Chapter 18: The Slash
The Raikage’s mindset shifted. His fighting style changed, leaning toward defense. He was waiting—waiting for the other Kage to arrive. During the Five Kage Summit, the other Kage wouldn’t just watch him die.
The reason for this situation traced back to the kick the Raikage had thrown. The Raikage was accustomed to a brutal, reckless fighting style—commonly known as not fearing death. Unfortunately, today he had met someone even more reckless.
When Su Xiao fought, regardless of his opponent’s strength, he was always prepared to die. Only by not fearing death could one survive to the end. Hesitation and cowardice only hastened one’s demise.
Su Xiao instantly closed the distance with the Raikage. The Raikage stopped attacking aggressively and instead used the unique taijutsu and speed advantage of Kumogakure to stall Su Xiao.
Unfortunately, Su Xiao’s blade speed was too fast, and the Raikage’s speed had been reduced.
Blade light flashed as the Raikage weaved between the slashes. Though he was on the defensive, he was still looking for an opportunity to land a heavy blow on Su Xiao.
*Pfft.*
A large chunk of muscle flew into the air, blood splattering. It was muscle from the Raikage’s shoulder, severed by Su Xiao’s blade—at least three pounds’ worth.
The Dragon-Slaying Flash was simply too sharp, sharp enough to frustrate the Raikage.
Cyan Steel Shadow energy surged into the Raikage’s body. The Raikage grimaced in pain, the agony causing his punching motion to freeze.
Su Xiao’s eyes lit up. He sidestepped, raising the Dragon-Slaying Flash in an upward slash.
*Pfft.*
Another large chunk of muscle, still attached to skin, was cut away. Again, it was from the Raikage’s left shoulder. His entire left shoulder was nearly severed.
The Raikage had no choice. His left forearm had been cut off, reducing his defensive options on his left side by over 90%.
“Where are you looking?”
Su Xiao twirled the Dragon-Slaying Flash in a flourish, forcing the Raikage back two steps before thrusting the blade forward.
The Raikage continued retreating. Seeing this, Su Xiao hooked his left foot and kicked forward along the ground.
*Crack.*
The stone floor was gouged by his toes, sending a spray of fine gravel flying toward the Raikage’s face.
Just as the Raikage raised his remaining right arm to shield his face, Su Xiao’s blade came slashing toward the exact spot the arm was meant to cover.
With no other choice, the Raikage turned his head. But at that moment, Su Xiao flipped his longsword, switching from a forward grip to a reverse grip, and slashed upward.
Compared to a few pebbles, the Raikage certainly wouldn’t choose to take Su Xiao’s slash head-on.
A few pebbles struck the Raikage’s face. With Su Xiao’s 80 points of True Strength behind the kick, the kinetic energy of those pebbles rivaled bullets.
The Raikage’s body was indeed tough. The pebbles didn’t even break his skin, only causing his head to snap back.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Xiao flipped his longsword again, returning to a forward grip.
A horizontal slash followed. *Pfft.* The Raikage’s entire right arm was severed.
Sasuke, who had regrouped with Karin and the others, witnessed this scene. He couldn’t help but wonder—could a single blade really be this powerful? The truth was, yes, it could.
Both of the Raikage’s arms were severed, yet he still didn’t retreat. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use his speed advantage to escape; it was that he simply couldn’t.
If he could have fled using his speed advantage after engaging Su Xiao in battle, then Su Xiao’s blade technique would have been useless. That kind of swordsmanship would be too pathetic.
Once Su Xiao closed in, unless one had the ability to instantly create distance, there was no escaping.
The Raikage’s gaze swept around. He was puzzled—why hadn’t the other Kage arrived yet?
It wasn’t that the other Kage didn’t want to come. The Kazekage, Gaara, had actually reached the vicinity, but he had been blocked halfway by Amu.
After successfully severing both of the Raikage’s arms, Su Xiao’s offensive momentum slowed. It wasn’t that he intended to let the Raikage off; rather, the Raikage was now extremely dangerous.
As a close-combat ninja, having both arms severed essentially meant he was doomed. He would launch a desperate, final counterattack at any moment.
