MV – Chapter 154: Darkness and the Minor Villain

The presence around them suddenly intensified, a mixture of fierce hostility and murderous intent. Even without seeing anything, the ominous sensation against his skin made him grimace.

“So, declining the headhunting offer gets me killed? Isn’t that a bit extreme? Shouldn’t this be one of those situations where they just rough me up a bit and leave it at that?” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach was appalled by Harkein’s methods. Yet, these aggressive strategies are often what successful corporations employ, though they tend to fall quickly as well.

“Come on, Haze! Sword Saint’s Garb, come to me! …Still nothing.” (Lanpeach)

The minor villain futilely attempted to open his Dimension Pouch with a wave of his hand, moving in a comical little dance. If he were a little girl, a gentleman might comfort him and offer candy, but since he is a minor villain, the surrounding bloodlust only drew closer. This is what you call the Minor Villain’s Law of Death.

[Soldier, now’s not the time for joking around!] (Libra)

[I get it. This feels seriously dangerous. Okay, I’ll unlock Physical Combat Level 10!] (Lanpeach)

With no weapon at hand, Lanpeach resolved to fight using physical techniques, mentally focusing on acquiring the ultimate martial arts skill, but…

Silence.

The swift responsiveness he was used to was nowhere to be found.

[H-Huh? Don’t tell me the connection to the Space Library has been cut off too!] (Lanpeach)

[Ababa, this is serious. We’re completely isolated! If this keeps up, I’ll be sealed in this space, and Soldier will end up as an unnoticed corpse!] (Libra)

He knew the Dimension Pouch was unusable, but realizing that even the all-powerful Space Library’s connection had been severed made him turn pale. Libra began her own version of a frantic dance. Looks like she has no helpful advice.

Seeing the frantic girl’s reaction, Lanpeach managed to regain a bit of calm instead.

(Guess the whole ‘interdimensional rift’ talk wasn’t just bluff. Seriously? We need to escape this place quickly or this will get bad. Ababa, this is terrible. Libra won’t die here, but I will!) (Lanpeach)

Perhaps he wasn’t entirely calm after all.

He prepared to face the approaching menace with a bitter scowl.

Even though there should be no vision at all in this complete darkness, the enemy moved as though they could see, advancing with a speed that ignored obstacles. The movement suggested they could see him.

“Die, Shukou Arata! For my sake and no one else’s!”

[Thunder God Sword]

A familiar voice rang out as a man brandished a sword that emitted a blinding light, aiming to slice Lanpeach in an instant.

“Classic line, yet makes no sense.” (Lanpeach)

[Psychic Body]

Lanpeach enhanced his body without panicking, using psychic energy. The supernatural force surged through him, amplifying his body beyond human limits. 

He instantly adjusted to his strengthened form, and effortlessly lifted the sword edge advancing from below, deflecting the lightning-like strike into the air. He took a large step forward with a calm expression, and closed the distance.

The man’s stance was broken after his sword was deflected, and Lanpeach struck his solar plexus with an elbow. The man tried to brace himself, but Lanpeach’s left leg shot out like a spear, driving into his solar plexus again, causing the man to double over. He quickly followed up by snapping his leg up in an arc, landing a blow to the man’s chin.

“Guh!”

The man’s final scream became a death wail as his head was shattered by Lanpeach’s strike, and he fell lifeless to the ground.

Seeing the dead man, Lanpeach murmured without a hint of guilt.

“Sorry, but I have no intention of holding back. So, this guy’s… Toko?” (Lanpeach)

He spoke of the fallen man still illuminated by the glow from the lightning-infused sword, his face turning doubtful at how the man he defeated was Toko.

“Did he follow me here through teleportation…? Doesn’t seem likely.” (Lanpeach)

The moment he took a half-step back, another sword flashed past him from the darkness. A well coordinated attack indeed. It would make it hard to defend against a strike from the darkness once his eyes get used to the light.

Under normal circumstances, at least.

“Tch, take this!”

[Thunder God Sword]

“Try taking my well-trained sword!”

[Double Lightning Slash]

Two men, both using the same technique as the previous Toko, attacked. Once again, Toko. However, although they shared the same face, one had a rough demeanor while the other seemed serious. Even their sword movements reflected their personalities: one wild, the other calm and refined.

“What’s with all these Tokos? Are they clones?” (Lanpeach)

[Psychic Blade]

Lanpeach swung both arms to match the Thunder God Sword’s strikes, and blocked them. Parrying both swords with his hands, he retaliated with wide arm swings to keep them at bay.

“Hah? He stopped my Thunder God Sword with his hand!”

“It’s an arm-weaponizing buff, but even so, it’s amazing he can withstand a Thunder God Sword with it.” 

Seeing their swords blocked, the two Tokos grimaced and increased their strength. Lanpeach, however, kept his cool, allowing the two to push against him until they reached their limit before casually stepping back.

