Pouring all effort into blocking the wind along the trajectory of the Teigu's projectile, trying to deflect the force as much as possible.
As the wind gradually took on an icy form, the power of the projectile began to weaken. Then, just before the ice converted from his own wind element could freeze him into an ice sculpture, he successfully sent the projectile flying off diagonally upward.
Jean was also sent flying by the impact, crashing into a burning wooden house.
The already teetering house completely collapsed under the impact, burying Jean beneath it.
'Phew, luckily the ice on my body prevented me from being burned by these embers.'
Enduring the pain throughout his body, he quickly checked his status.
Although his skin was covered in ice, there were no symptoms of frostbite, and this layer of ice had also protected him from being burned.
Jean had felt a chill in his heart while flying into the burning house, fearing that fire plus ice would cause a Melt reaction and finish him off.
Fortunately, these flames did not trigger a reaction.
However, a Swirl reaction did occur. His wind first swirled the fire and then the ice. He had previously tested it with firewood or running water and there was no reaction at all, so he had ignored it.
Now it seemed that elements possessing special power were required for a reaction to occur.
Fortunately, looking at the conclusion, both Swirl reactions helped him, even though he was almost frozen into a popsicle.
Moving his body slightly, there was no obstruction to his movement, and there shouldn't be any fractures.
He struggled to sit up. Suddenly, a surge of heat hit his throat, and then foul-smelling blood gushed out, which he spat onto the ground.
"Tch, smells terrible. When Jin Yong wrote about spitting blood, wasn't it always supposed to taste slightly sweet?"
He muttered complaints to keep himself calm. Releasing his wind element, he heard shouts of "Hot! Hot! Hot! Why won't this fire go out!"
Standing up cautiously, it seemed Schop hadn't noticed him. His instinct was to start running away.
But his heart questioned him: If he ran, the people of this village would surely be beyond saving. But was it really worth risking his life, or rather paying such a high price, for strangers?
It wasn't worth it. These villagers were complete strangers—not from the same country, the same race, or even the same world.
Taking a deep breath, he gripped the nichirin blade tightly once more and spat on the ground.
'It has nothing to do with those grand ideals of righteousness or the resolve to sacrifice oneself.'
He moved his body; his limbs were still strong and powerful.
'Running away to seek reinforcements or waiting until dawn to strike might be the optimal solution.'
The elemental power consumed wasn't much, and by now it had almost been replenished.
'Those villagers are at most casual acquaintances, and most of them I've never even met.'
He perceived the situation of the entire field through the wind element.
'Working hard to live up to expectations only to end up with nothing in the end—I did too much of that in my last life. Let's forget about it in this life.'
He re-sheathed the nichirin blade while simultaneously beginning to inject a large amount of wind element.
'So this time, let me just follow my own whims.'
He released throwing knives toward Schop, taking the opportunity to burst through the ruins of the wooden house that still held lingering embers.
'After all, if I run away here, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep peacefully again!'
Accompanied by the feint of the throwing knives, Jean charged at Schop at high speed. Schop was currently using his three hands to frantically swat at the flames on his body.
Just like before, he aimed for Schop's neck and charged.
Just as Jean was only two steps away, another arm stretched out from the other side, this time with a projectile flashing with lightning.
However, this was not beyond Jean's expectations. Continuing toward Schop's head, he activated the elemental power within the scabbard, and the nichirin blade shot out instantly.
A flash of white light streaked through like a rainbow piercing the sun, intending to take his head directly.
In desperation, two more arms sprouted from Schop's shoulders in an attempt to block the attack.
But an attack enhanced by a Jet Draw was not so easily blocked; both arms were severed at once.
Taking advantage of that sliver of opportunity, Schop retreated hastily, dodging the lethal slash.
"Tch, didn't realize you could dodge so fast."
The retreating Schop was regenerating his arms with a look like he was constipated. As a demon of Lower Rank level, the regeneration speed of his arms was visible to the naked eye.
But Jean didn't act rashly either. Instead, he continued to fill the scabbard with elemental power. After all, Schop still had four arms holding four Teigu projectiles, ready to strike.
"I have to say you're quite impressive, swordsman. But I can't wait to kill you and then go play with the angels."
His regenerated arms retrieved the two projectiles on the ground. Now with six arms holding six projectiles, he looked at Jean with an arrogant face.
However, Jean laughed: "Actually, I'm quite glad my opponent is you. After all, most demons were ordinary people before. If Muzan hadn't transformed them, they wouldn't have committed these sins."
He shook his hand, which was somewhat numb from the impact, and continued: "If we trace it back to the source of these sins, Muzan... unfortunately, I don't have the ability to defeat him yet, so this frustration has been building up in my heart. But you're different. Because you... deserve to die!"
As his voice fell, Jean lunged forward again.
Schop counterattacked at the same time, several projectiles striking at Jean with irregular intervals.
With high concentration, Jean observed the movement of his six arms, using wind to increase his mobility. With what could be called a graceful posture, he dodged the attacks of these spheres one by one.
At the same time, he reached Schop for the third time. With a Quick Draw Slash, he went straight for Schop's hideous head.
At this moment, a smile of a successful trick appeared on Schop's face. One of the hands that had pretended to throw opened, and the projectile inside, imbued with wind power, exploded directly in his hand.
The force pushed his body back just a tiny distance. It was exactly this tiny distance that caused Jean's slash to miss again, leaving only a bloodstain on his neck.
Just as he was recalling the other projectiles and preparing to mock Jean...
Suddenly, with a soft'shoo' sound, a needle-like hidden weapon flew out from Jean's scabbard and stuck directly into Schop's chest.
"This kind of thing... ugh..."
Then, something flowed out from the needle, and Schop suddenly found his entire body becoming paralyzed.
In the next instant, only a green light trail was seen flashing past. Schop felt his perspective suddenly drop, and then his own body lying on the ground appeared in his vision.
His paralyzed body prevented him from even making a final counterattack. He could only watch helplessly as he turned into black ash and faded away.