Chương 5: Aren't I a bit too OP?
Following Sou's string of breakthroughs, he once again began to progress quite slowly. This was in part due to the next skill he had to learn from Sasaki Kojiro: Knowledge of the Sowa. Knowledge of the Sowa was incredibly useful, allowing the user to prevent the reduction of accuracy no matter how many times the same technique had been used on one foe. Basically, it becomes impossible to see through any of the user's attacks, as if the enemy were seeing it for the first time again.
However, this is exactly what made it so hard to learn. As this was explained by Sasaki to be more of an 'innate feeling' rather than something that you were able to train for, he inferred that the best way to learn something like this was for someone to experience it themselves. Meaning that Sou had to get his ass beat once again. Thankfully, however, this would also help Sou work towards gaining Mind's Eye, help him learn swordsmanship, and help him progress his Haki. And so, they fought.
At the edge of a clearing, stood Sou, an absurdly long katana in his hands. Standing directly across from him, was Sasaki Kojiro, holding only a short, wooden stick. Now, fun fact about Sou: when he gets into a battle, his personality undergoes a complete change from his normal cheerful self. After all, it's rather hard to stay happy in a battle. So understandably, he was rather pissed off at this.
"Oi. You bastard, are you underestimating me?" Sou asked. His knuckles had turned white from gripping his katana so tightly.
"No. It's just that if I were to use any sort of other weapons, you would die." Sasaki held no ill intent behind his words, but his naturally mocking tone and the fact that he was right pissed Sou off incredibly. While Vitrification allowed him to remain calm and logical, it did not suppress his emotions, rather, it made him able to make the most logical decision in spite of his emotions, as well as to easily suppress them whenever he wanted. However, at this moment, Sou reveled in the emotions he felt and used his anger as fuel to motivate him in battle.
Deciding to make the first move, Sou immediately rushed in to attack Sasaki. Immediately arriving in front of Sasaki, he slashed down with incredible force. Of course, Sasaki easily dodged it. However, that wasn't Sou's aim. His attack hit the ground, blowing up a large cloud of dust, allowing Sou to hide. He immediately used Presence Concealment. As he knew that Sasaki would predict that most people would immediately attack from behind, he jumped up, attacking from an odd diagonal angle, aiming straight for Sasaki's head.
However, due to Sasaki's Mind's Eye, he was able to strike back at Sou, sending a quick slash straight at his head. Due to the limited mobility granted from his jump, Sou had no choice but to block the stick with his sword. However, even after blocking, he still felt the incredible force of Sasaki's strike, blowing him back, causing him to stumble.
Sasaki capitalized on his error, sending rapid attacks towards his head. Thanks to Sou's Observation Haki, he was able to dodge or block each one, but no matter how many times he blocked it, it never got easier. 'What the fuck? Is this Knowledge of the Sowa? No matter how many times I'm attacked by the same strike, it always feels like an entirely new move. My mind says he is obviously going for my head. My Observation Haki says it's obviously going for my head. Then why the FUCK won't my body acknowledge that? Damn it!'
At this thought, Sou gave jumped back, giving himself time to recuperate from their exchange. 'What the hell is this? Is this the power of a Servant? Not only is he barely trying, but he's also using a wooden sword and I'm still getting destroyed," Sou thought once again.
As Sou panted from exertion, Sasaki gave a serene smile, before speaking. "You're good for a beginner. Sadly, it seems we'll have to end this lesson here."
At his words, Sou gave a confused look, replying, "What the fuck are you talking abou-" Before he was able to finish his sentence, however, he was cut off by Sasaki slamming the wooden stick over his head and knocking him out.
And so, Sou had to go another six months of being beaten day and night, both Sasaki and Rayleigh taking turns at beating his ass. However, this also resulted in incredible gains for Sou. First of all, he was able to gain Knowledge of the Sowa. Obviously, he was given a notification for this.
[Host has acquired skill of Assassin Sasaki Kojiro: Knowledge of the Sowa]
[Knowledge of the Sowa (D) has been acquired]
[Host can surpass Sasaki Kojiro and rank up Knowledge of the Sowa by further training]
However, while this was incredibly useful, Sou's biggest breakthrough came after this, in the midst of battle.
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Once again, Sou stood at the edge of a clearing, katana in hand, facing directly across from Sasaki Kojiro. This time, however, Sasaki was the first to attack. He sent a flurry of attacks using his wooden stick straight for Sou's head. If he were to use a katana, each of these attacks would have been potentially lethal.
However, by now he was gaining a sense of danger independent of Observation Haki, granting him the ability to sense and react to Sasaki's attacks faster. As he was continually blocking and weaving between Sasaki's attacks, he heard a System notification.
