How strong was Naoki's fighting prowess exactly?
This was truly not something that could be easily explained, as there was no benchmark, it could only be judged through combat records, and according to Merlin—under the condition that neither of them used any Magecraft or Mana, Naoki could defeat everyone in the Clock Tower.
In short, in terms of physical ability, Naoki was already completely non-human.
Such a Naoki, when facing the dolls surrounding him, the first thought that came to mind was not what to do, but how long it would take to destroy all these creatures beyond repair.
However, should it be said that he completely forgot about his surroundings while fighting? Or did he simply not perceive the reality of the battle at all?
*CRASH!*
After tearing the last doll standing around him into two pieces and throwing it behind him, Naoki looked around, "Huh? Why am I back on the first floor?"
—Unknowingly, he had broken through the entire apartment!
Scratching his head, Naoki looked at the mess around him, "Hmm... I've destroyed everything, it shouldn't be a problem, right? Do I need to clean up? So that's it, no wonder something felt strange."
From the fourth floor to the first floor, in the middle also destroying, slamming, and pressing many dolls against the walls, this series of events produced a sound that was clearly no less than the next-door neighbor renovating. Logically, such a large commotion should have attracted people's attention long ago, but until now, Naoki hadn't seen anyone.
"Besides Shiki, no one else lives here? Then I can understand the barrier, was I too prejudiced?"
A large apartment, besides one resident there was no one else, rounding it up, this place was equal to a long-abandoned empty room. If someone suddenly entered here, they would naturally tremble because of the silence of this place.
This was a common occurrence, there were many similar situations, for example, some students gathering to venture into an abandoned factory or something similar.
Plus, Naoki was already prejudiced, using the thinking of a Magus to think, so he mistakenly thought there was a barrier here.
In fact, this apartment had no barrier whatsoever.
"Constantly interacting with mysteries, the result is scaring myself, truly a bit embarrassing."
Naoki couldn't help but scoff at himself.
And at that moment, the apartment door opened again, Shiki entered carrying a bag full of mineral water, saw Naoki and the scattered remains of dolls around him, her whole body instantly froze as if struck by lightning.
"This could be considered the third meeting?" Naoki smiled, "If you want to kill me, go ahead, but before that—damn it!"
Before Naoki finished speaking, Shiki suddenly threw the bag in her hand, quickly drew a dagger from behind her, without concealing the overflowing killing intent from her body, and charged towards Naoki fiercely as if seeing her mortal enemy!
*CRACK!*
The dagger instantly sliced through part of the elevator's outer wall.
Quickly recovering from his roll, Naoki hurriedly said, "Suddenly attacking directly, even though this is our third meeting, you don't need to be like this—hey! Listen to people talk!"
*SSRRTTT!*
The only thing that answered Naoki was the dagger that slashed mercilessly, the blade reflecting a cold light that pierced straight towards his body!
In front of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, even the smallest wound would become a fatal, incurable wound. Even if the dagger was successfully knocked away, Shiki's body would transform into a deadly weapon.
Plus, Shiki was somehow in a state of full rage at this moment.
'If I'm careless, I could die. Even so, it's not like I'm underestimating...'
"Too slow."
Even without using Reinforcement Magecraft, Naoki instantly reached out and grabbed Shiki's wrist, in an instant snatching her dagger, then kicked her chest—to prevent it from piercing through, he deliberately only used thirty percent of his strength.
However, even so.
*THUD!*
Along with a muffled sound, Shiki was instantly sent flying by the kick! The arc of her flight made Naoki unconsciously want to rush forward to catch her!
However, as agile as a cat, Shiki quickly adjusted her angle and steadily landed with both feet on the floor.
Raising her head and glaring sharply at Naoki with anger, Shiki pulled out another dagger from behind her.
"Again? How many daggers do you carry?"
"Since failing to stab your eyes out a few months ago, I always carry four spares. Stand still there so I can kill you."
"Do you have a deep grudge against me? Can you listen to me properly!"
Even gods could get angry, and Naoki was not a god, now he was also a little annoyed, "I don't really like fighting with women, if possible can we end it here? Don't act unreasonable."
"You've destroyed all my things, and you still want me to end it here?" Shiki said coldly, "Who exactly is acting unreasonable?"
"Your things?"
Naoki was stunned for a moment, then looked towards the remains of the dolls around him.
"These dolls are yours?"
"In terms of ownership, they are indeed mine. I originally planned to go out for a full meal and then come back to slash these dolls a few times to digest, but now you've destroyed them all, so what am I supposed to kill every day!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute! Let me gather information first!" Naoki hurriedly waved his hands, gesturing for Shiki to stop, "Uh, let me gather the situation first. You mean... for the past two years, you've always lived here, and every day you repeat the routine of slashing these dolls a few times?"
"That's right."
Shiki said it with a straight face.
"After all, they're just dolls, plus as long as I don't use these eyes, no matter how I kill these dolls, they will reappear the next day, so I just kill them for fun. It also happens to be entertainment when I don't find any thugs."
"..."
Naoki more or less understood, or rather, after Shiki's explanation like this, he more or less understood what Shiki had been doing for the past two years.
Two years ago, after Araya Souren died, Shiki lived in this Ogawa Apartment, usually spending her days wandering the alleys looking for trouble with thugs, and if she didn't find any thugs, she would come back and slash dolls.
"What's the point of you doing this? Running away from home for two years, skipping school, and constantly repeating this kind of life for what?"
"Who are you? Don't interfere in my affairs!"
Glaring sharply at Naoki with anger, Shiki gripped her dagger tightly again.
"The explanation is enough. I told you, the third meeting means prepare to be killed by me. Plus, you've destroyed all my dolls, this can't be left as it is."
"..."
Looks like, not fighting won't solve this?