Chapter 1168: The Treatment of a Blade
However, she had no talent in fist techniques, which was why she switched to the path of curses.
Chinese martial arts are also known as qigong techniques.
They are extremely skilled at using "qi," an ability similar to a biological force field, to execute various moves beyond ordinary comprehension. When trained to a high level, one can not only split the ground with bare hands but even emit qigong waves from their palms!
It's utterly unbelievable!
"What are the Four Fist Immortals?"
Eiji scratched his head.
Like a complete newbie who knew nothing.
"You don't know the Four Fist Immortals? It seems you're just a half-baked amateur who started late."
Rudolf breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Even he would feel immense pressure facing an enemy of the Four Fist Immortals' caliber.
"In that case, there's no need to hold back!"
Rudolf took rapid, deep breaths, temporarily alleviating the pain in his chest.
"Astarte, go all out!"
"Accept, Rododaktylos (Fingertips of the Rose)."
Blood vessels bulged in Astarte's eyes.
"Ugh!"
She groaned in pain.
Then, immense magical power spread out from her as the center.
A giant rainbow arm reappeared from her back shoulder.
Not only that, but another rainbow arm emerged from her other shoulder.
At the same time, a white light enveloped the girl's body, faintly revealing the silhouette of a giant figure!
"She clearly looks like an artificial life form, yet you actually keep a familiar inside her!"
Sayaka glared furiously at Rudolf.
Among all demon clans, it is a recognized theorem that only vampires can keep familiars within their bodies.
This is because familiars absorb their master's life force, feeding on it.
The rate of absorption is so high that even long-lived species can't endure it; only vampires, with their infinite negative life force, can afford it!
For other creatures, forcibly keeping a familiar inside their body would make them understand true despair from the rapid depletion of life force!
Astarte's perfectly symmetrical features, emotionless demeanor, and blue hair all symbolized her identity as an artificial life form.
Due to ethical and moral issues, the creation of such life forms had long been explicitly banned by major international forces. Yet Rudolf not only created Astarte but also kept a familiar inside her!
Artificial life forms already have short lifespans; keeping a familiar inside would mean this girl wouldn't live more than two weeks!
"What's there to be so surprised about?"
Rudolf met her angry gaze directly and laughed heartily.
"Isn't the Lion King Organization the same? Gathering orphans from across the country, teaching them curses and combat skills—all to use you as weapons, right?"
In essence, they are the same.
Rudolf sneered as he declared this.
Sayaka was left speechless.
He was right.
The Lion King Organization is a special operations organization under the Japanese government, directly taking orders from the National Public Safety Commission. Essentially, they are government agents—a blade in the government's hand, striking wherever pointed!
"You're talking nonsense, and it stinks to high heaven!"
A merciless taunt came through.
Both Rudolf and Sayaka paused and turned to look at Eiji.
"Don't twist logic to such an extent! Even if the methods are the same, the outcomes are inevitably different!"
Eiji looked at him as if he were a fool, his tone dripping with contempt.
"Since the Lion King Organization is a national institution, it at least fulfills its duty to protect the country and its people. You created an artificial life form and raised familiars within her—tell me, what have you protected?"
In essence, the Lion King Organization was merely a tool.
Having risen to such heights, Eiji had long understood this.
Of course, he had grievances against the Lion King Organization, but as a victim, what he despised most were those who wielded that tool.
Moreover.
Now that the Lion King Organization was already under my control, it wouldn't do to criticize my own possession, would I?
"At least the Lion King Organization maintains its blades properly. What have you done? Destroy your own tools?"
The blue-haired girl paused slightly at his words.
A flicker of contemplation appeared in her clear eyes.
Sayori, meanwhile, stared at Eiji in utter astonishment.
This guy... could actually say something like that?
"You sharp-tongued brat! Astarte, attack! Tear him apart!"
Rudolf's face darkened.
Just from the comparison of how they treated their tools, he was undeniably at a disadvantage.
"Ughhh—!"
Under his command, Astarte's eyes flickered.
Still, she did not resist her master's orders. The Rainbow Giant swung its arms like a windmill, crashing down toward Eiji!
Having fully manifested, the Rainbow Giant's power had increased exponentially, far surpassing its strength when it had only one arm.
"Swish!"
A flash of brilliant sword light sliced through the air.
A spatial barrier materialized before Eiji, like a chasm between dimensions. The giant's fists couldn't even budge it an inch.
"Leave this one to me!"
Sayori stood beside Eiji.
"I'll leave that Jie-Jiao-Shi to you!"
Before the words faded, she leaped forward, charging toward the Rainbow Giant with far greater agility than the colossal being.
The blade capable of severing space forced Astarte to retreat, avoiding its sharp edge.
"She's already recovered... No, could it be she used a curse on herself?"
Rudolf was stunned.
He knew full well how devastating his strike had been. For Sayori to even stand again was astonishing—had she not lost all combat capability?
"Does your tool possess such willpower?"
Eiji took a step forward, closing the distance as if shrinking the earth, and appeared right in front of Rudolf.
He sneered mockingly.
"Tch!"
Rudolf's expression soured.
Unlike Astarte, Sayori, though a tool, possessed her own will.
Even gravely injured and nearly incapacitated, she could use curses to force her body to stand. That sheer determination alone was something his tool could never match!
"Bam!"
A fist, hard as steel, shattered the air before it.
Rudolf dared not take the blow head-on. He hastily raised his axe to block.
"Boom!"
The fist collided with the axe, ringing out like a tolling bell.
"Argh!"
An immense force transmitted through the axe handle.
Rudolf cried out in pain. The halberd flew from his grasp, his palms split open, and blood spilled from his mouth.
He couldn't even withstand a single punch?
Rudolf stared in disbelief.
Could it be that this kid hadn't been going all out before?
Could his strength actually rival that of the Four Fist Immortals!
Eiji assumed his fighting stance.
His body taut like a bowstring, his waist arched like a great bow, as if gathering every ounce of strength in his body into a single strike.
"Boom!"
A sharp, thunderous explosion erupted.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
Rudolf stared in disbelief at the chest armor that shattered like glass, his body collapsing stiffly and heavily, like a mountain toppling, straight to the ground.