Chapter 2

"So I'll need a few medics after this. Just in case."

The old man nodded "I'll trust in your words... Musashi."

"Though, don't do anything stupid okay old man? After all, it wouldn't be very nice if you started munching on your employees."

The old man widened his eyes as I walked out. "Okay let's get to work." One wrong move and I would be dead. But then that would be what I need to even approach the original Musashi's power and swordsmanship.

Am I about to commit genocide on two poor ghouls minding their own business for free udon privileges and housing? Yes.

I stare at the hit list.

Jason (Yakumo Oomori)

Big Madam

Jason was going first. And going by their information he was somewhere around the vicinity. The sound of air cutting was enough to alert me as the wakizashi was drawn instantly. The strike blew me into the building wall as my insides tumbled and shook. "Oh? You're not one of those CCG bastards?"

"Hm. Nope just working for them for a short period of time until I get my food and housing."

He laughed "I'm, surprised a human like you survived that. It'll make it all the more fun when I break you."

A few more ghouls had heard the sounds and now, I was officially going to be screwed unless I could achieve the empyrean eye. My thoughts were cut off as he charged again with his kagune. Two gleaming appendages sprouted out and smashed straight into me. Soon some other hunger stricken ghouls started charging in much to Jason's annoyance as well.

Don't think about anything else. Shave. Shave. The clouded thoughts in my mind slowly shaved away as I tried to reach zero. Shave. Shave. Cut the unnecessary thoughts. I have the strength, agility and ability to defeat them.

A few ghouls slowly came in range as their attacks were blocked or cut off instantly as I lopped off their heads. Jason emerged from the crowd eager to use me as his new toy probably. I tried to swing my wakizashi only to realise that one of the downed ghouls had grabbed onto it and was holding with all his might.

"Shit"

The kagune slammed into me as it pierced my side. Pain. Even with D ranked endurance this was fucked up pain. My eyesight became blurry as my mind was blank. I thought of a small joke maybe this was the state of void? Zero?

Definitely not. I needed to lop off his head before I die. I couldn't afford to die here. A small blur reached my side as my body moved before I had even registered it. A small feeling of emptiness, I was progressing.

Deeper and deeper into emptiness.

Slowly the possibilities were shown as I slowly carved my way to him. I would have his head. Each time a ghoul reached my sight or my range. Everything was automatic, no thinking, no hesitation, instant assessment and action.

Was this just the start of reaching emptiness? If so? What will happen once I reach the void.

I focused all my will and power into one action. Nothing else matters anymore. I'll have his head. I see that I have achieved the empyrean eye what is this near death trope situation? His head would be mine anyways.

Now that the rest of the rabble were finished I could finally take his head. His kagune extended as I took a defensive stance. Slowly but surely the possibilities were shaved away with subtle changes of timing and distance to create a single opportunity to behead him.

There were five.

Then four.

His kagune shifted into a type of armour as I continued to offset rhythm and distance myself before pushing him back a few steps and leaving a few wounds which were soon healed.

My eyes were no longer seeing the opponent but the possibilities displayed. Each action I took would be to reduce the amount of possibilities until only one correct solution remained.

Perhaps it was instinctual but Jason could sense he was losing as his attacks became more wild and unrefined.

A single step back as I dodged a strike from above as a crater formed on the ground.

Then three.

It was in my sights. My wakizashi blocked the side strike as I cut through a portion of his arm.

Then two.

He stepped back as I stepped in.

Then one.

I had backed him towards the crater that he had made as the step in cause him to take one extra step. The conclusion was here.

My wakizashi swung towards his remaining arm as it lopped it right off only for my katana to swing down on his falling figure as his eyes widened before his head was separated from his body.

Just for extra good measure I separated all his limbs and cut his torso in half before taking his head in and pressing the call button on a company given phone.

My stats had visibly raised from that small scuffle although I feel nothing.

[Endurance] had been raised to [C] while [Strength] had been raised to [D+]. The sight slowly returned as the background revealed all the ghouls that had been slaughtered here. His katana and wakizashi dripped with blood of many ghouls and his clothing had been painted in blood. Though somewhere a ghoul had run away spreading the word about a white haired demon swordsman.

Slowly I made my way to the medics on standby. "There were more ghouls than I thought there'd be." Who knew that there would be so many ghouls in the vicinity?

My wounds were slowly bandaged up as I was given treatment, painkillers and wraps around my wound. Nothing too serious apart from blood loss, but hey, the blood loss was what helped me obtain the empyrean eye.

"Ok, one more fight and my food and housing problem will be forever solved. It was at that state he had reached the beginning of emptiness. The heart of emptiness. Cut down all useless thoughts during battle and become empty.

I slowly made my way back to that... Ant- , Aint-, that coffee place! The door rung as the ghouls turned their eyes to look at me. "Hey old man, got any udon back there?"

He smiled "I can make some." I smiled, "That'd be great. Everything's hurting." Everyone else simply stared "What?"

The old man chuckled "It's not everyday that someone takes out a hundred ghouls and an S ranked ghoul."

"Worth it for the food and housing."