Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 663 - 637: Just this?

Chapter 663: Chapter 637: Just this?

Fujiwara Kaname is very respectful of traditions, so Gao Yi follows the rules with him.

But this new guy is clueless and pretends in front of Gao Yi, so Gao Yi might as well let him pretend to his death.

If you’re arrogant, I must be more arrogant than you. This is Gao Yi’s principle.

I just hope the next people from Ben will have some manners. If they’re all old-school people like Fujiwara Kaname, it would be great. Just don’t be idiots crossing their arms in front of Gao Yi.

There’s no sense of accomplishment in fighting idiots, not at all the experience of a duel.

Just then, a very steady voice sounded from outside the door, followed by a familiar translator speaking up.

"This guy was born in the United States and grew up in the United States. He’s not a real Martial Artist and doesn’t understand our martial etiquette."

Accompanied by the translator’s stammering speech, the two of them walked into the lobby of the Compaq Building one after the other.

An average-height middle-aged man in his fifties appeared. He looked a bit skinny and well-groomed with a circle of beard that added some dignity to his thin and dry figure, without looking odd.

"Yakura Mikado reporting."

The short middle-aged man in front slightly bowed his head to Gao Yi, bowing respectfully. Although he was older, he displayed the humility of someone in a lower position in front of the young Gao Yi.

Gao Yi was not accustomed to bowing. He slightly bent his body, clasped his fists in salute, and said, "Gao Busi, pleased to meet the senior."

When others respect me a foot, I return a yard of respect. Although the outcome is still death, the necessary etiquette and process are followed meticulously by Gao Yi.

Yakura Mikado looked at Fujiwara Kaname lying on the ground and sighed, saying, "Mr. Fujiwara Kaname was a senior swordsman in our country. Before me, he was one of the few practitioners capable of real combat, having appeared on television numerous times and taught many people genuine swordsmanship. In times where swordsmanship in our country dwindled, he was among the rare true Martial Artists capable of passing on real swordsmanship to the public. Although I have never met Mr. Fujiwara, I learned his techniques on TV, so Mr. Fujiwara is like a half-teacher to me."

Having said that, Yakura Mikado bowed to Gao Yi and said solemnly, "A true samurai should not lie on the ground like some kind of weakling. Please allow me to arrange Mr. Fujiwara’s remains, I beg of you."

Yakura Mikado spoke quickly, and the translator followed quickly. Although he started stammering, seeing Gao Yi wasn’t in a hurry to make a move allowed him to fully demonstrate his high-level translation skills.

Not only was the translation accurate, but the tone was imitated remarkably well.

Ben is indeed a country rich in voice actors. This translator could work as a voice actor, not just an interpreter.

Gao Yi hardly thought about it, and immediately said, "Please, go ahead."

The translator conveyed Gao Yi’s meaning, and Yakura Mikado bowed again to Gao Yi and then walked over to Fujiwara Kaname’s corpse.

After turning over the body, seeing the collapsed chest cavity, Yakura Mikado was momentarily stunned.

Whether the manner of death looked good or not was secondary. The main concern was that Fujiwara Kaname’s death seemed as if he had been hit by a car, which was somewhat shocking.

Yakura Mikado wiped the blood off Fujiwara Kaname’s face with his sleeve, then arranged the still flexible corpse, setting the hands and feet in place. He then picked up the fallen katana, looking at a notch on the blade, he paused once more.

Yakura Mikado sheathed the katana and placed both swords beside Fujiwara Kaname’s corpse.

The sword had a notch, and a large one at that, which was the result of clashing with something hard.

Yakura Mikado organized the corpse, deduced Fujiwara Kaname’s cause of death, and realized Gao Yi used a weapon to block Fujiwara Kaname’s sword.

This was important, but Gao Yi didn’t care.

A true master doesn’t overlook details; he just has the confidence to defeat any enemy, regardless of their preparation.

Yakura Mikado bowed to Fujiwara Kaname’s corpse, whispered a few words, and then turned to look at Gao Yi.

Earlier, Yakura Mikado was very polite, but now his gaze towards Gao Yi was as sharp as two blades.

The feeling of murderous intent was strong, but no matter how sharp his eyes were, they couldn’t pierce through Gao Yi.

"Shindo Ni-Shin-Ryu, Yakura Mikado, with the famous swords Ghostly Sword and Masamune..."

While speaking, Yakura Mikado slowly drew a short katana from his waist, handed it to his left hand, and then gripped the remaining long katana with his right hand. He swiftly unsheathed it with a sharp sound and said sternly, "Famous Sword Flowing Light Cutter, eager to learn your high moves!"

Introducing his weapons before the duel meeting fulfilled the ceremonial feeling to the maximum.

Gao Yi didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his hammer, earnestly saying, "I didn’t bring my warhammer. This was purchased from a tool shop, a hammer."

After speaking, Gao Yi added, "I don’t mean to insult you, but it’s the truth. I just didn’t bring my own warhammer; otherwise, I would have certainly named it. Also, I want to ask, does your Ni-Shin-Ryu mean using two swords?"

Yakura Mikado replied in a low voice, "Yes!"

Gao Yi nodded and said, "That’s a sound strategy. Two swords would usually counter me quite well, but it’s useless."