As Sasaki had Mind's Eye (Fake), meaning he was born with it, and the method Sou was using to acquire Mind's Eye, training, would usually result in Mind's Eye (True), Sou was curious as to which version he would acquire. However, his questions were answered once he looked at the multiple System notifications popping up in his vision.
[Host has acquired skill of Assassin Sasaki Kojiro: Mind's Eye (Fake)]
[Host has acquired Personal Skill: Mind's Eye (True)]
[Mind's Eye (Fake) and Mind's Eye (True) have resonated]
[Host has acquired Extra Skill: Complete Mind's Eye (C)]
[It is possible to rank up Complete Mind's Eye by training or increasing proficiency]
However, Sou's notifications didn't end there.
[Through Host's hard work, Observation Haki (D) has evolved into Observation Haki (C)]
[Observation Haki (C) and Complete Mind's Eye (C) are resonating with the presence of Heroic Spirit Sasaki Kojiro]
[Through resonance, Host has created Unique Skill: Ten Image Defense (D)]
[It is possible to rank up Ten Image Defense (D) by evolving Observation Haki (C) and Complete Mind's Eye (C)]
Just as Sou finished reading the notification's multiple Sasaki Kojiros filled his vision. No, that would be a rather inaccurate description. Instead, Sou was using his newly acquired skill, Ten Image Defense, to simulate the attack patterns Sasaki might take, and find the best way to counterattack. Of course, due to his skill being rather low-level, he was not able to simulate every attack pattern, but Sou was able to find an opening using his few options.
'Can I dodge right? No. He would immediately be able to follow up with his attacks. Left? No. Backward? No. Forwards? No. Down? No. Then... can I jump? Yes.' At this thought, Sou immediately jumped over Sasaki's incoming strike.
"Haven't you learned your lesson since the first time? Being in the air limits your mobility. I guess this is where we're ending the lesson," Sasaki admonished. At this, he immediately followed up with a sword strike, cleanly heading for Sou's head. However, due to Ten Image Defense, Sou already knew he would do this. Already prepared for this attack, Sou managed to use his incredible dexterity to spin in the air, landing his first-ever solid hit on Sasaki, causing him to stagger back.
'Holy shit. I did it? I did it! I actually managed to land a hit on a Servant! And I just started training. Aren't I a bit too op?" These thoughts were immediately erased, however, when Sasaki smirked, beginning to speak.
"You've reached this level much faster than I thought. As a reward, I'll let you see my Ultimate Technique, which you've always asked me to teach you. I already asked Rayleigh. Don't worry, you won't die. Probably." After saying this, he took out a tiny knife, readying it up.
'Die? Wait a minute? His ultimate technique? Is this motherfucker actually going to use Tsubame Gaeshi on me?" As he had this thought, Sou immediately retreated in fear. After all, this was Tsubame Gaeshi.
The same Tsubame Gaeshi that would've killed one of the strongest Servants, Artoria Pendragon, had Sasaki's sword not had been broken. The same Tsubame Gaeshi which is said to be approaching the level of the Second True Magic. The same Tsubame Gaeshi is said to be a sure one-hit-kill as long as there are no problems in its execution. The same Tsubame Gaeshi where Sasaki Kojiro completely defies the concept of space and time to deliver three simultaneous and overlapping strikes to allow a three-directional, unblockable, and undoubtedly lethal attack.
At this, Sou only had one thought, 'I'm fucked.' And fucked, he was, as at this exact same moment, Sasaki arrived right in front of Sou.
He spoke two words, sealing Sou's fate. "Tsubame... Gaeshi" As he uttered those two words, Sou tried to escape using Ten Image Defense. However, it was futile. No matter how many attack patterns, no matter how hard he pushed his Observation Haki and Mind's Eye, he saw no outcome. No outcome... other than defeat. And his predictions came through, as Sasaki bent space and time, delivering three simultaneous slashes to Sou. Unable to block all three, all Sou could do was watch in horror as he was slashed from three different directions from Sasaki's tiny knife. And then the next thing he saw was black.
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A/N: Here's the chapter. Hope you liked the longer chapter and fight scenes. I think either this or the next chapter completely concludes the training arc. I want some suggestions on a few things.
First of all: Who do you suggest for a love interest? I'm personally thinking Artoria Alter, Jeanne Alter, Mordred, or Hiyori. I'm always open to suggestions.
Second: The next arc will likely be a visit to Foosha Village. Would you rather Sou be part of the ASL brothers, or would you rather that he only maintain a close relationship with his actual biological brother, Ace? Or would you rather the next arc be something else, and instead have Sou meet the brothers later on in the story?
Third: Finally, what direction would you like to see Sou go? Revolutionary, marine, pirate, something else? I'm personally leaning toward him creating his own crew, but I'd always like to hear other opinions.
As always, put suggestions, comments, questions, and worries in the comments.
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