Choosing to continue a fierce assault at this point was either a sign of insufficient combat experience or an inexplicable confidence in one’s own strength.
Neither fit Su Xiao’s fighting style. So he maintained a distance of about three meters from the Raikage, ensuring the Raikage couldn’t escape while also being able to dodge any last-ditch attack.
The Raikage let out heavy, labored breaths. A dull ache spread through his body—the result of repeated erosion by Cyan Steel Shadow energy.
Massive blood loss, combined with the five gaping holes in his chest, drastically reduced the Raikage’s speed.
Su Xiao occasionally slashed out, no longer aiming for vital points. Instead, he began carving away chunks of flesh.
After about twenty seconds, the Raikage was nearly covered in wounds, the ground stained with large pools of blood.
“You…”
As the Raikage spoke, a wave of dizziness hit him. He could barely stand, the result of severe blood loss.
Su Xiao stepped forward swiftly and decapitated the Raikage with a single stroke. Fighting against a blade technique master was this dangerous. There were no ultimate technique clashes, no sudden power-ups. A single moment of distraction, and one’s head would roll.
The Raikage’s leg, already raised and crackling with lightning, hung in midair. This was an attack he had been preparing for a long time, meant to take Su Xiao down with him. Unfortunately, Su Xiao didn’t give him that chance. First, he bled him out; when the time was right, he beheaded him in one clean stroke, without a single unnecessary word.
The facts proved that Su Xiao’s longsword fighting style was extremely effective against close-quarters brawlers like the Raikage. The Raikage’s body simply couldn’t withstand the Dragon-Slaying Flash. The only thing that could was the metal armguard on his forearm, but Su Xiao’s blade technique was too cunning; those two armguards alone couldn’t block all his slashes.
For a fighter like the Raikage, if his defense couldn’t be breached, he was practically invincible—strong, fast. But once his defense was broken, he was not far from death.
[You have killed the Raikage of Kumogakure, Ai.]
[Ai was the Raikage of Kumogakure. Obtained World Source 10.4%. Total World Source obtained: 18%.]
[Your talent ‘Soul Devourer’ has been activated. Permanently increased Mana Points by 30. Current maximum Mana Points: 3586.]
[Obtained Chest (Legendary).]
…
[Prompt: The Hunter has obtained a Legendary Chest for the first time.]
[Inside a Legendary Chest, there is an 80% chance of obtaining a Gold-quality item, a 10% chance of obtaining a Light Gold set piece, an 8% chance of obtaining a Gold set piece, and a 2% chance of obtaining a Legendary item.]
[Prompt: Legendary items are extremely rare. Once used, they will be soul-bound, cannot be sold, and have a chance of appearing in a Scarlet Card upon death.]
…
Su Xiao picked up the chest from the ground. It emitted a dark golden light. Though not as dazzling as a golden chest, the color was deep and weighty, like a treasure that had existed for ages.
This was a Legendary Chest, the first time Su Xiao had seen such quality. As for obtaining a Legendary item from it, the hope was slim—only a 2% chance.
Based on Su Xiao’s knowledge, the ranking of equipment quality was:
White < Green < Blue < Purple < Dark Purple < Blue Set < Light Gold < Gold < Dark Purple Set < Light Gold Set < Gold Set.
Above Gold Sets might be Legendary equipment. This could be a single piece that rivals an entire Gold Set.
As for growth-type equipment, like the Dragon-Slaying Flash, it was harder to judge. With enough resources, the Dragon-Slaying Flash could even be upgraded to Legendary rank.
Su Xiao now had the possibility of obtaining Legendary items. Of course, it was only a possibility.
He had been incredibly lucky this time to get a Legendary Chest from killing the Raikage. But obtaining a Legendary Chest didn’t guarantee a Legendary item.
Su Xiao couldn’t help but wonder—if his entire equipment set were Legendary items, how powerful would he become?
Of course, that day was still far off. He might die along the way. For now, having three pieces of Gold equipment was already a significant boost to his strength.
Although personal power was fundamental, the role of equipment couldn’t be ignored. Equipment could amplify one’s strength exponentially.