Having officially made it to the place where Kamine, Ouji and Shibuchu ward met, Kanashi and Kenji were met with a breathtaking view. Laying before them and stretching far into the distance was a large string of large properties each with a beautiful garden full of ponds, trees and gorgeous wooden houses. The only path being a single paved road just about large enough for two lanes which lay between the properties and protected by a thick metal gate made to keep any unwanted guest from entering. Said gate was of course connected to the rest of the fence which surrounded the area, large spear like rods covered in thick cables made to stop even the largest wire cutters from breaking through.

  “I guess we have to follow that road to get to the Soutou estate…” Kanashi muttered to himself which Kenji shrugged at.

  “Should we just hop the fence?” Kenji asked, turning to Kanashi who tilted his head to the side and rubbed his chin as if in deep thought.

  “...” Looking to the gate he inspected the guard house which was situated next to it. No, a guard mansion would be the better term for the building, it was at least three stories tall with multiple balconies and according to Kanashis observation around six guards inside. Though he couldn’t confirm it he had the sneaking suspicion that said guards wouldn’t exactly let anyone into the neighborhood without a real reason and wanting to speak to Soutou Raizen probably wasn’t one. Of course the next step would be trespassing however…

  “The issue is really if there’s a barrier there meant to keep guys like us out, I don’t see one and the guards inside the house don’t seem to be magic users but I’m not a good judge with these kinds of things.” He sighed. Avoiding unneeded conflict was his #1 goal at the moment and if they plead their case to the guards and were rejected then conflict would surely arise at some point. Thankfully it didn’t seem like they’d been noticed yet so the pair slunk into a small patch of foliage to plot their heist.

  “Kenji, can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s up?” Kenji answered.

  In response Kanashi stuck his hand out and inside of it forming from thin air was a small rock no bigger than a golf ball. “Throw this rock over the fence, I wanna test something.” He said.

  “Got it.” Kenji nodded, he grabbed the stone from Kanashi's hand and with a flick of his finger shot it through the air. Flying over the fence with a bullet like whistle it surely would ruin someone's day when it landed.

  “...”

  Kanashi quietly watched the barrier waiting for something to happen, some kind of retaliation or response but nothing did and he let out a sigh of relief. “I imbued that stone with enough mana for the barrier to take notice of it. But since nothing happened and no guards are showing up I think we’re in the clear.” He said, standing up and brushing the loose leaves and dirt from him.

  “So we’re going for it?” Kenji asked with a devilish grin.

  “Yep, we’ll just hop over the fence and then find our way to the Soutou estate. Although I’m not sure exactly where that is, I'm sure we’ll find it eventually.” Kanashis tone trailed off at the end of his sentence as if realizing just how difficult that could be.

  Pushing that aside he nodded to Kenji and the two of them springed out of the foliage gunning it straight for the fence. Thankfully Kenji was kind enough to keep his pace about equal to Kanashi even if he could have moved many times faster if he really wanted to. Upon reaching the fence in record time, greater than the average track star Kanashi leapt up over the fence and its razor sharp spikes, Kenji doing the same.

  Crashing to the ground on all fours, Kanashi rolled forwards, reducing the impact from his joints, something he’d been taught to do by Julius.

  “!?”

  From behind him came a hand which grabbed the collar of his neck and when he went to yelp another hand covered his mouth ripping him backwards into a gathering of tall bushes.

  “Quiet.” Kenji muttered, in Kanashis ear as he released his firm grip.

  “What’s going on!?” Kanashi whispered, his voice shaking slightly.

  “We missed one.” Kenji pointed his finger straight ahead of them and towards something in the garden they’d landed in.

  “...” Staring at the creature, Kanashi noted that it looked like no animal he’d ever seen before. Even if his zoology was rusty and wasn’t the greatest he still had a good grasp of what existed and what didn't. And this [thing] was like nothing that should exist. In the vague shape of human but made out of wind itself the creature faded in and out of reality as if it was a glitch in a video game. The closest thing Kanashi could compare it to was the [Elemental] he’d seen with Rebbeca and Jason. But that one was made of water and looked different, if he had to guess this then was a [Wing Elemental] or something of the sort.

