Honkai Impact 3rd - The Interference

Chapter 71 - Reflections In Conflicts

"Remarkable... Mayako Kanae.."

Noah chuckled despite the blade still piercing his chest, marveling at Kanae's ability to catch him off guard and deliver a critical blow, a feat only matched by one other individual - that man.

That man, whose name echoed in Noah's memory like a distant whisper, had been a formidable adversary, his skill unmatched. Yet, here stood Kanae, a new challenger, proving herself worthy of Noah's respect and admiration. As he gazed into her eyes, a glimmer of recognition passed, acknowledging the A-Rank valkyrie strength.

He found himself in dire straits; not only was Kanae's blade poised at a critical juncture, but Hoshino Wan had risen from his knees, his gaze fixed on the man in the crow mask with unwavering determination. It was evident that he was prepared to engage in battle once more, adding another layer of peril to Noah's predicament.

As time seemed to stretch, elongating each passing moment, the masked man seized the opportunity to gather his resolve. With a deliberate inhale, he steadied himself before springing into action. Swiftly, he maneuvered behind Kanae, capitalizing on her momentary imbalance. With deft agility, he evaded her blade, slipping away at a blistering pace, effectively removing himself from the immediate threat of Kanae's weapon.

Witnessing the unfolding chaos, Wan's eyes widened in alarm, reacting swiftly by charging up and unleashing a torrent of Celestial Rays from his mouth, aimed directly at Noah. However, Noah proved to be as elusive as ever, dodging the attack effortlessly and triggering a calculated explosion beneath Wan's feet, disrupting his advance.

Meanwhile, as Noah remained focused on Wan's movements, Kanae materialized from the shadows behind him, her blade descending with lethal intent. Reacting with instinctive reflexes, Noah raised his axe to intercept the onslaught, expecting his defense to hold firm. Yet, to his astonishment, Kanae's blade cleaved through his guard as if it were nothing but air, drawing blood with chilling precision.

Caught off guard by the unexpected breach, Noah's mind raced with disbelief. 'How...?' he pondered in bewilderment, swiftly deciding to abandon his futile defense and opt for complete evasion in a desperate bid to survive the relentless onslaught.

As Kanae pressed her advantage, closing the distance between them with relentless determination, Noah found himself locked in a deadly dance of blades. With each strike, her movements were fluid and precise, seeking out vulnerabilities in his defense with unwavering focus.

Despite Noah's attempts to parry and counter, Kanae's onslaught proved relentless, her blade finding its mark time and again with chilling accuracy. Each clash sent sparks flying, filling the air with the metallic tang of battle as they engaged in a deadly duel of skill and willpower.

With every passing moment, Noah's defenses began to falter under the relentless assault, his strength waning as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. Yet, even as fatigue gnawed at his resolve, he refused to yield, drawing upon every ounce of his remaining strength to hold his ground against Kanae's relentless onslaught.

Noah's thoughts drifted to Mayako Kanae as he fought to fend off her relentless assault. 'Her combat prowess is unmatched,' he mused, admiring the versatility and finesse with which she wielded her blade.

As Noah struggled to keep pace with Kanae's relentless barrage, he marveled at her unparalleled versatility in combat. Not content with conventional methods alone, she seamlessly transitioned between various limbs to wield her blade, utilizing her hands, feet, and even her mouth with deadly precision.

With each fluid motion, Kanae demonstrated a mastery of unconventional techniques, catching Noah off guard time and again. Her ability to seamlessly integrate different parts of her body into her attacks added a new layer of unpredictability to her assault, making it all the more challenging for Noah to anticipate her next move.