(Mael's POV)
That's right.
I don't know how to properly wield a sword.
I realize that now, as the men drew their swords and rushed me. I merely raised it defensively and blocked against their attacks, stepping back in response. My agility and reflexes allowed me to react to them, parrying their swords sloppily.
I am glad they were also garbage fighters, because if they were good at what they did, I'd probably be cut down by now. It was quite a stroke of luck that I stabbed that first guy successfully, causing him to collapse on the ground in pain.
There was like six of them, excluding the one that I just stabbed.
"Who the fuck is this guy, eh?!" one of them said, a fat one with no shirt and just wearing rags as pants, "Some kind of hero?!"
"He's got a katana too." another one said, a short bald one, "Kill him and steal it! It's not dull!"
They rushed me at once and using my agility, I was able to dodge and avoid some of their attacks. I blocked the ones that I couldn't, pushing them off me and swinging my sword at them. One of them was hit by the swing, getting cut in the chest.
"Agghhh!!!" He shouted, "He got me!!"
"Shit!!" one of them exclaimed as the one I got stumbled, "Get his ass!!"
They swarmed me yet again, swinging their swords wildly at me. I was trying my best to keep up, blocking and dodging most of their attacks. I couldn't properly counter, trying my best to swing at them but they were too damn aggressive.
"He's not that good!" one of them said, "Get him from behind!!"
I turned to see one of them rushing at me, I was able to parry his sword while stepping to the side. Before I could do anything else, one of them hit me with a shoulder tackle, pushing me away. I stumbled and was barely able to block the short one's sword as he swung it at me.
"You fucker!!" He glared at me, "We'll kill you and rape that fucking bitch!!"
I pushed him off and swung at the incoming one, causing him to jump back in caution.
"Tch..." I said with a frown, "At this rate....."
I was outnumbered and I really didn't know how to use this sword, other than swinging it around. The only reason I was able to keep up was due to my enhanced physical traits. No wonder the System wants me to properly learn the way of the blade, because it won't just grant me the ability to know it all....
Shit.
"Fuck this." I spat on the ground, "There's no other choice.....this is tougher than I thought....I'm pathetic...."
"Yea, you are!!" One of them shouted
I pulled out the flintlock pistol, which was concealed within my kimono, "Fuck you."
I aimed at him and pulled the trigger, firing right at him. The bullet hit him in the chest, blood spraying in the air as a whole was blasted through him.
"Urghh-" He said as he dropped down
"What the fuck?!" the tall fat one said, "A Tanzetsu?!"
"Shit!!" the others exclaimed
"Fuck that, he has to reload!" another said, "Rush him!!"
I stepped to the side, parrying his blade as I held my sword with one hand, hearing the eventual click from the pistol.
It was already reloaded.
I aimed at him and fired again, the loud gunshot resounding through the air like thunder. The bullet hit him in the side of the head, blood spraying out as it dropped him immediately like a sack of potatoes, blood pouring out of his wound as pieces of his skull and brain were falling in the air.
"He didn't fucking reload, what the hell?!" the Tall Fat one shouted
I then wasted no time, rushing the nearest one, thrusting the katana into his throat. He widened his eyes as I had stabbed him all the way through, blood pouring out of the wound as I held the sword firmly.
I heard the click again; the gun was reloaded.
"Rush him!!" the other said
I aimed at him and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the chest and dropping him to the ground. Blood poured out of the hole as his body twitched, his futile gasps for air were heard as I pulled the blade out of the one I had just stabbed.
It was just one left, the Tall Fat one.
He held his sword and ran at me, "OOOoOoOhhh!!!"
I side-stepped and swung my blade at him, cutting his arm a bit. He jerked to the side as a response, shouting out in pain.
"Ahh!" He shouted
Upon hearing the click, I rushed him, swinging the sword at him. He raised his sword and blocked mine, clashing with me as I pushed forwards. He was slowly reeling back, being surprised by my strength.
"You...." He said with a scowl, "You fucking.....!!!"
I aimed the gun with my left hand at him, "Bang."
I pulled the trigger, putting a hole in his head. His entire body crumbled to the ground as the cloud of smoke got on my face. Blood also splattered on my face, causing me to grimace and step back.
I looked around, seeing the bodies of the men around me, "Hm...." I said, "Guns are quite strong, huh?"
I heard the click again.
It was a few seconds, four at most. In the heat of battle, it could be the difference between life and death. But once those seconds pass, the power of death is back in my hands. Should they be regular defenseless humans at close range, they stand no chance against my gun.
I sheathed my sword, surprised that the scabbard didn't fall during the struggle. I then looked over to the cage, seeing that the woman was staring at me with a shocked expression.
She didn't seem to be wearing a kimono, she was wearing modern clothes; a white shirt and jeans.
I frowned, "You...." I said as I walked towards the cage, "You're a Chosen...."
"Eh?" She said, a bit confused, "How do you know? Wait.....speak again...."
"Huh? Oh yea....my appearance is different." I said as I put my gun again, "It's me-"
"That voice!" she cut me off, "There's no mistaking it! You're the blind redhead! Mael!!"
I nodded, "Yea." I said, "Your voice sounds a bit familiar, but I don't remember your name, though."
She held onto the cage's bar, tears forming on her eyes, "I'm Cecilia! I'm also from Dystopian Texas!" She said, her voice was shaky, "H-Help me, please....!!"
I nodded, "Yea, of course." I said as I looked at the cage, "Give me a sec, let me pull this back out. Step back, I'll shoot the lock open."
"Ohh...." She said as she slid to the back of the cage
I pulled the gun out and shot the lock off, sparks flying out as pieces of metal exploded everywhere.
"You okay?" I said as I waved the smoke away, "Let's get you out of here."
I opened the cage and she squirmed out, standing up and immediately hugged me.
"Oh my god!!" She cried, "Thank you, thank you!!"
I was a bit surprised by this, "Y-Yea...." I said, "No problem."
"I thought they were going to rape me...." She sobbed, "Thank you so much...."
I could feel her large breasts pressing against me, making me a bit nervous and aroused. I 1000% believe the System has made me a bit more lustful than I normally am.
"They were looking like they were..." I said with a nervous chuckle, "But I got them..."
She pulled away, wiping her tears away, "H-How could I ever thank you?"
"We're both from the same place. We got to look out for one another." I said, putting the gun away, "Besides, what are the odds we meet almost right away here. Where did you end up on? I was drowning on a river."
She was composing herself, crossing her arms as she shivered, "I was falling through some trees." She said softly, "But I caught myself. I stayed on for a few hours before these men began to chase me. They called me a Fox-Spirit."
"Yea, a Kitsune." I said, "That's the thing, I am looking for the Kitsune that they were looking for. Somewhere close, there is a Fort that is keeping them imprisoned. I have to go and release them."
"What, why?" She asked with a frown, "What do you mean?"
"I got a System." I said,
"It is my task to help them."