[As the Silvermane Guards' Captain, Gepard's combat style is remarkably straightforward and brutal.]
[To put it simply, he spams shields on himself relentlessly.]
[With the same momentum that could send a pack of Fragmentum monsters flying in one punch… he shields his allies. But the shield's durability is nothing to scoff at—even after being pummeled by Stelle, Seele, and the others, Gepard remained largely unscathed.]
[Stelle even felt that, compared to Gepard's shields, a Doomsday Beast might as well be made of paper.]
"To withstand such relentless attacks, the muscles beneath his armor must be gleaming with brilliance." In the Hero Association, Superalloy Darkshine—renowned for his "defensive prowess"—set down his one-ton dumbbell, gazing up at Gepard's battle with admiration.
After the soldiers beside him fell, Gepard was the only one left standing on the field. After all, even the strongest warrior cannot hold off five attackers forever, and under the fierce assault, Gepard gradually began to falter, his strength waning.
"Gepard… If he trained with me, it wouldn't even take three months for him to develop muscles like mine. Then, he'd definitely be able to withstand Seele's attacks," Superalloy Darkshine mused.
That said, Darkshine still didn't dare underestimate Seele and the others. After all, even KING—the man hailed as "the strongest human"—had spoken highly of one of the young girls among them…
"Superalloy Darkshine, have you considered forging armor similar to Gepard's?"
A Hero Association staff member in charge of Darkshine's training suggested, "Child Emperor observed Gepard's battles earlier and was quite intrigued by his violin-case-like defensive device."
"If you're willing, Child Emperor could also craft a set of armor and a defensive device like that for you, making it easier to handle monsters."
"Hmm, thank you for the offer, but I'll pass."
Superalloy Darkshine glanced at Gepard's silver armor and shook his head. "If I were wrapped up in something like that, even my muscles would weep."
"'A body tempered to its utmost limit is the greatest armor of all'—please relay those words to Child Emperor for me, and thank him for his kindness."
The over-two-meter-tall Superalloy Darkshine slowly rose to his feet, his muscles bulging like a pitch-black fortress. Under the room's lighting, his bald head gleamed brightly.
After admiring his "perfect" muscles in the mirror, he wore a slightly puzzled expression.
"Hmm… Is there really any monster out there that could harm me?"
——
[The battle was grueling. Gepard, true to a follower of the Preservation path, held out for an incredibly long time. Only after both sides were thoroughly exhausted did they finally calm down.]
[At this point, they finally remembered Bronya's letter and hurriedly presented it.]
[After reading it, Gepard's eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw.]
[Serval, no longer arguing with him, spoke calmly, "We've said all there is to say. Little brother, it's up to you to decide what to do now."]
[Without hesitation, Gepard declared, "I am the Captain of the Silvermane Guards. It is my duty to carry out the orders of the [Supreme Guardian]."]
[Stelle glanced at her bat, then back at Gepard. "Are you sure you don't wanna… think this over again?"]
["..." After a long silence, Gepard finally spoke. "But Lady Bronya is the de facto commander on the frontlines. According to military regulations, when orders from the front conflict with those from the Architects in the rear, we must await further instructions."]
"This kid's really mastered the art of bending the rules," Tokugawa remarked with a disappointed click of his tongue. "How boring. I wanted to see rivers of blood!"
Tokugawa's complaint echoed the sentiments of both Musashi and Yujiro.
A warrior like Gepard was a rare sight even in Belobog—especially his exquisitely refined defensive techniques, which had left Musashi utterly astonished.
—This wasn't the result of an Aeon's blessing, but pure, relentless tempering of body and skill. Such mastery could only be achieved by surviving countless life-or-death battles, walking through the gates of hell time and time again.
On the other hand, Seele, Dan Heng, and Stelle's coordination was equally impressive. Particularly Seele… Miyamoto Musashi, having lived through countless battles and witnessed countless fighting styles and weapons, had never seen a scythe-wielding combatant like her before.
Moreover, Seele's physical prowess was extraordinary. To achieve such speed at such a young age… It was nothing short of astounding.
Yet, at the climax of this fierce battle, both sides suddenly ceased hostilities—leaving Musashi deeply unsatisfied.
Suddenly, a deep male voice from outside Tokugawa's estate snapped them out of their thoughts.
"Old man."
Standing at the gates was a nearly two-meter-tall, burly man dressed in a pristine white suit and expensive snakeskin shoes. At a glance, he could've passed for a corporate executive. But when he lifted his head, the scars covering his face made him look like a demon straight from hell.
This man was Kaoru Hanayama, the second-generation leader of the Hanayama Group, a Japanese yakuza syndicate.
Despite his imposing 166 kg frame and fearsome appearance, the intimidating Hanayama had just celebrated his eighteenth birthday the week before last.
After the Celestial Screen appeared, Tokugawa had gathered Baki, Hanayama, Doppo Orochi, Kaiou Retsu, and other powerful fighters to his estate to watch together. Aside from Musashi and Yujiro, Hanayama had been the first to arrive.
"Hmm, this swordsman…" The moment he stepped into the estate, Hanayama's gaze locked onto Miyamoto Musashi, seated across from Yujiro on the elevated platform.
For some reason, the instant Hanayama laid eyes on Musashi, an eerie feeling crept into his heart.
Musashi sat opposite Yujiro, a luxurious tea table before him and the elegant scenery of Tokugawa's garden behind. Yet when Hanayama focused on him, all he saw was an endless expanse of darkness.
The darkness towered high, plunged deep, stretched boundlessly in all directions… Hanayama felt as though it sought to swallow him whole, creeping toward him.
"Musashi, this is Kaoru Hanayama."
Delighted by Hanayama's arrival, Tokugawa eagerly began introductions. "Speaking of Hanayama, we must mention his background—oh, have you heard of the Kyokaku? In the second year of Genna…"
"Save your breath, old man."
Hanayama cut Tokugawa off bluntly, stepping straight into the darkness before him. He strode right up to Miyamoto Musashi, removed his glasses, and shoved his hands into his pockets, staring down at the swordsman's magatama-like eyes… and the two swords at his waist—one long, one short.
Miyamoto Musashi, peerless under heaven. Legend had it that his unmatched blade had claimed countless lives, all through his self-created divine technique—Niten Ichi-ryū.
And now, standing before the man himself…
"Miyamoto Musashi."
Hanayama lifted his gaze to the figures on the Celestial Screen and spoke slowly.
"Do you believe your sword… can break through Gepard's defense?"