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"Letting your guard down? Monster?" Chobei said smugly as he crouched down, holding onto a piece of the Doshi he attacked.
"Mizuho!" he yelled out to the girl as vine patterns grew both out of both their wounds as if to heal them. "Why're you over here... when I told you to mop up the vermin?"
"Sorry, I was concerned!" she apologized profusely, no longer paying attention to the vines on Chobei's neck or the ones growing on her injuries, as she ran back to the Soshin with her sword ready to strike.
Their injuries regenerated? But how? Aren't they ordinary humans? Unless... no... Unless, back then.. they were affected... by the vines of the pit? Remain calm... regeneration or not, they're still human... Nothing like us hermits, with our mastery over Tao...
"Hey, monster." Chobei said, interrupting the Doshi's thoughts. "Earlier, I felt this weird aura coming off of you... what was that?"
Does he speak of Tao? Ordinary humans shouldn't be able to sense it...
"What's wrong? Not in the mood to stumble over your words anymore?"The Bandit King mocked. "I'm thinking... that might be a source of power for you monsters? Just maybe... that's the key to killing Tensen?"
The Doshi observed both Chobei's and Mizuho's strength as the former waited to attack and the latter continued slaying the Soshin.
This man's Tao... Since earlier... it seems to have grown? The same could be said for the woman...
He then put his fingers together to create a hand-sign. I can tell... these people are dangerous. A threat to Lord Tensen. They must be killed here. Now.
The servant and the convict continued to fight each other as the Doshi punched Chobei multiple times, but he still held his ground. Then, the tentacled monster tried attacking from above, forcing the Bandit King to use his arms to protect his head. Suddenly, his arms broke off, but reattached themselves back to Chobei's body, shocking the Doshi. He continued attempting to land blows on the monster before they moved away from him, terrified of how much his Tao grew.
More Tao than ever, now... Did the vines do this to him? He's become... more than human...
While catching their breath, the Doshi noticed a similar growth in Tao in Mizuho as she continued slicing up the Soshin.
The girl is also getting stronger Tao...
Exhaling from a bit of exhaustion, Chobei spoke. "Can't say as I know what's going on... but this upgrade seems mighty handy."
"How dauntless." The Doshi praised. "Your very body has transformed... yet you do not fear... losing your humanity?"
Walking up to the monster, Chobei mockingly replied. "Nah. Nothing in this world is set in stone. I would know. Well, there's one thing that never changes... and that's enough for me."
"One thing...?" The Doshi later guessed. "One's sense of self?"
"Wrong..." Chobei then remembered his childhood memories when he and Toma first joined a gang with his child self writhing on the floor after defending his younger brother.
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"Cheeky brats!!" shouted the gang leader. "Your hoity-toity upbringing is plain as day. Think you're so classy, looking down on us, your good pals."
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Adaption is Key (An Aza Chobei Fanfic)
أدب الهواةWhat if Aza Chobei had a different executioner? What would happen if an unranked woman of the Yamada clan took his brother's place instead? Mizuho may be looked down upon, but won't be underestimated by the Bandit King. This franchise belongs to Yuj...