  “Shit.” He gulped, using observation he could tell that it wasn’t something they wanted to fight against. He wasn’t sure if it was because of its strength or some other reason, all he knew was that the word “Bad News!” Might as well have been painted over it in bright red ink . “Where’d it come from?” He asked. Turing to Kenji.

  “It showed up right as we landed.” Kenji answered with a mutter. “Do you know what it is?”

  “No, not really… but I think it’s a [Wind Elemental] and a worrisome one at that. It might be the guard of this [Garden] or the whole [Property] or even the [Neighborhood] I’m not sure. But we should avoid fighting it if possible.”

  Kenji frowned with a deep sigh but nodded his head, trusting Kanashi instincts. Both begin to creep backwards making a hasty yet silent escape.

  CRACK!

  The sound seemed to echo across the whole world, in that moment it was the loudest sound Kanashi had ever heard, his foot snapping a twig underneath him.

  “!”

  Not even a second later a tempest of wind flew at Kanashi who just barely managed to cast a [Shield] which had large lacerations embedded into it from the elemental attack.

  [Inogiri!]

  Like a flash Kenji appeared before the elemental, his katana swinging down on it with pure killing intent, his form one which would have slayed the creature in a single clean motion.

  “!?”

  However and to Kenji's extreme shock the blade simply passed through the elemental like it was made of air.

  “What the-”

  Before Kenji could question what had happened he was assaulted by a whip of air which carved itself deep into his shoulder, ripping the already bruised flesh and exposing torn muscle fibers. With a wince of pain Kenji was thrown backwards sliding across the ground.

  “It’s ethereal! We can’t deal damage with conventional methods!” Kanashi yelled quickly, turning his attention to the Elemental and conjuring [Rock Riffle].

  Four bullets formed from rock flew at the Elemental, though upon contact nothing happened and they simply flew straight through the creature and continued off into the distance.

  “It didn’t work!?” Kanashi growled in a panic, the Rock Riffle had worked on the water elemental and was made of mana so it should have been able to affect the ethereal creature. Yet it only made the creature grow angrier.

  “!”

  His observation flashing red Kanashi jumped down into the bushes right as a whip of wind flew at him, the attack cracking against a tree trunk behind him and embedding a gash deep into the wood.

  “Kenji, let's just run!” Kanashi yelled to the Swordsman who had tried to attack the elemental to no success.

  Kenji looked at Kanashi, his face twisting into a variety of emotions but he managed to put his pride aside and jumped backwards grabbing Kanashi once more and retreating into the distance.

  “What if it follows us?” Kenji asked, looking down at Kanashi who he held under his arm.

  “I didn’t think about that to be honest!” Kanashi answered earnestly, his face red with embarrassment.

  “!”

  As if mocking them suddenly the Elemental appeared before them once more. Not bound to a physical form it could move at a speed no tangible entity could and simply glided through the atmosphere as if teleporting. The elemental cast another whip of wind aiming for Kenji once more.

  “Shield!”

  Kanashi quickly cast a [Shield] which the attacked lashes against, the barrier shattering into shards of mana like glass.

  Is it attacking us because we trespassed? Or is it something else!? No, the reason doesn’t matter, what matters is how we get rid of it… think think, last time I just hit the water Elemental with my Rock Riffle and it worked! But I guess the water was more tangible, it had some kind of form to it whereas the wind doesn't? So maybe that’s the difference? Or maybe it depends on strength. Maybe this one is just so much stronger than the last that it can’t be affected the same way? But then how do I defeat it… Kanashi squinted his eyes and he tried to recall what had happened with the last Elemental.

  ? ? ? ? ? ?

  “Wow Rebecca hummed, patting Kanashi on the pack after the elemental retreated down into the watery depths.

