'Side Quest: Four Oni Kings'
'Quest Requirement: Fight any one of the Three Oni Kings and do not be defeated.'
'Quest Reward: Wine Vessel: Red Demon Bottle (Chìguǐ Tí); All 'Oni Clan' initial Affection UP (Small).'
Almost the instant Lancer decided to accept the challenge, the 'System' promptly rolled out the quest. Lancer didn't quite understand what the 'Wine Vessel' was, but he highly valued the other reward.
Although this was his first encounter with the so-called 'Oni Clan,' based on the quest reward description, this effect did not seem to be limited to this world, which meant this seemingly simple reward could have a great impact on his future.
On the other side, Suika Ibuki was momentarily stunned when she noticed Lancer sudden surge in fighting spirit, and then the smile on her face became even brighter.
In her view, the previous strike was just a 'greeting,' and it was only natural that the other party could take it.
For the 'Oni Clan,' fighting is a very normal thing, but when both sides enjoy the fun of the fight, it is much more pleasurable than a simple battle.
'This kid has great potential~'
Thinking this, Suika Ibuki took off the sake gourd from her waist and took a gulp.
For her, the most exciting things in this world are fighting and drinking, and the joy of combining the two is beyond question.
"Snap~"
As the sake gourd was closed, Suika Ibuki erupted with a more powerful aura than before. Although small in stature, she felt like a giant standing before Lancer.
"Let's begin a pleasant fight~"
This sentence was like the fuse for the battle. Almost at the same time she uttered this sentence, a huge roar suddenly sounded, and a small, deep pit appeared where she had been standing.
One must know that the ground here, as a venue for the Oni Clan's feasts and battles, has a hardness far exceeding other places. An ordinary person would probably not be able to damage the ground even with full force.
Lancer, at this moment, had no time to be distracted by these irrelevant matters.
The most terrifying thing about the Oni Clan is their strength. Speed is not the Oni Clan's strong point, but even so, the terrifying explosive power gained from their strength meant Lancer barely had time to react.
The wind coming directly at him made him instinctively dodge sideways, and almost the instant he dodged, a gust of wind swept past his cheek, and the ground beside him instantly cracked. Then, Lancer only heard a strange 'clank' of collision and saw a chain sweeping towards him.
But just as the chain was about to hit Lancer, a long spear blocked the chain.
"Smack~!"
The chain did not hit Lancer but instantly wrapped around the spear shaft. Lancer first reaction was to pull the spear back, but just as he was about to act, he felt a massive force transmit from the opposite side. When he looked up, he saw the smiling Suika Ibuki directly.
Clamping her right arm, she tried to use the chain to seize Lancer weapon, and although Lancer had heard of the 'Oni's' terrifying strength, he also had some confidence in his own strength, so he decided to test the other party's strength.
"Flex~"
The muscles in his arms suddenly bulged, and the close-fitting kimono instantly stretched, making it look like it was about to burst.
Lancer fearless action first made Suika Ibuki pause, and then she showed an extremely joyful smile.
"That's great~ I like you! When I win, you'll be my friend!"
As her voice fell, the long spear that Lancer was barely able to hold was almost ripped out of his hands.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably surrender immediately, as their strength is almost entirely focused on seizing the weapon. Even if he could use ice to create a long spear, the only meaning of an ice spear in such a fierce battle would be as a consumable.
Just as Suika Ibuki was about to add more force to pull Lancer directly towards her, she suddenly found that there seemed to be nothing left in her chain?
"Thud!!"
Because she suddenly lost her target, she fell backward directly. Although she managed to react at the last moment, her right foot was still firmly planted in the soil.
And the 'young girl' Lancer was holding in his hand reverted to the shape of a spear again.
His escape this time was entirely due to the weapon's special nature. The other party's terrifying strength was simply despairing. One must know that Lancer was almost at his strongest, short of activating BUFFs, but the other party looked completely at ease.
'The Oni Clan's strength is truly no joke.'
The probing was over. After confirming the other party's terrifying strength, he decisively changed his tactics.
Suika Ibuki only saw an afterimage flash by, and then a chilling killing intent was felt at the back of her head.
"Screech~!"
The long spear, thrusting diagonally, grazed past the horns on both sides of her head. Seeing the light-brown hair fluttering down, she was not angered at all; instead, she became even happier.
The 'Oni Clan's' favorite fighting style is naturally close-quarters hand-to-hand combat, preferably where both sides attack each other without dodging until one side can no longer withstand it and is defeated.
Lancer high-mobility fighting style, however, often left her with no opportunity to use her strength. Moreover, the terrifying speed at this moment, coupled with the weapon that could pose a threat to her life, made Suika Ibuki's blood boil completely.
Undoubtedly, Suika Ibuki herself felt a certain threat, and it was this threat that made her even more excited.
How long had it been since she felt this kind of crisis, clinging so close to her body?
But just as she was about to make a move ——————
"Pop~"
Accompanied by a strange sound, a peculiar aroma of wine wafted from several meters away from the battlefield of the two.
Immediately, her gaze unconsciously shifted, and then her eyes widened completely.
The wine barrel, almost as tall as she was, had been opened. Yuugi Hoshiguma, holding the giant 'Star Bear Dish' in her hands, and Kasen Ibaraki, holding the 'Hundred Medicine Measuring Box' capable of holding a full liter of wine, were drinking with faces full of intoxication...
"You two bastards!!!"
Her fervor for battle had made her forget the true nature of her two 'kinsmen.' But just as she was about to rush over, a sense of danger returned to her mind.
"Pffft~!"
Several small holes suddenly appeared in the ground beside her, and when her gaze shifted, she could only see a gradually dissipating afterimage and Lancer slightly distorted voice due to high-speed movement.
"Being distracted during a fight, are you looking down on me? Do you think you've already won against me!"
Yuugi Hoshiguma's strength is indeed terrifying, but Lancer has also encountered opponents more terrifying than her, such as a certain man who could tear through clouds with a single punch, even when severely wounded.
'I don't know when our next meeting will be, but next time, I must defeat you honorably.'
He had won against the other party with a trick last time, but Lancer was still unsatisfied. He yearned to heal that man's injury, fight him fairly, and finally defeat him!
And the opponent in front of him was the best whetstone.