as the old man runs to him at a much faster speed than before.

"ARE YOU GIVING UP NOW?" The old man screams as he saw Hisashi standing there. When he thought that he was finally able to avenge his daughter, he felt his body stopped moving. He then saw his body covered by thick green plants as they hold him down in place.

He easily tears it apart with his now stronger strength in mere seconds but when he looks to where his target is, he's now gone. Suddenly, a heavyweight hits him from above and before he can even register anything, he starts to lose consciousness. The last thing he saw was Hisashi putting his wooden sword back into his waist.

Seeing the old man finally lose consciousness, Hisashi just sighs. Although the old man was his enemy, at the same time too, he wasn't. The old man came for revenge and tried to kill him. It was Hisashi's intention to kill him when the dolls first attack him. But he starts to remember Jaime's words.

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"Killing your enemy… I have defeated quite many perverts before but I have never tried to kill someone. What I'm about to say may anger you, but why don't you try to learn to spare some?"

Hisashi looks at her with bloodshot eyes in reply.

"The last time that I failed to kill someone who tried to harm me and someone important to me, he ended up coming back and take someone important away from me."

Jeimi just looks at him sadly, before patting him on the back.

"I know. But such a path in life… it's lonely. Your friends can always become your enemies and your enemies can be your friends. Living such a lonely life is suffering in its greatest form."

"I don't care if I suffer. I don't care if I'm alone. I have something that I need to do, and I won't stop until that happens. For that, I can't show any hesitation, nor any mercy to those that oppose me!" Hisashi said as his ki swells up.

"I understand. But mercy isn't just a gift to someone else, but to yourself too. Here's what I want you to do. It's up to you if you want to follow it."

"What is it?"

"Whenever you are about to kill someone, think of why you have to kill them once again. And reevaluate if they really are your enemy."