Cao Cao kicked my right hand as he parried the left hand with a sweep of his spear! Once again, Dragon Shot flew off to nowhere! Bastard! Neutralising my attacks with the least possible movement! Clang! Just as I was getting annoyed, there was something at my abdomen-- Lowering my gaze, I found Cao Cao's spear firmly embedded there--
"Gurgle..."
Large amounts of fresh blood was rushing up from my abdomen and spewing out of my mouth. ...I, I lost!
" -- You're not weak, but your style of rushing in directly has too many openings." Sizzle. Cao Cao slowly withdrew his spear from my abdomen. --In that instant, my abdomen, no, my entire body, was engulfed by the intense pain. With the wound as the centre, my entire body began emitting smoke. ...I-It really hurts... W-What was this... a feeling identical to holy swords... The smoking wound was also the same...! O-Of course, it's the holy spear... So the pain and effects are...
--Damn it, my consciousness is growing faint--
"Ise-san!" Smack. The green aura surrounded my entire body. The pain in the abdomen gradually subsided. ...It must have been Asia who sent me the recovery aura. Just at the right moment. Just now, I really was about to lose consciousness. However, the wound was still open. And smoking a bit. No way, it looks as if it is about to expand again! Was it because the healing provided from a distance was not strong enough? Asia's distance healing was very effective but still inferior compared to her direct touch... Still, long range healing was already very powerful, but the holy spear's damage seems to have exceeded it. I took out the Phoenix Tears from my shirt pocket, and scattered them over the wound on my abdomen... The wound finally closed. Wow, as expected of Phoenix Tears. "Did you know you almost died just now? Pierced by the holy spear, you were almost erased. Death is surprisingly simple, no?" Cao Cao laughed lightly. ...You said I almost died just now? Really. Yes, it was a critical wound right in the belly, but I've had had similar in the past, and I could still move. I was even thinking of sending a punch to your face as a counter. -- Almost erased? Was it referring to devils disappearing without trace from holy attacks? ...I was in that state just now? ...Smoking all over my body, my existence was about to disappear? Realizing that, I had reason to shudder. ...T-That was really dangerous. If I died just like that, I couldn't face Buchou and Asia ever again! Cao Cao tapped his shoulder with his spear. Is, is that this guy's habit? Whatever, that's not important anymore. "Remember this well. That was the holy spear just now. No matter how powerful you become, you can never overcome this attack. -- Because you are a devil. Even if it's Vali, as long as he remains part devil, the holy spear's damage is absolute." Lesson learned. Better stay away from that spear... Next, what should be done? Cao Cao saw my response, and was taken aback. "...Ah, you didn't get scared. I was thinking it would be fun to see you cowering in fear..."
"Ah? Of course I'm afraid! But I won't be scared off. I won't be able to face everyone if I don't give you a punch to the face. Being the Sekiryuutei is not easy!" "Ah hahahaha!" Cao Cao suddenly laughed out loud... What is this guy. His facial expressions have been changing rapidly. "How nice, this. I can sort of understand why Vali likes you so much now. Interesting. Vali, you've finally found a good opponent." Using his fingers to wipe away the tears from his laughter, Cao Cao opened the front of the spear, creating a blade of light!
" --Come." Crackle. The pressure from Cao Cao intensified. Looks like he is full of spirit? This is getting more and more scary. I extend my right hand, preparing to fire off the strongest Dragon Shot! [ BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!! ] Boom! I fired a massive blast at Cao Cao! "If this hits my body, it could get dangerous." Cao Cao prepared to parry the attack with his spear--but I already anticipated it. At the instant of firing, I activated the back boosters and jumped! Aiming at the moment Cao Cao parried the Dragon Shot attack, I sent him a punch from the side! Cao Cao raised his spear high, and with a giant swing, split the massive Dragon Shot in half! Like cutting a watermelon! What the hell do I care about that! Let me punch him with my right fist while he is swinging his spear down! [ BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!! ] Punching Cao Cao with my boosted fist! "I feel the power of your hidden potential!" Cao Cao happily declared and swiftly turned his spear to parry my arm. -- Now! The right fist was actually a feint! The right fist stopped in front of Cao Cao! His parry missed. I pushed forward my left fist! At the same time transferring power to Ascalon in the gauntlet! [ BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!! ] [ Transfer!! ] I made Ascalon's blade appear from the gauntlet -- then I jumped backwards immediately! At the same time as I jumped, I emitted a pulse of aura from Ascalon! Bang! As Ascalon's aura flew towards Cao Cao, it seemed to have exceeded his expectations, he made no effort to evade! Slice! With a rough noise, Cao Cao's left arm was flying in the air. Ascalon's attack has severed his arm! Success! Feint after feint, and then the real attack within another feint! The training with Kiba finally came to fruition. I declared victory in my heart. Yes, no matter how powerful the spear, nor numerous my own weaknesses, that guy also has his own weakness. --The frail body of a human. In terms of durability of the body, I had the clear advantage as a devil and dragon. Though Cao Cao and the Heroes Faction are much tougher than ordinary humans, they are surely more vulnerable than Vali and Loki. As expected. --I can win, if not, then I can still put up a fight. Cao Cao stabbed his spear into the ground and caught the falling left arm with his right. Expressionless, he held the left arm with his right armpit and took out something from his pocket. As I wondered, my gaze focused on a familiar looking bottle! --That's...
Cao Cao opened the lid to the bottle, and poured the liquid over the wound, and connected his left arm to the spot. Smoke rose from the wound on the left arm -- then everything was restored as if nothing had happened! That bottle... No mistake about it! ...Phoenix Tears! "W-Why do you have something like that!" I questioned, and Cao Cao laughed. "Black market. As long we keep certain channels open, all it takes is money. I'm sure the Phoenix family definitely does not want these to fall in our hands." ...How could this happen. As an important recovery tool for the devils, the tears were already extremely precious, but to have them fall into the hands of terrorists...! Countless victims suffering painfully from your attacks could have been saved, if only they had the tears!