  “What?” Kanashi asked, turning around and tilting his head to the side. He’d only just hit it, anyone could do that so he didn’t quite understand the praise.

  “That was really impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone deal that kinda damage to an Elemental with a type it’s resistant to before.” Rebecca answered smiling warmly though a bit of anxiety was visible on that smile.

  ? ? ? ? ? ?

  “Elements! It’s weak to an elemental type!” Kanashi yelled out smacking his fist against his open palm.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  “Okay then use the type it’s weak against!” Kenji barked as he tried to defend against the wind lacerations which shot out at him.

  Okay wind wind wind, what’s wind weak against? Think what’re flying types weak to? Ice, Rock and… Thunder! “Electricity! It’s electricity!” Kanashi laughed, freeing himself from Kenji's grasp and rolling backwards across the ground. Clapping his hands together he then slowly pulled them apart like he’d seen Hayai do to conjure his own electricity. From each of his palms came sparks of light zipping with power sticking to Kanashi like putty would when being molded. Though the issue here was that Kanashi’s worst element was electricity, something he had very little compatibility with mainly due to how fearful he was of it. As a child in school he saw another student stick a paperclip into an outlet on a dare. The result was terrible to say the least. As such the idea and light numbing sensation of having an electric coil around his hands wasn’t pleasant even if there was no real pain to be felt. It was more akin to the feeling of having a limb “fall asleep” than static on a tv feeling.

  All of this is to say that the idea of using “Emission” with electricity was far from something he was comfortable with and capable of doing with great power. He normally got around this using it as a second or third spell imbued into something like [Mudd] or [bog] but neither of those would work against the elemental since neither would land.

  “Kenji! I need you to create an opening for me!” Kanashi yelled out.

  “For what!?” Asked Kenji as he defended against the incoming whips of air, his bandages opening up with new blood trickling down them.

  “I’m gonna punch it!”

  “What?!”

  “I’m gonna punch it with electricity! That should work!”

  Kenji, feeling pain seeping into his limbs, didn't have the energy to argue while continuing to battle the whips of wind.

  “All right, just tell me when you’re ready!”

  “I’m ready now!” Kanashi barked.

  “Got it…”

  With a deep breath Kenji suddenly filled his limbs with power, blood gushing from them as he did so he leapt forwards towards the elemental, his Katana drawn and ready to slice.

  [Roronoa!]

  Leaping forwards with insane power and pushing past the pain in his barely working limbs Kenji unleashes a volley of strikes upon the Elemental at once, each capable of slicing down a tank yet against the Elemental they did nothing of the sort. Despite this insane barrage there was a clear intent behind it and the attacks were not wild. The wind pressure from the attacks continued off into the distance and sliced down multiple trees in its path.

  Seeing the opening Kenji had made for him, Kanashi leapt forwards, closing the distance in a single clean motion and wrapping electricity around his fist.

  [Raiken!]

  Copying the name of Hayais own technique Kanashi plunged his electric fist into the side of the wind elemental.

  “#@*?%#!$^#!?”

  With an inhuman sound reminiscent of a computers beeps the creature was bent inwards the strike clearly not only making contact but also dealing significant damage.

  However the damage wasn’t enough and the Elemental quickly cocked back its wrath unleashed and it grew in size to that of a leaping bear with blind rage and many limbs formed from razor shaped wind whips.

  Looking to his side Kanashi saw Kenjis face one of suicidal determination. No matter how strong Kenji was even at full health this creature was not one they could defeat easily as per its fundamental nature. It was simply a bad match up, only someone who used elemental magic or an ethereal weapon could bypass.

  However in that moment an idea struck Kanashis mind and he reached for Kenji's Katana gripping it tight even though it sliced his hand open he poured electricity into it.

  [Rekitsurugi!]

  Stealing another technique this time from Satoshi Kanashi charged Kenji's blade with electricity a ridiculous amount.

