Four Vessels Style users’ limbs were invincible, but that wasn’t the case when up against other users of the same style. Thus, when facing other Four Vessels Style users, they would use tactics fit for fighting one another. They also practiced abilities to use against non-Four Vessel Style users, and one of those was Cat Claw. If he had been using it against another Four Vessels Style user, his fingers would have already been sheared off. For those who weren’t users of that style, however, it was incredibly dangerous.
I see... This is good to know...
It wasn’t like his physical ability had improved, so the attack wasn’t that fast, allowing Utto to swiftly dodge even as she admired his ability. She lowered her stance as she jumped forward, closing the distance between them.
“My claws are nothing like a mere cat’s!” Utto’s nails were also dangerous to her opponent, who wasn’t wearing any armor. Even the lightest scratch would leave a grievous mark, no doubt carving a path towards victory.
“Hmph!”
Uzame raised his leg, covering his torso. For a normal person, it wouldn’t provide much protection, leading to them being hit and falling over. However, for Uzame, whose limbs were like swords, there was no way he would be knocked down.
“Too bad...!” Utto had expected he would try to defend himself like that, to the point she was actually grateful he had done exactly that.
I’ll aim for...his back!
She leaped forward, passing his flank. As was the case for any martial artist, a Four Vessels Style user’s back was vulnerable. If she was able to tear into his back, it’d be her victory.
“Too bad!” As she tried to spin around, Uzame landed a forceful kick.
“Guh...!” She should have been able to reach behind him. He shouldn’t have been able to hit. Unsure what was going on, she jumped out of the way and looked at Uzame. He was still standing on one foot, with one leg outstretched behind him. He didn’t seem to be very balanced, especially not balanced enough to be able to produce a kick with that much force.
“I haven’t cut...only lightly kicked...even then...this power.” He wouldn’t have lost his balance from just extending his leg. If he had cut her, it would have nothing to do with his footing, but she had certainly been hit.
“It’s not an issue of having good balance or a strong body...”
“In martial arts, the important part is not the foot you kick with, but the position of your foot. Shouldn’t you also be looking at that?” Uzame placed his foot back on the ground, regaining his balance.
“Did you stiffen your body by burying your other foot in the ground?”
“Precisely... Four Vessels Style, Standing Post!” Uzame’s foot had sharpened as he thrust it into the ground, hardening and securing itself within the earth. The logic behind it was simple, but the control and the mastery of the martial art were impressive.
“I know it’s a simple trick, but don’t make fun of it, all right? There are a variety of other more practical and useful abilities.”
“All right...as you say.” It was a simple trick. It was also a kind of surprise attack, one that couldn’t be used more than once. However, it was still somewhat troublesome. She was no longer able to aim for his back and take the victory.
“In that case...” Utto went back to basics. She began moving her body in small, swift increments. “I’ll stop the cheap tricks.” Spirit Summoning users came out on top as far as reflexes and movement speed went. No matter how sharp her opponent’s hands and feet were, no matter how powerful they were, they couldn’t match up to her agility. As such, she had no reason to hesitate. She could be cut to pieces, but if she was afraid of that, then she would bring disgrace to her country.
As Utto prepared herself, Uzame readied himself as well.
“Four Vessels Style, Arrowhead Stance.” Rather than continue the Facing Swords Stance, he clenched his fists and pushed his chest forward. This wasn’t a stance meant only for defense, as it focused more on balancing both offense and defense.
“Hyah!”
They both moved at the same time, as if they had planned for it. Uzame threw a punch as Utto readied another, while Utto moved in time with Uzame.
If I move first, I’ll have the upper hand. He’ll try to use it to his advantage and catch me off guard. If he goes first, I won’t be able to respond to any of his sly tricks. So, I’ll move at the same time as him, making use of my speed in order to land the first hit!
That was a technique Utto could pull off with her outstanding reflexes and her strengthened body, especially since she had been successful with her improvised techniques for fighting another martial arts style. Utto landed a hit on Uzame’s face, sending his fist into the sky.
“Ha ha ha...that worked,” Uzame said, even as blood poured out of his nose. Even so, he was laughing. He wasn’t laughing to appear strong, but because he had secured victory. “ I’m sorry, though. You see, I can handle a punch like that.” If Utto had been fully transformed, she probably would have broken his neck with one hit. Unfortunately, she was only half-transformed, so she wasn’t even able to knock him out.
“Huh...” Utto wasn’t surprised by that. She was more surprised by Uzame’s fist, which had missed but was now clinging to her body.
“The Four Vessels Style does use one’s four limbs as weapons. However, they’re not just sharp or blunt weapons. They can also become coarse files.” By “files,” he was referring to a piece of equipment that was used to shave the surface of wood or metal. His hand didn’t have the same effect as adhesive glue, but Utto wondered what would happen if it were to attach itself to cloth or fur. Actually, it would almost certainly get tangled among all the fibers.
“This is usually reserved for those wearing clothes, but your hair is quite thick...!”
Uzame’s arm, which had become a file, had gotten tangled in Utto’s thick body hair.
“If I pull it away, your fur and skin will tear clean off. And...” Uzame then moved his other arm towards Utto’s stomach. “If I thrust this in, it’ll pierce your body.”
Utto paused for a moment before replying, “I admit defeat.” It had come to this. There was no other way she could win. Utto surrendered and Uzame accepted.
“Ha ha ha, good work, Uzame! Your opponent...Lady Utto? She did well too!” Both parties retreated as the Four Vessels Style master rejoiced. All the other Four Vessels Style users were shouting loudly, with onlookers of other martial art styles praising their efforts.
“Thank you for fighting with me. I was able to see the essence...no, a glimpse of the Four Vessels Style.”
“What? Thank you for fighting with me. I got to have a satisfying victory,” said Uzame, wiping the blood from his nose, seeming to be in good spirits. He went on to tell Utto what he had felt during their bout together. “While I don’t know the specifics, I can tell that you are not that well versed in hand-to-hand combat. Here in Tempera Village, you can learn many different and interesting styles of martial arts.”
“Yeah, I hope I can learn a lot.”
“If you do, next time you might be able to get one up on me! Ha ha ha!” It wasn’t impossible for someone who was weak to suddenly get stronger, but if someone who already was strong were to learn a new way of fighting, it would take a while for them to get used to it. Since Spirit Summoning was so powerful, she hadn’t had any reason to think of other special abilities.