104 4.16
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[Jordan's POV]
Taking a deep breath as I waited on the second floor, I said, "Jonathan, since we don't know who we will be facing, activate your shield already."
Jonathan did not reply to me directly, but waved his wand around, muttered, "Protego Maxima."
A faint barrier appeared for a second, but quickly turned invisible as a layer of protection manifested in front of Jonathan. This should protect him from the first attacks.
Without needing me to say anything, Victor and Charles, the business man and the old academician, moved behind Jonathan, to take cover. We didn't really expect them to do much, considering they are only regular humans, and one of them is only an old man, but not only would their death take Points away from us, they could also end up making a difference.
To prepare for the incoming battle, I also did my own thing, as I quickly went through several hand signs and slammed my hands in the ground.
'Doton: Bottomless Swamp'
This Jutsu was a lesser version of the one Nagato had used, Swamp of the Underworld. While that one created a massive area of sticky mud which was nearly impossible to escape from once caught, Bottomless Swamp affected a far smaller area, and only turned the surface into a normal swamp.
This should still be useful though as it is big enough to cover the entrance, and-
[You have assisted in the elimination of A-Train. Rewarded Rank C Reward and 3000 Points.]
I could barely hear God's notification as at the same time, a sonic boom echoed in the room, and mud was thrown all around the room. However, I still managed to get a glimpse of the situation.
The mud I had created at the entrance had a rather large hole into it now, while Jonathan's shield charm was now fully visible, with a small crack around its base.
As for the cause of the crack, it was A-Train. His head, to be precise.
The scene quickly recreated itself in my mind as I understood what had happened. A-Train had tried to attack us with his speed, coming in so fast we weren't able to react.
But as soon as he entered into the room, his foot was caught in the small swamp I had created, making him trip. And with the speed he was going at, he slammed just in the right angle to break his neck against Jonathan's shield, which ended up giving us the kill…
I did not even move as the mud splashed on me, for I was too stunned by what had just happened. Johnathan too looked shocked, clearly not expecting his shield to become such a deadly weapon. Moreover, A-Train wasn't just any runt, he could move so fast we couldn't even follow him, so he might have earned more rewards than me.
But as we were distracted, a member of Team Northern Africa stepped into the room, one I recognized as he had deviated one of my attacks before.
The moment he stepped in, he thrust his fist at us, manifesting a giant fist made of fire. Even as it barely appeared, I could already feel its incredible heat, and knew I shouldn't take it, so as soon as it appeared, I used the Body Flicker to dodge.
Landing in one of the corners of the room in an instant, I saw the fire fist slam into Johnathan's spell. Fortunately, his shield was strong enough as even after being damaged by A-Train, it still barely held on from this attack.
Johnathan himself felt like a wholly different man from the one I knew too as his easy going and goofy attitude disappeared in an instant as he waved his wand, and shouted, "Diffindo!"
A giant white blade of energy blasted out of his wand, cutting the ground where it passed as it reached the fire mage quickly.
The fire mage created a small explosion to his side however, allowing him to barely dodge the blade as it went on to cut the wall behind him.
I was about to attack the fire mage, when I suddenly saw something shiny heading for me, and acting more out of instinct than logic, I leapt down from the ceiling.
Right as I did, three shurikens pierced into the upper corner of the room, where I was.
Landing solidly, my eyes immediately went to the figure that had been hiding, and had attacked me last.
Black Noir.
Funnily enough, it was the one ninja among the Seven who ended up becoming my opponent.
Taking out a kunai, I deflected the incoming Shurikens, and used the Body Flicker to appear in front of Black Noir.
If he was surprised by my sudden burst of speed, he did not show it as he instantly reacted, slashing down at me with a ninjato.
Deflecting his blade with my own, I sent a punch at his guts with my free hand, but he blocked it with a knee strike, before following with a spin kick, which I was forced to block.
Upon blocking it, I fully felt the difference in strength between us as he sent me flying through a wall.
[Score -1. Your current Score is 0.]
The notification instantly woke me up from the daze of the impact as I realized we had lost someone. I didn't know who, but I could only hope it wasn't a veteran.
Black Noir immediately followed through the hole in the wall, and I barely managed to roll under his attack, and as he landed we were suddenly back to back.
Making a quick decision, I let go of my kunai and started weaving handsigns while turning around. As I did, I noticed Black Noir was already rushing at me, while throwing a knife at me.
Despite understanding his skill, I decided not to stop myself I finished the handsigns, while the knife launched straight for my head.
'Katon: Great Fireball'
I couldn't move much due to the Jutsu, which required my mouth, but still decided to fire it straight at Black Noir.
The Jutsu hit straight on as it carried Black Noir with it. I did not get to see much of it however as the fireball ended up not carrying enough momentum to stop the knife, which cut right through it and hit me right in the eye.
Fortunately, I managed to slightly tilt my head, which made the knife miss my brain.
The pain I expected to arrive, however, did not appear. Instead, I felt something change.
It was hard to put it into words, but I felt more aware. For example, I could feel that the pain did appear, but my brain had just suddenly become much better at isolating it, allowing me to focus.
Another thing I felt, was immense danger.
I could not see it, but I felt a danger coming from the flames, so I quickly followed my instincts and dived to the ground, landing on all four, before leaping forward.
I felt something pass above me, but with all the chaos I did not get to see what it was as I sped for Black Noir.
[Score +1. Your current Score is 1.]
I barely gave the notification any attention as I picked up Black Noir's ninjato, which had fallen to the ground, and jumped forward.
As I did, Black Noir finally appeared back to me. His hero costume had been damaged, with half his mask gone, revealing a terribly scarred face, as well as a charred flesh. His expression displayed no pain however, as he launched himself at me with two new curved knives.
The techniques I had learned in the Akatsuki seemingly disappeared as my body naturally went for the simplest movements.
As Black Noir swung his blades at me, I suddenly once again touched the ground, and jumped above his attack. Black Noir's knives sliced the air below me, while I found myself in mid air, swinging the ninjato straight at Black Noir's face.
Black Noir had impressive reflexes however as he turned his head away, hiding away the side of his mask that had been destroyed.
The ninjato slammed harshly into his mask, burrowing into it and the face behind it. However, I knew that wasn't enough.
[Score +1. Your current Score is 2.]
I barely registered the notification.
So, without missing a beat, I plucked out the knife going through my left eye as I landed behind Black Noir, and just as he turned to face me, pierced it right through his heart.
[You have eliminated Black Noir. Rewarded Rank CC Reward and 6000 Points.]
As my foe was finally annihilated, the strange state I had found myself in faded away, and I fell to the ground as I felt the pain from the fight finally settle in.
But I amidst my pain, I heard three worrying notifications, following each other by a few seconds.
[Score -1. Your current Score is 1.]
[Score -1. Your current Score is 0.]
[Score -1. Your current Score is -1.]
Did three newbies coincidentally die on three different floors in such close intervals, or… did a floor get almost wiped out in the span of a few seconds?