  “!”

  Seeing his blade crackle and the static fill his hands Kenji let out a wide grin understanding what was to be done.

  Throwing his Katana up into the air and stepping forwards, Kenji rotated his hips while flicking his wrist, swinging Ikazou straight into the wind elemental's center mass.

  [Takemikazuchi!!!]

  “#@*?%#!$^#!?”

  The creature let out a cry of anguish, its form nearly severed in half from the blow it trembled. The damage was severe enough that rather than retaliating once more it quickly slunk back to retreat.

  Kenji went to chase after it but Kanashi grabbed the end of his Kimono and shook his head. “It’s gone, there’s no point in chasing after it!”

  “...” Kenji with another annoyed sigh nodded his head and both men quickly ran in the direction opposite of where they’d come in.

  Ripping through the garden for another few minutes they came upon a pond which stretched far to both the right and the left with only a single wooden bridge large enough for two to walk across comfortably side by side.

  Kanashi and Kenji didn’t stop at the bridge but ran across it.

  “!?”

  However, to their misfortune what rose out of the pond on both sides were creatures which Kanashi did this time recognize.

  A water elemental, six to be exact.

  Immediately upon appearing they fired blasts of boiling water at Kenji and Kanashi who narrowly avoided the attacks.

  And as they came upon the end of the bridge, what greeted them there at the water's muddy edge were elements formed from mud, taking the shape of a vaguely man-like shape but not exactly accurate.

  “Damnit, What the hell is this place!?” Kanashi screamed out his composure long since shattered. From behind came the Water elementals and in front of them the mud elementals.

  [Hellstorm!]

  Casting a massive ball of fire at the mud golems, Kanahsi baked their figures into clay which Kenji swiftly sliced down.

  Turning to the water elementals Kanashi conjured a handful of water which he threw at the creatures as if he’d tossed a ball. Hower with the snap of his fingers those droplets of water turned into icicles with deadly endpoints which pierced the Elementals core causing them to scream out in a panic.

  “Kanashi, they're coming back!” Kenji growled, grabbing Kanashi by the shoulder as the Mud Elementals reformed, their cores having taken no damage from the previous attack.

  “Tch, they must be like the wind elemental and need to have some kind of attack to actually deal real damage to them…”

  This has to be someone's defense, there’s no way there’d be this many elementals on a single property for no reason. They were probably captured and then brought here and tamed by the property owners. At least that’s what I think, I’m not even sure if that’s possible. But if it is then all we have to do is leave the property to make them leave us alone.

  “Kenji, we have to leave the property!”

  “I thought that was the plan!?”

  “It was but now it’s turned into our only way to make it out of this!”

  “If that’s the case then here!” Kenji yelled out grabbing Kanashi and flinging him over his shoulder.

  “Huh?” Kanashi gawked as Kenji without warning took off at breakneck speed, the floor might as well have caught on fire from how fast he was moving. He slid past the elementals and through the small gathering of trees until finally coming to a large hedge which he ran through officially finding the garden's exit.

  “Blegh!” Kanashi gagged as he fell from Kenji's shoulder onto the paved road below with a roll, spitting leaves from his mouth. After a minute or so of spitting up the leaves caught in his throat he turned to Kenji. “You good?” He asked weakly.

  “Yeah, just a little bloody is all.” Kenji laughed, showing off his bandages. “Looks like you were right about them not wanting to chase us once we left-”

  [Water Hazard!]

  With a sudden spray of water from Kanashis hand Kenji was doused in warm water, his speech being cut off.

  “!?”

  Then as the water ceased and before Kenji could complain or ask with a shout what Kanashi thought he was doing there came a blast of warm wind being [Sonic Boom].

  His wet hair being blown back from the hot hair and dried Kenji shook his head and looked down at his body which was fresh from blood.

  “Not bad.” He hummed with a smile, looking at his arms and legs. The bandages while now loose from all the movement were cleaned and still on tight enough to fall from his body.

