CH 45

Chapter 45: Danger Closing In

Kratos: (Oh, this is bad…..)

Kratos was originally planning to end this with a single sweep of his sword.

[Don’t get so cocky!]

[You still have a long way to go before you reach the top!]

[Work harder!]

His plans to shove those words down Yuto’s throat by showing him the enormous difference in strength was quickly evaporating!

Kratos: (Dang it! I had some really cool lines prepared too!)

Kratos hurriedly uses his Specialty Skill - the [Thousand Blades].

His Specialty will create a blade in the air, and it can attack his target from all angles.

It’s true that he could technically produce 1000 blades at once, but he has yet to try that in actual battle.

1,000 blades appearing like that on the battle field would honestly just get in his way.

But it was this [Thousand Blades] that pushed Kratos all the way up to A-Rank.

And that Skill was...

Kratos: (ーーWHAT?!)

...dodged by Yuto.

Kratos has never revealed his Skill to Yuto before.

It was Yuto’s first time to experience and see this attack.

Kratos: (A C-Rank dodged my Skill at first glance?!?!)

The [Thousand Blades] attacked Yuto from behind.

It was not at an angle that Yuto could have saw coming.

Kratos did not imagine for a second that Yuto would actually dodge this attack.

Kratos: (What is up with this kid…..?!)

As they fought, Kratos recalled the incident that happened the other day.

A girl who was a Healer was abandoned by her party and was trapped in an Instant Dungeon.

And Yuto jumped into that Instant Dungeon to rescue her.

He jumped into a higher-rank Dungeon and brilliantly came back alive.

From this, Kratos assumed that Yuto was no ordinary Adventurer.

But he never imagined this……..

Kratos: (.....this guy….his movements are too awkward….)

Kratos is certain that his overall Status is higher than Yuto’s.

But Yuto would be at least in the mid-tier or upper-tier of C-Ranks.

But the Status he earned from defeating Dungeon Monsters was not meshing well with Yuto’s body.

It was like looking at a Low-Level Adventurer who was wielding a legendary weapon - something way above his class.

He was obviously being pulled this way and that by his weapon and strength and was not in full control of himself.

But as Kratos continued his attacks, Yuto’s disparate strengths began to come together - the awkward movements began to fade and smooth into one motion.

Now, he was dodging Kratos’ attacks with smooth fluidity!!

Kratos: (THIS IS BAD!!)

Continuing this fight any further would mean that his chances of an overwhelming A-Rank victory would disappear.

Kratos put his brain into high-gear to try and finish this fight right now.

Kratos: “Let’s end it here.”

Even though Kratos had no confidence in his plan, he still voiced it with full confidence.

Of course, all of this is an act, a complete bluff ーー but a bluff that Kratos has pulled off time and time again.

Before his opponent can prepare for an attack…

Kratos increased his [Thousand Blades] by 20.

Even Yuto could not help but flinch and freeze at the realization.

Luckily, at the attack of the blades, Yuto closes his eyes.

Seizing the opportunity, Kratos erases his [Thousand Blades] and places his sword before Yuto’s face.

From there, Kratos could not recall what he said to Yuto.

Part of the reason was because Yuto was completely unique compared to any other Adventurer he came across thus far.

As a veteran and Yuto’s superior, he tried to think of some advice for him, but he was not confident in anything that came to mind.

But…….Kratos just remembers saying something that may have sounded okay, but he kept it more vague than usual.

Kratos: (That was close...I think I said the first thing that came to mind, so I’m glad he agreed……)

He kept his expression strictly under control, but deep down, Kratos was relieved.

He was certain that Yuto would continue to grow stronger.

This, he knew for sure.

But how far Yuto would go was beyond Kratos.

Kratos: “It might be guys like that, that actually reach S-Rank…..”

It was when Kratos was mumbling to himself…

“So you were just here the whole time...”

A female Adventurer who would make all faces turn towards her as she smiled walked towards Kratos.

Seeing her, all the hair on Kratos stood on its end.

Kratos: (CRAP!!)

This Adventurer was Tia. She is part of Kratos’ party, the [Crimson Flame of Destruction] “Rift Flower.”

Tia: “You said we were going to an Insta-A so we’ve been waiting for you this entire time. So what were you doing…..?”

Her absolute zero tone of voice caused Kratos’ smile to strain.

To Kratos, it was similar to a Dragon appearing out of nowhere before him.

Kratos has known Tia for quite a while now.

And because of that, she knows Kratos’ physical limitations as if it was an exact science.

ーーto be precise, she knew exactly how many of her spells it would take before Kratos would die. To Kratos’ misfortune, she discovered this secret.

[Kratos, because you wasted my time, I think my Spellcasting senses dulled quite a bit.”

[Here, I know. You can take responsibility by helping me with my Spellcasting practice.]

[Don’t worry. Even if you get injured, I can Heal you right away.]

These were Tia's favorite phrases in these kinds of situations.

Being unable to escape, Kratos had to yet again put his brain into high-gear to find a way to save his own life.