They had to admit one thing.
In close combat, they would be crushed.
However, their abilities primarily relied on close combat.
Whether it was the one-hit kill of [Elysium] or the slow, erosive infiltration of [Shadow Assassination] by burrowing into shadows, they needed close combat to create opportunities.
Deerbie's hands were essentially crippled, and Eya had sustained internal injuries. While it didn't affect the overall situation for now, if it dragged on, the aftereffects of the injuries would manifest.
Reason told them to decisively abandon this operation.
But they couldn't retreat.
Because they were assassins of the Blackstone Family.
Linne slightly calmed her breathing, her cold eyes fixed on Eya and Deerbie.
Seeing they knew how to use Rhythm Echo, she knew they were likely from one of the Four Great Assassin Families.
If the other side knew when to give up, she wouldn't be able to pursue.
But if the other side's killing intent was absolute, then she would eliminate them.
…
On the rooftop, the rain continued unabated.
Shachmono's assistance hadn't changed anything… on the contrary, he found himself at a disadvantage.
Tonpa wasn't a skilled fighter by nature, but the characteristics of his ability were what they were. Regardless of how strong the opponent was, he could almost always force a stalemate.
Before Shachmono arrived, his fight with Monma was an unresolved deadlock.
But Shachmono came, so Monma decisively shifted his attack target, focusing the pressure on Shachmono.
Mainly because Monma had pretty much figured out Tonpa's disgusting trait.
Evasion ability: Max. Attack capability: Not worth mentioning.
Therefore, Monma planned to ignore Tonpa. However, he couldn't ignore Shachmono's offensive capability. So, to disengage, he would have to either kill or seriously injure Shachmono first.
In summary, Monma launched a fierce assault on Shachmono.
Among the three assassins, Monma was the oldest. In terms of Aura, he was certainly inferior to Eya and Deerbie, but his overall combat strength was a tier above theirs.
He was an Enhancer, his application of Shu was masterful, and the techniques honed over a long period of time were not to be underestimated.
It was precisely that dagger, which seemed capable of cutting through anything, that slashed a deep wound across Shachmono's abdomen.
Seizing the initiative, Monma then directly forced Shachmono into a perilous situation.
If not for Shachmono also practicing Linne's martial arts style, if not for Tonpa supporting him from the side, after that initial careless injury from the dagger, he would likely have been hit again within minutes and then killed by Monma.
"They are from an assassin family."
That terrifying offensive pressure made Shachmono feel as if he were in deep water, pressure coming from everywhere.
Relying on Tonpa's aid, he barely managed to withstand Monma's onslaught. But Shachmono was well aware that if this dragged on, his situation would be very bad.
Shachmono understood this deeply, yet he was like a stubborn man… his clear thoughts showed no intention of changing.
Dying here was fine, but at the very least, he had to make some waves.
Even if he couldn't injure Monma before his death, he should at least try to consume as much of Monma's stamina and Aura as possible.
Holding this thought, the expressionless Shachmono immersed himself in the offensive web woven by Monma.
'Good guy.'
Monma thought to himself.
When masters exchange blows, they might sometimes discern the opponent's thoughts from their moves.
At this moment, that's what Monma discerned from Shachmono's resolve.
But so what? The most irreparable thing was the gap in strength.
Watching Monma, whose movements were swift as lightning and relentless, forcing Shachmono into a steady retreat, Tonpa could only look on awkwardly. It seemed not everyone could be as slippery as him, developing a skill specifically for evasion.
Moreover, Shachmono was the reinforcements he had called. But now it seemed like he had pushed the reinforcements into a pit.
"Can't blame me for this. Who knew the opponent would be such a tough character?"
Tonpa comforted himself like this, then also desperately tried to prevent the increase of wounds on Shachmono's body.
If this continued, Shachmono would likely be worn to death.
Several minutes passed.
The ground pooled with over a dozen bloody rivulets.
Shachmono's face was quite pale, blending with his snow-white beard and hair.
He had a total of five wounds, all in locations that bled heavily.
"My favorite is piercing the back of a target's head with my dagger. The thrill of that one-hit kill is as refreshing as soaking in a hot spring."
Monma retracted his short dagger into his sleeve… a habit of his, only summoning the dagger when attacking.
He looked at Shachmono, who was barely holding on, and said coldly, "Next, let's see if you can still defend against it."
Before the words fully fell, his figure shot towards Shachmono like lightning through the rain curtain.
Shachmono didn't utter a word, his eyes holding no trace of retreat.
At that moment, Tonpa directly hoisted Shachmono onto his shoulder, avoiding Monma's attack.
Shachmono hadn't anticipated Tonpa doing this and was momentarily stunned. Naturally, Monma was also stunned.
"You?"
Shachmono's voice was somewhat weak.
Tonpa said, "Stop forcing yourself."
Hearing this, Shachmono remained silent.
Monma looked at Tonpa, who was carrying Shachmono on his shoulder, and couldn't help but sneer, "Fine. You've got guts. Just don't put him down. Let's see how I carve you up."
Missing that damn fatty, he could accept that.
But if he still couldn't hit him while he was carrying someone, then he might as well not be in this business.
"What if you can't carve me up?" Seeing Monma so confident, Tonpa couldn't help but ask.
Monma already had a bellyful of resentment. Hearing this, he immediately snorted coldly, "If I can't carve you up, I'll eat shit!"
Before the words fully landed, Monma launched a storm of attacks towards Tonpa.
The curtain of rain falling from the sky was sliced into countless trajectories by Monma, while Tonpa, carrying Shachmono, weaved just outside those sharp paths.
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Monma's expression gradually turned strange.
'I still couldn't hit him.'
'This goddamned guy!'
Tonpa didn't care whether Monma would fulfill his earlier boast. He concentrated fully, performing various evasive maneuvers.
Fortunately, he had never neglected his training over the years, otherwise carrying a person would have been really tough.
Swish! Swish!
Another attack missed. Monma's face twitched uncontrollably. Silently, he retracted his short dagger into his sleeve, then stared at Tonpa with a very complicated look.
He opened his mouth, then felt silence was better at this moment.
So, Monma decisively fled.
His mentality had completely collapsed.
If he stayed to tangle with Tonpa any longer, he might go crazy.
"Hey, the bathroom isn't that way."
Watching Monma head straight for Netero's location, Tonpa could only stare blankly.
But he wasn't idle… a weak, taunting sentence followed Monma's departing figure.
Monma's body, mid-air, trembled slightly, his direction thrown off. He crashed headfirst into the wall of the ward building but quickly scrambled in through a nearby window.
"Whew."
Seeing Monma enter the ward building, Tonpa let out a heavy sigh, then placed Shachmono on the ground.
What happened next was beyond his ability to help.
Because his ability to tie down Monma depended on whether Monma wanted to engage with him.
He had tried attacking Monma earlier, but it was utterly useless.
Clearly, Monma was an Enhancer, and his own attacks couldn't break through Monma's defense at all.
'Should I prepare a sharp weapon or something?'
Tonpa looked at the opposite building, considering whether to change his content-with-the-status-quo mindset and increase his own offensive capability to avoid always being so passive.
At that moment, he saw Shachmono struggling to get up.
"You still want to continue?"
The response to Tonpa was a weak nod.
…
Ward Building.
Morel and his group arrived on the upper floors. First, they saw the bodies of the bodyguards. Then, they saw two people standing not far from Netero's room.
It was the Association's most senior Gourmet Hunter, Linne, and a young man with yellow hair.
A bit further away on the ground lay a woman wearing only underwear on her lower half, unknown whether she was dead or alive.