Chapter 14: You Talk Too Much
Silence.
Boundless, suffocating silence, as if thick cotton clogged the ear canals or the world had sunk into the deep sea.
Not a single sound—Ryuji's breathing and heartbeat felt stripped away, reality plunged into an absolute hush that made the heart race.
It was like going deaf in an instant!
Ryuji gripped Little Purple tight, left hand already guarding his chest, finger on the flashlight switch, ready for the darkness.
Once I get out of here, I'm mastering Observation Haki!
The thought blazed inside him.
Every sense on edge, muscles taut, vigilance pushed to its peak.
Akinasa's Blood Demon Art is only support; to actually kill me it has to rely on ambush. All I need is to seize that fleeting instant.
Catch it! Cut it down!
BEEP!!!
Without warning, a piercing shriek loud enough to shred eardrums exploded.
The sudden blast rattled Ryuji, but he recovered in a heartbeat; almost as the sound hit he slashed horizontally at the spot he'd predicted at chest level.
That sharp, ripping whoosh was too obvious!
Little Purple howled through the air—and bit only emptiness, the blade smashing into the floor with an explosive boom, stones flying.
The noise stopped for an instant.
Then Ryuji heard a crack.
The flashlight in his left hand shattered, bits of metal tinkling to the ground.
Amid the ringing chaos those tiny clatters sounded eerily clear.
"He-he-he, feeling out of sorts all of a sudden?"
Akinasa's voice came from every direction, no longer soft but shrill and deafening.
Ryuji tilted his head and resettled both hands on the hilt.
He'd figured out the trick of Akinasa's Blood Demon Art.
It's sound-based: control, mimicry, copy, amplify, diminish—powerful vibration can even crush small objects!
"Haaah."
Ryuji drew a slow breath; in the lingering ring it sounded like an old bellows.
He closed his eyes.
If ears can't be trusted, abandon sight and hearing—focus everything on bodily sense.
"He-he-he, how much longer till you adapt?"
Akinasa laughed, a violent whoosh aimed at his back; Ryuji spun and chopped.
Steel met air again, slamming into the floorboards and spraying splinters.
BOOM!
As if delayed, the roar reached his ears.
"Missed again! What a shame~"
The mocking voice drifted, but Ryuji ignored it, a faint cold smile brushing his lips.
He was certain now.
After every exaggerated boom or whoosh there was a split-second pause.
It was still misleading him!
Just now, Little Purple had smashed the stage before the sound reached his ears.
Proof!
Judging by Akinasa's love of mind-games… it must be waiting for me to get used to this pattern, then strike in true silence.
But where will it aim?
Ryuji's face was grave.
"Still not used to it? Want some help? Your voice sounds lovely, so I'll tell you where the next strike lands."
"Guard well…"
Akinasa's tone carried a courteous malice.
"This one's for the liver~"
BOOM!
Little Purple answered by crashing onto the stage.
"Blocked! Next: the head~"
BOOM!
Steel met air once more.
"Ooh, nice! Then the left leg!"
Akinasa's delight thickened.
BOOM!
Man and demon waged a long, grinding tug-of-war on this sound-ruled stage.
Announcement, boom, slash, miss… repeat.
Ryuji controlled speed and force to the millimeter, each swing a hair faster and firmer, perfectly playing the cornered prey finding its rhythm.
His breathing stayed heavy, yet inside he was calm as still water.
"Looks like… you've adapted."
Akinasa drew the words out: "So, where next…?"
Now!
At those words Ryuji's lips curled.
Come—next strike, I finish you!
Every nerve taut, he waited for the real attack.
"I've decided—next target: the heart!"
The instant the words fell, the familiar, deafening whoosh tore the hush, racing for his back!
Ryuji turned and swept his blade behind him, the Move a fraction slow from fatigue, exposing a wider gap.
As the swing reached its limit, every sound—including that huge whoosh—abruptly vanished!
The world sank back into the suffocating silence.
Behind closed lids, lightning seemed to explode!
Now!
His core muscles snapped like rock strata, unleashing power long coiled.
The left hand wasn't idle; using the forward weight and sword-momentum, he clenched a fist and punched straight ahead!
Armament Haki – Coating!
At will, Armament Haki wrapped the left fist—only five seconds of control.
BAM! CRACK!
The fist smashed into Akinasa's porcelain-doll face.
Cheek shattered, shards and black blood hadn't scattered before the inhuman regeneration writhed, trying to mend the wound.
It tried to retreat, to melt back into the maze of shadow and sound!
But Ryuji had waited too long for this opening—no escape!
SWISH!
Purple blade-light followed the iron fist like death's thunder, flashing past.
Clatter… something rolled across the wooden boards.
Soft, normal, neither amplified nor delayed—the only true sound left.
"H-how… impossible…?"
Half of Akinasa's head rolled to the edge of the dim light, pupils dimming to gray, widening in shock, reflecting Ryuji standing with his sword.
From the severed neck the body began to crumble.
The voice faltered, trembling: "You… already fell for it… rhythm… sound… why…?!"
"Well, you talk too much."
Ryuji crouched beside the porcelain head and murmured: "Going on and on about sound, I figured you'd aim for the throat when you ambush, and…"
He rubbed the long-healed scar on his chest.
"Two nights ago, your first sneak strike was aimed at my throat; I reacted fast, so you shifted and only cut here."
After a pause he added: "Your attack power's weak, so you pick the easiest spot—throat's perfect…"
Before he finished, the remaining head and body turned to ash, drifting away without a trace.
Looking at the empty stage, Ryuji shrugged and stood.
He lifted the theater curtain; outside, dawn had broken without his noticing.
The first ray of sunrise fought through deep-blue clouds, brushing faint light onto the quiet street.
Cool morning air carried distant city sounds—wheels on stone, early birds, doors opening—ordinary yet utterly real.
"Beautiful…"
He sighed softly, exhaling stale breath.
[Ding. Host has completed the pirate-crew extermination. Reward: +300 military merit points.]
[Demon Fruit detected on pirate captain. Extra reward: personal instruction from Admiral Zephyr.]