Chapter 60: A Silver Flash

Squandering even a second could prove fatal. I need to make the first strike!

"Liraz…" whispers Crow.

Almost instantaneously, a very faint layer of purple iris manifests around the two men in a dome shape.

Within her realm, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. I hold the advantage. The only issue is that I haven't fully mastered its' control, and I can only keep this realm up for a short window of time, especially if I activate my other abilities. But that doesn't matter. All I need is one second…

Dropping his current daggers to the ground, Crow says, "Dikai."

Instantly, Crow’s old pair of daggers disintegrate as he feels a sharp burst of iris channel into his hands, conjuring a fresh set of twin daggers. The chains kinkle around Crow’s ankles as he begins circling Armaros, trying to figure out what to do as Armaros’s eyes closely follow him. Cloning himself while he walked until there were twelve of him, Crow continued circling until he made sure Armaros had lost sight of the original version of him.

However, just as he’s about to make his move, a mirror suddenly appears behind Armaros. Clenching his right hand into a fist, he lashes his arm back and strikes the mirror's center, causing it to shatter. Shattered glass shards fly everywhere as he mutters something under his breath.

Within his 'Liraz Realm', Crow can manipulate people's senses. For example, Armaros can’t hear the dozens of footsteps encircling him. On Crow’s end, though, everything Armaros does that creates sound has been amplified. This ability isn't restricted to these specific traits either. Depending on what Crow needs, he’s capable of adjusting a person's five senses very straightforwardly, similar to raising or lowering the television volume with a remote.

This unique advantage is how Crow fully knows what's coming next as Armaros says, “Rift flow…”

Vanishing again, specks of silver residue glittered from where Armaros had just disappeared. Hearing the same words as before, Crow recalls what happened the last time Armaros used this ability, and he knows he only has a split second to do one of two things. Brace or evade.

And this time, he chooses to evade.

Crow and his eleven clones rapidly hurled one of their daggers straight into the sky, attempting to latch onto a tree branch. After Crow’s dagger is firmly implanted into the underside of a tree trunk, he tugs on the chain before his body is pulled straight up.

As he’s being hoisted to the tree, Crow hears a rapidly fast collection of sounds comparable to flesh being carved open. Looking down, Crow sees not one, not two, but all eleven of his clones taken out with streaks of silver quickly dissipating from the scenery, and his eyes widen.

It's taken years to grasp that technique, and he saw through it instantly. He knew I was the original all along… my clones have their weaknesses, sure, but physically… they are still probably just as durable as Ace is right now. With the training I've put myself through, not even the most skilled fighters can do what he just did. Not only did he instantly determine which of the twelve bodies was real, but he cut down all eleven clones in less than a second. And on top of everything, the thing that bothers me the most is how concealed and… restrained his bloodlust is. I can only sense its haunting, merciless ferocity at the split second he strikes. His training to become such an efficient and ruthless assassin must've been hellish.

Even with those thoughts, Crow smirks in the face of danger.

It's been a while since I've also been challenged to such an extent. And it seems conventional methods won't do the trick. It's time to get creative…

Slinging his other arm up, Crow throws his other dagger into another tree nearby. He starts swinging from tree to tree, letting his momentum work for him, using the daggers to maintain his speed. Once he grew comfortable with the rhythm, Crow glanced over his shoulder and noticed a streak of silver weaving through the jungle of trees and bushes below.

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Snickering, Crow picks up the pace.

Giving up my realm advantage was a gamble, but it's the right call so far. It seems Armaros can't use that rift ability of his to attack me directly now. I'm guessing he can only use it when he and his opponent are on solid ground, so I shouldn't have to worry about it as long as I stay in the air.

His other ability is the far more concerning one, though. That mirror. I only saw it activated, but when combined with his rift flow, he instantly took out all of my clones. Eleven targets... taken down in less than a second. And he purposely decided to leave me alone, saving me for last.

Creating more clones would be futile and, more notably, a waste. For now, I'll keep my distance, changing direction randomly so he can't pick up on any patterns with my movement. If he wraps around to the front and cuts me off, I may be forced into a standstill like before, and that'll once again put me at a disadvantage.

Which means I need some extra sets of eyes. Thankfully, I sent a signal to them earlier. My three crows should be here by now, in fact…

Tapping into his robotic eye, Crow feels it stir about as it transforms from acting as a normal human eye to a four-pieced lens in a diamond-like paneled format. With this eye, Crow can see through the eyes of all of his crows at once, as well as what he would normally see.

The top lens is reserved for his own vision, while the left, bottom, and right lenses belong to each individual crow. And by the looks of it, they are all three already here.

Keep sight of him.

Following that mental order from Crow, his crows lock on Armaros, tracking him when they can. A silver blur starts flashing between the various panels, giving Crow the critical intel he needs about Armaros's whereabouts as he focuses on navigating safely through the forest.

I'm well aware that he is not only at a disadvantage ability-wise but also environmentally. I know the area, but he doesn't, so he has no idea where I'm leading him.

A few seconds later, a large clearing appeared between the trees. A trimly cut grass field with rocks and scattered boulders of all shapes and sizes.

I prepared this area for his training, but currently, this takes priority.

A large red message showed up on the right panel as the screen went dark, an automated voice reading, “Crow number three, nicknamed 3C… disconnected.”

What?! What happened?! 1C, go locate 3C! Now! 2C, keep your eyes on Armaros!

After sending that hasty order, Crow knew it wouldn't be long until his follower reached the clearing. Deciding to take the gamble and stop following Armaros as closely with his eye, Crow instead tries to figure out how 3C went offline.

There!

On the left panel, Crow notices that 1C has located 3C. A glass shard in the shape of a small spear has pierced right through its body, leaving his crow motionless and ineffective, helplessly vibrating every so often.

Damn it… it was probably that mirror ability of his. He must be able to use those glass shards he breaks off as projectiles and weapons for close combat. That's the only viable explanation for how all eleven of my clones were taken out so quickly. But when did he attack my crow? I never saw him drastically change course or even notice any of my crows, for that matter. He's just been following me this entire time… I've barely even stayed a step ahead–

“Crow number two, nicknamed 2C… disconnected.”

Gnashing his teeth, Crow looks back to see that familiar silver blur still on his tail.

Shit! That was his plan all along. He knew about the crows! This kid is a monster; he could simultaneously keep up with four separate targets in such an intense and critical situation! But what doesn't make any sense is, where were 3C and 2C attacked from? Or, more importantly, how were they attacked?!

1C. Grab 2C and 3C and take them both back to the hideout for repair. I'll handle the rest myself-

Just after Crow sent that message, a silver flash teleported onto the tree before him. His feet were seemingly glued to the tree's trunk as he stood horizontally; Armaros defied the laws of gravity as he carefully adjusted his stance, his calves flexing as he channeled energy into the lower half of his body. Trying to determine when he spoke, Crow didn't even have time to make out which part of Armaros’s silhouette was his face before Armaros burst right at him, his arms crossed over his chest, each hand throttling a razor-sharp glass blade.

Even with my analytical skills and the combat experience I've gained from fighting countless battles, I've once again been forced into a position I have a rather polarizing mindset about. To give up what may be my advantage may lead me to a premature death. But opting for what may give me the upper hand could grant me life tomorrow.

Fighting with raw instinct means relinquishing all aspects of reasonability. It's in this barbaric, simplistic mindset where you are no longer shackled by the human consciousness... where you can truly brawl like a wild animal, gambling everything as if each fight may be your last.

With that last thought, Crow’s mind goes blank.