The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 8: The Hero Town Arc
Chapter 30: Invisible Clash - Ren Hayashi VS Tatsuro Zenith
Evening.
The arena is full.
Crowded.
Noisy.
Excited.
But—
That noise doesn't last.
Because the moment I step forward—
It changes.
Silence doesn't fall completely.
But it tightens.
People feel it.
Even if they don't understand it.
Across from me—
Tatsuro Zenith stands still.
Calm.
Focused.
Watching.
Not smiling.
Not underestimating.
Good.
"…Start?"
A pause.
"…Yeah."
No signal.
No referee.
No countdown.
Just—
Movement.
—
He disappears.
No sound.
No warning.
Just—
Gone.
Gasps erupt from the crowd.
"…Where did he go?!"
"…I didn't see—"
Too late.
He's already in front of me.
Punch.
Fast.
Clean.
Perfect form.
I move.
Barely.
My hand rises.
Block.
Impact.
A shockwave spreads.
The ground cracks slightly under our feet.
"…Blocked?"
A whisper escapes someone.
"…He blocked that?"
No time.
He moves again.
Gone.
Left.
Right.
Above.
He's not moving randomly.
He's testing.
I step forward.
Not chasing.
Reading.
He appears again.
Strike.
I tilt.
Miss.
Counter.
My fist moves—
He vanishes.
The air splits where he stood.
"…Too slow."
"…Not yet."
His voice is calm.
Close.
Behind me.
He strikes again.
I turn.
Block.
Impact.
This time—
Stronger.
The arena shakes.
People step back.
Even A-ranks narrow their eyes.
"…I can't follow…"
"…They're too fast…"
"…This is insane…"
We don't stop.
—
Step.
Turn.
Punch.
Block.
Counter.
Dodge.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
No breathing room.
Every motion—
Clean.
Precise.
Deadly.
—
He accelerates.
Faster than before.
Now—
Even the afterimages disappear.
To most—
We're gone.
Completely.
Only shockwaves.
Only cracks.
Only air pressure.
That's all they can see.
—
"…This is bad…"
An A-rank mutters.
"…I can barely track them…"
"…They're beyond this level…"
—
He appears again.
Closer.
Faster.
His punch comes from below.
Upward.
Targeting the chin.
I tilt.
Just enough.
It grazes.
Air explodes upward.
I step in.
Close.
Inside his range.
My fist moves.
Direct.
He blocks.
Forearm.
Impact.
His feet slide back.
A line forms on the ground.
First time.
—
A pause.
Just a fraction.
His eyes sharpen.
"…So that's how it is."
"…Yeah."
—
He moves again.
Faster.
Now—
Serious.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Chain attacks.
No gaps.
No openings.
I respond.
Block.
Deflect.
Counter.
Every movement tighter.
Cleaner.
—
The arena can't keep up.
The ground cracks.
Dust rises.
Air distorts.
—
"…We can't see anything…"
"…Are they even there…?"
"…What is this fight…?"
—
A B-rank collapses to one knee.
"…The pressure…"
An A-rank clenches his fist.
"…It's not just speed…"
"…It's presence…"
—
He appears again.
Right side.
I don't turn.
I already know.
I block.
Impact.
He follows immediately.
Second strike.
Third.
Fourth.
I absorb.
Redirect.
Step in.
My fist moves.
This time—
He reacts late.
Impact.
Direct.
His body shifts back.
Not thrown.
But moved.
Forced.
—
Silence spreads.
—
"…Tatsuro… got pushed?"
"…No way…"
—
He exhales.
Slow.
Controlled.
Then—
He smiles.
Slightly.
"…Good."
"…You're not disappointing."
—
He vanishes again.
Now—
No holding back.
The ground cracks under his step.
He appears in front—
And disappears again instantly.
Angles change.
Speed increases.
Pressure rises.
—
I step forward.
Not reacting anymore.
Moving first.
—
We clash.
Mid-air.
Punch meets punch.
Shockwave explodes outward.
The arena walls tremble.
—
People fall back.
Some collapse.
—
"…This is insane…!"
"…Stop them—!"
"…No one can—!"
—
We land.
Instantly move again.
Now—
It's not exchange.
It's domination.
—
He strikes.
I block.
He continues.
I break the rhythm.
—
I step inside.
Closer than before.
Too close.
He can't fully extend.
—
My fist moves.
Short distance.
Maximum force.
Impact.
—
His body lifts slightly.
Then—
Slides back.
This time—
Clear.
Visible.
—
Silence.
Complete.
—
"…He's… dominating…"
"…Tatsuro is losing ground…"
—
He stops.
Just for a second.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked on me.
"…You're stronger."
"…Yeah."
No denial.
—
He steps forward again.
But now—
He's adapting.
Better angles.
Sharper timing.
Still—
Not enough.
—
I move.
Faster.
Cleaner.
I close the gap instantly.
He reacts—
But late.
—
Punch.
Block.
Break.
—
Second strike.
Hits.
—
Third—
Stops.
Right before his face.
—
Silence.
The entire arena freezes.
—
He looks at my fist.
Then at me.
A pause.
"…I lost."
—
Silence.
No cheers.
No noise.
No reaction.
They're still trying to understand—
What just happened.
—
Then—
It hits.
—
The air changes.
—
Not from him.
From me.
—
The aura I held back—
Spreads.
Slow.
Heavy.
Endless.
—
The sky darkens slightly.
The ground trembles.
Far beyond the arena—
Something responds.
—
"…What is that…?"
"…That pressure…"
"…It's spreading…"
—
In the distance—
Far beyond the town—
Monsters stop.
Then—
They turn.
—
Toward one direction.
—
The Hero Town.
—
Inside the arena—
Everyone feels it.
—
Fear.
—
Not from the fight.
From what comes after.
—
I lower my hand.
—
"…Too much."
A quiet thought.
—
Far away—
A roar echoes.
Deep.
Ancient.
Not one.
Many.
—
The ground trembles again.
Stronger.
Closer.
—
Someone whispers—
"…Monster wave…"
Another voice—
Shaking—
"…No…"
"…This is worse…"
—
The gates of the town—
Begin to shake.
—
And something—
Is coming.
—
Chapter End
Volume 1 End: The Path Begins
I hope you like this fight, this is the story's end and I am not making new chapters. I will try to upload new a story on 1st January 2026.