Failing to land a hit, Clementine quickly retreated, a look of displeasure on her face. "Tsk! What a pity to miss such a good opportunity."
Fortress is a martial art that can deflect enemy attacks.
Although it wasn't the top-tier Immovable Fortress, and most elite warriors could learn it with effort, the timing of this skill's activation heavily tested a warrior's reaction and judgment.
It was only effective in blocking enemy attacks when activated at the exact moment of impact; it wasn't a constant defensive effect like magic.
"Don't think you'll live just because you dodged one attack. Next time, I'll stab out your eyes." Clementine stared intently at Lock's movements, preparing to attack again.
Lock, however, wore a mysterious smile, and then a familiar martial arts fluctuation flashed across his body.
Ability Boost!
Super Ability Boost!
Swift Wind Break!
Furious as the wind, incredibly swift, Lock displayed a speed beyond human dynamic vision. In the blink of an eye, Longquan drew a cold, gleaming arc in the air.
Bang!
Clementine's face was filled with astonishment as she staggered back two steps. She slowly lowered her head, looking at the broken dagger in her hand, as blood gushed from the deep, bone-exposing wound on her chest.
"Th-this… how is this possible!?" She immediately dropped the broken weapon and pressed hard on the gushing wound, looking in terror at the man standing before her.
Lock flicked the Longquan sword, scattering a splash of crimson blood on the ground, leaving not a single drop on the blade. He teased, "How does it feel to be defeated by your own martial art? Not so good, is it?"
"Why?!" Clementine shrieked in disbelief, her expression frantic.
"Heh heh, while explaining the principle would give me the satisfaction of showing off, I'm more interested in torturing you to death." Lock took a step closer to Clementine, a cold sneer on his face. This expression of a tormentor made her involuntarily take a step back. "Yes, that's the look of fear I want now. Let me watch a little longer. It's truly fascinating to see the former abuser become the abused."
"Hmph~ Die!" Clementine ignored the tearing of her wound and the gushing blood caused by her violent movements, launching a frenzied attack at Lock.
Unfortunately, with the significant speed boost from the martial art Swift Wind Break, Lock easily dodged her attacks. The swinging Longquan, like a swirling storm, left wound after wound on her body.
Left arm, right elbow, thigh, waist, chest, lower back…
Constantly being struck by the sword, Clementine did not stop swinging the dagger in her hand, but each time she was just a little short, easily dodged by Lock, while another sword wound appeared on her body.
In less than two minutes, Clementine was covered in crimson blood from head to toe, her defensive armor tattered and barely hanging on her body.
The final sword thrust pierced her back, the sharp tip emerging from her chest.
Clementine coughed up a large mouthful of blood, her entire body lacking the strength to even stand, supported only by the longsword piercing her.
"Your next life will be mine to command."
A whisper echoed in her ears, gentle as a spring breeze, yet it brought Clementine no warmth at all. Endless cold and darkness completely engulfed her.
Thud!
As the cold body fell to the dust, Lock's face showed a satisfied smile.
He didn't have any perverse habits; he just remembered seeing a story, perhaps a side-story or a short drama, where Clementine's personality would undergo a drastic reversal after death, turning her into a gentle saintess.
So, he wanted to test if it was true.
It was just a little torture!
In this world, as long as one wasn't directly turned to ash, they could be resurrected, so there was nothing to worry about.
Moreover, Clementine was quite a treasure trove for Lock. Her self-created martial art, Swift Wind Break, had a unique style among the native warrior classes, and Lock was very interested in it.
The reason he was able to use this martial art just now was entirely due to his innate ability, Martial Art Imprint. Any martial art he witnessed could be used by him.
However, this ability had a time limit; once the time was up, he would forget it.
So, Lock needed Clementine to be resurrected to teach him this martial art.
As for her unwillingness, hmph, Lock was no delicate queen; he had plenty of strength and methods!
"M-Master…"
Seeing the battle end, Khajit walked over with a look of unease. Seeing Clementine's gruesome state, he felt a shiver down his spine.
"Her body…" Lock instinctively began to instruct Khajit, but then reconsidered and shook his head. "Never mind, I'll do it. After all, she's a girl, so one should be gentle with ladies."
Khajit couldn't help but inwardly grumble, You certainly weren't gentle when you struck her just now, you were ferocious!
Lock took a shroud from his backpack. This cloth worked quite well; although Clementine was currently like a leaky popsicle, when he wrapped the body, no blood seeped onto him at all.
After packaging the girl like a zongzi, Lock hoisted her onto his shoulder and said to Khajit, "For now, you'll stay here and thoroughly study the books I gave you. Also, behave yourself, no tricks like attacking cities, otherwise…"
Facing Lock's threat, Khajit immediately broke into a cold sweat and hastily said, "Master, don't worry! I absolutely will not act recklessly!"
"Good to know."
With that, Lock opened a portal to the inn and walked through it, carrying Clementine.
Only after the man and the corpse had completely vanished did Khajit let out a sigh of relief.
He quickly cleaned up the large bloodstains in front of the shrine to avoid detection by patrolling E-Rantel soldiers. Only then did he turn and return to the dungeon to continue studying the magic books.
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A/N: A New Fanfic Is Out "Bleach: Reborn As Ishida Uryuu"
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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