The two stumbled forward, losing their balance from the sudden retreat. Lanpeach lightly kicked off the ground and slipped past them.

“Ah.”

“Wha…?”

They scrambled to regain their stance, but a gleaming arc split their bodies neatly.

The Thunder God Sword thrust into the ground by the slain Tokos illuminated the area, creating three glowing ‘grave markers’.

Lanpeach watched this, a single bead of cold sweat rolling down his temple as he sighed deeply.

“Oioioioioioioio. Just how many of these guys are there? Thousands?” (Lanpeach)

[Hyeee! What is this?] (Libra)

Lanpeach and Libra recoiled, staring at the sea of Tokos covering the ground before them. Each identical face left them baffled as to why there were so many here.

[Leave it to me, Soldier! My eighth sense will reveal all their secrets and display everything about their origins in text! This kind of trick is poofity poof in front of me, the cutest in the world!] (Libra)

Libra boldly announced a new term. Looks like she wants this poofity poof to be acknowledged.

[Analyze!] (Libra)

She struck a V sign by her eyes and used her skill confidently, only to immediately tilt her head in confusion.

[Oh no, Soldier! My skill isn’t working!] (Libra)

[That’s because it’s tied to the Space Library, which we’re disconnected from!] (Lanpeach)

[Oh no! That means my worth has dropped by about 10%!] (Libra)

Libra twirled the hem of her shrine maiden outfit, looking crestfallen… But she has remarkable resilience by saying it only lowered 10%.

[Kuh, I’ve never seen or heard of a trap like this before.] (Libra)

[Isn’t this in the Space Library knowledge base?] (Lanpeach)

[Geez! Do you really think I’d read that? The sea of knowledge I wander around in is the light novel and manga section. Mira would probably know!] (Libra)

Her cute indignant pout was endearing, but it seems she really gave up on being a support character.

[Uhihihi, cut cut cut cut.]

[I’ll kill you here.]

[Cut down evil for the sake of justice!]

[It’s okay to kill him, right?]

[Thunder God Sword]

The sight of the Tokos’ numerous Thunder God Swords glowed like concert lights, illuminating their sheer numbers.

[Mumumu, based on my manga and novel knowledge, those are clones. This must be a clone factory or something.] (Libra)

Lanpeach felt a bit of kinship with Libra’s absurd deduction but shook his head in denial.

[No, that wouldn’t make sense for clones. Look! Even though they all have the same face, some are covered in mud, others are scarred. Some have mohawks or spiky shoulder pads, and there’s even one that’s a woman. Isn’t that weird for clones?] (Lanpeach)

It was as if they’d gathered people with different attires and personalities with the same face but walked different paths in life. Calling them clones felt wrong.

[Mumumu, true. Then, what do we do? It would be weird for them to be shadow clones too. Do you have a countermeasure?] (Libra)

Libra rubbed her cheek against his shoulder with concern, but Lanpeach showed no threat and smiled as if having fun.

[There’s only one option: cut them all down. Whether they’re clones or a bunch of lookalikes, that doesn’t matter. We’ll get our answers after we defeat every single one. Let’s go, partner!] (Lanpeach)

[You got it, Soldier!] (Libra)

[Divine Spirit Fusion]

Their hands clasped, releasing a silver flash that surged forward, pushing away the pitch-black darkness and lighting up the surroundings.

The body of the two overlapped and combined into a single warrior.

“Now then… This version of me is a bit on the wild side, you know?” (Lanpeach)

Silver hair cascading down his back, a mysterious aura surrounding him. The man exuded an intimidating presence that seemed to weigh on his surroundings. 

The Tokos recoiled in fear, their faces twisted as they stared.

However, they were intimidated for only a few seconds. The Tokos poured magic into their swords, their faces fierce as they attacked in unison.

[Thunder God Sword]

[Lightning Waterfall]

[Lightning Forging Technique]

They weren’t just advancing on the ground. They launched themselves into the air, and surged forward like a tsunami of stones, with thousands of Tokos pressing in.

“I don’t know how your trick works, but think you can handle me? Spirit Gauntlets, manifest!” (Lanpeach)

Spirit powder swirled around his arms and transformed into gauntlets, and Lanpeach raised his hands in a knife hand stance.

“The Spirit Gauntlets are fused with my arms. That’s why I can summon them, and…” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach lowered his stance with countless lightning-clad Toko soldiers closing in, raised his hand, and swung it lightly, his smile unshaken.

[Dance of the Spirit Sword]

Lanpeach disappeared in an instant, leaving silver flashes streaking through the air. The shimmering slashes wove through the space like a net and…sliced through all of the thousands of Tokos.

Only Lanpeach remained standing in the hellish scene where blood mist filled the air and chunks of flesh covered the ground.

“I was going to say you’re no match… Are you kidding me?” (Lanpeach)

But another wave of thousands of Tokos appeared from within the darkness, and he shrugged in mild exasperation.

It seemed they wouldn’t let him win so easily. Quite the hassle, indeed.

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