  “But don’t just go interrupting me like that! If I didn’t trust you I’d have cut your head off!” He barked.

  “S-sorry I just didn’t think you’d agree to it anyway so I wanted to catch you by surprise.” Kanashi said, furrowing his brow and clasping his hands to apologize.

  “Phu, well I guess it doesn't matter since I don’t need you to bandage me again…” Kenji muttered, blowing the hair from eyes with his breath.

  Kanashi, relaxing his shoulders, looked to the property which they’d escaped from and followed its edge into the distance where he could make out the vague shape of a wooden sign with characters carved into it. Three characters to be exact.

  [式々氏]

  “Shikinori Clan?” Kanashi read aloud pursing his lips, he’d not heard of them before, the only clans he’d known of as to this point which were versed in magic were the Hojo, Soutou, Kageki, Susanori and Sosaki. And Shikinori was certainly not amongst those names even if there were multiple S starting ones. All of this meaning…

  “We were getting our asses kicked by some second rate nobodies!?” He yelled aloud his eyes narrowing with veins growing across his brow.

  “Whaddya mean?” Kenji asked, looking at Kanashi.

  “This is the Shikinori estate!”

  “Who’s that?” Kenji asked, picking at his ear.

  “Exactly! Who is that!?”

  “...”

  “...’

  “...!” Kenji finally understood what Kanashi meant and his already bloodshot pink eyes turned a crimson red as his bandages began to leak blood. “Bastards! My honor as a Samurai has been tainted by not a 2nd but a 3rd rate opponent!?” He cried out his orange aura becoming like that of a flame. His mouth for the first time in a while elongated into an ear to ear smile which looked as though it was going to rip his cheeks open at any moment.

  However before he could dash into the property once more Kanashi tackled his ankles. “Wait! I- I get your frustration but we can’t risk the mission besides it’s suicide to run into there isn’t that more dishonoring!? To lose against a 3rd rate opponent!?”

  “To run away from a 3rd rate opponent is by far more dishonorable Kanashi! A wound on a man's back is a sign of him being no higher in status than a dog!”

  “I generally think Dogs are equal to humans in worth so I don’t really see your point there but it doesn't matter! If you run in there and die now the mission will be compromised and you’ll lose the chance to reclaim your honor and some extra! You’re not fleeing from the Shikinori, you're doing a tactical evasion like a Ninja!”

  “Shinobi are cowards with no sense of honor! They’d stab a woman in the back as she shielded her child from them!”

  “Then think of it like a Samurai! You’re my Samurai and I’m your Shogun! If anything this is a hit on my own honor!”

  “...” Kenji seemed to contemplate this, he ground his teeth against one another for a moment until he seemed to concede and let his shoulders droop, his Katana returning to its sheath at his side.

  “But this does make me worry somewhat…” Kanashu muttered under his breath as he stood up and dusted off his clothes.

  “What'd Ya mean?” Kenji asked with a frown looking at Kanashi. Clearly still annoyed by Kanashi preventing him from reclaiming his honor.

  “If this is just the Shiknori… then what is the Soutous property gonna be like?”

  [式式] Shikinori - I couldn’t decide between Norishiki and Shikinori, but I think Norishiki is a first name and Shikinori is a last name in the end. It basically just means The kanji 式 means [Technique] or [art].

  Kanashis assumption about how the Shikinori got the Elementals is correct. While it’s possible for one or maybe even two if you’re lucky / unlucky to form on such a large rich property it’s highly unlikely. The Shikinori probably had someone help them capture the elementals and then release them on their own property and form contracts with them.

  It is possible to form contracts with animals, spirits, elementals and such. It's just not easy because normally the other thing you’re contracting with doesn’t want something you could understand. The Elementals probably want to have free roam over nature and to not be disturbed, also they’re able to eat all the Kami they want from the air.

  Actually if too much Kami is taken from an area at once there can be disastrous consequences, something I hope to explore in the future.