Yakura Mikado said in a deep voice, "Please, make your move!"

Seeing Yakura Mikado holding the sword in his left hand below and the sword in his right hand above, it seemed indeed that his short-handled hammer couldn’t strike a feasible pose. Gao Yi was unsure of how to make a move.

After hesitating for a moment, Gao Yi nodded and said, "You go first, you make the move."

Yakura Mikado took a breath, then suddenly took a step like an arrow. The long katana in his right hand swung horizontally, while the short katana in his left hand abruptly lifted, stabbing straight at Gao Yi’s thigh.

The speed of the blade was astonishingly fast and accurate.

For the first time in his life, Gao Yi saw such a fast blade; it was indeed faster than Fujiwara Kaname’s sword, faster by just a fraction.

But in the kendo system of Ben, that fraction of speed was a gap akin to an insurmountable chasm, making Yakura Mikado indeed more formidable than Fujiwara Kaname.

Yet, that was all there was to it.

Whether it was the Judge’s Pen, Emei Needle, Eight-cuts Saber, Mandarin Duck Hooks, Mandarin Duck Hooks, Dual Swords, Dual Knives, or Dual Guns, when encountering any kind of short weapons dual-wielded, Gao Yi would be a bit cautious of his opponent.

An inch shorter, an inch more dangerous. Those who could handle dual weapons well were all masters, indeed posing a challenge to a boxer like Gao Yi.

But Yakura Mikado’s dual-wield knives definitely did not belong to this category.

This? This simple dual weapon move, the most basic of basics, so simple it could be countered with closed eyes, dares to call itself Ni-Shin-Ryu?

Isn’t it just the meaning of multitasking? But this doesn’t deserve to be called Ni-Shin-Ryu, calling it "Two Knives" seems more fitting.

Because Yakura Mikado’s dual knives were not meant to give Gao Yi any leeway, but it also meant he had no retreat.

Yet, it was hard to say, because Gao Yi felt that Yakura Mikado’s striking blades, which seemed powerful and skillful, might be a feint meant to tempt him into a trap.

So Gao Yi was indeed bluffed. He became cautious, not striking with lethal force initially, but swung his warhammer down with his right hand, deflecting the short blade stabbing toward him, ducked his head to avoid the long blade slashing at his neck, and punched with his left hand, keeping seventy percent of his strength, thus accepting Yakura Mikado’s first move halfway defensively.

The characteristic of Hsing Yi Boxing is neither blocking nor parrying, just a single decisive strike.

Using Hsing Yi Boxing with a defensive mindset means failing to display its full power, so Gao Yi used Eight Trigram Wandering Palm’s footwork combined with the intent of Chinese Shadow Boxing, aiming for stability.

After Yakura Mikado’s horizontal sweeping slash missed, there was unexpectedly no following recovery move; instead, his entire body seemed unable to stop its momentum, his upper body twisted slightly, and to strike again, he had to retreat, unload the force, and adjust his posture before he could strike again.

In Kung Fu terms, it meant that Yakura Mikado’s exertion was outdated, and his body was stiff.

An enormous gap, so big it was hard to believe.

Gao Yi felt like he was facing a wall.

A wall neither moves nor fights back, so Gao Yi felt like he was facing a wall.

A bang resounded, though how it was produced was unclear, but it was definitely the sound of a fist breaking through the air.

The first in raw power, cannon hammer.

Even when Gao Yi hit a sandbag, he may not have such a good posture for exerting force.

Using the cannon hammer was purely a natural bodily reaction; Gao Yi didn’t think it through because he didn’t have the time to think it through.

A huge opening, a movable wall in front of him, muscle memory drove Gao Yi to throw this punch without time to consider if it was a feint trap.

The transition from Chinese Shadow Boxing to Hsing Yi Boxing was smooth, and Hsing Yi Boxing was the technique Gao Yi was most familiar with. Seeing an opening, he immediately delivered the most powerful punch.

When the familiar sensation came from his fist, Gao Yi realized that this punch had simply connected.

This?

This, this, this, this?

Yakura Mikado’s attack was indeed fast, fierce, and cunning, otherwise, it wouldn’t have forced Gao Yi to hit with all his might.

But then Yakura Mikado took a cannon hammer hit, and regrettably, he died before he could even comprehend the feeling.

A punch that reduced Yakura Mikado’s internal organs to instant debris, a true instant death.

Gao Yi also didn’t have the time to feel anything or have any thoughts, because everything happened too quickly.

Just as Gao Yi retracted his fist, he noticed in the corner of his eye the translator shifting sideways, reaching for something with their right hand, while simultaneously hearing the echo of Sith’s shout in his ear.

"Watch out..."

Followed by Lucy’s gunshot.

Fortunately, even though Gao Yi unleashed the cannon hammer, famed for its raw power, his body did not become momentarily stiff like Yakura Mikado’s.

His upper body twisted unbelievably, as if his spine might snap, bending backward, and executed a standard but extremely swift Iron Bridge maneuver in the confines of extreme combat.

Even as he leaned back, Gao Yi threw his hammer towards the translator.

Turns out this unimposing-looking translator was the true assassin all along.