“Boom!”
“What happened?!”
“Was that an earthquake?!”
“Hurry, hurry!
Get out of the room!”
The collision of the sword techniques produced a tremendous roar and violent tremors.
At the point where the attacks collided, the ground was gouged out into a massive crater by the scattered sword energy.
The earth surrounding the crater was covered in countless cracks.
This was no longer something Zoro and Kuina could watch from nearby.
If Zhuyun had not blocked the sword aura flying toward them, they might already have been seriously injured.
Meanwhile, the villagers of Shimotsuki Village, who had already been asleep, were jolted awake by the enormous tremors and hurried out of their houses.
“What…
what is that?”
“No way.
What is that light?”
The villagers, already panicking, stared wide-eyed at the enormous blade of light that had suddenly risen more than a hundred meters into the air behind Isshin Dojo.
Their mouths hung open in disbelief.
“What is this?!”
Koushirou also widened his eyes.
After their previous techniques collided, the sword aura he had unleashed had already dispersed, but it had ultimately managed to withstand the giant’s slash behind Musashi.
He had thought the battle would end there.
However, he saw Musashi clasp both hands tightly.
The giant behind her gradually disappeared, transforming into a stream of light that gathered into her hands.
Then, a silver-white sword aura more than a hundred meters long appeared in Musashi’s hands.
“The technique I used just now isn’t over yet.”
Musashi smiled confidently.
“That was only the prelude.
This is my ultimate strike.
This blow is proof that I have reached the realm of the Void.”
Musashi swung both hands downward with all her strength.
The enormous sword light crashed forward.
Koushirou could no longer raise his sword to defend himself.
His previous attack had already exhausted all his strength, and he knew very well that he could not withstand this slash.
He could only stare blankly as the silver-white blade descended.
“Shing!”
The sword light passed beside Koushirou without encountering the slightest resistance before slicing straight through the mountain behind him.
“Rumble!
Rumble!
Rumble!”
Cold sweat trickled down Koushirou’s face as he turned to look behind him.
The mountain was splitting in two.
A gigantic fissure had cleaved the mountain apart.
“The mountain…
split apart?!”
Kuina clenched both hands, staring excitedly at the mountain that had been cut in half.
Although her father had lost, she was not sad.
Her father had not been injured, and more importantly, she had finally seen the direction she needed to work toward.
“That’s…
that’s incredible!”
Zoro’s mouth fell open.
“So Master Koushirou is actually this strong!
And that big sister is even stronger!”
“I lost.”
Koushirou shook his head and sheathed his sword before looking at Musashi.
“A slash of that level…
Even the world’s greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, would be no better, I imagine.”
“I once believed that women were ultimately inferior to men in swordsmanship because of their physical limitations.
Even if a woman could become a Great Swordsman, I believed she could never become the world’s greatest.”
“But you have shown me just how wrong I was.”
“To create your own school of swordsmanship and unleash a slash that has reached such a realm…
There is no reason a woman cannot become the world’s greatest swordsman.”
Koushirou looked up at the sky.
“Perhaps, in the not-too-distant future, I will hear news that you have defeated Hawkeye Mihawk.”
“Thank you for making me realize my mistake.
You have given me the determination to properly teach Kuina from now on.”
Koushirou looked solemnly at Musashi and bowed deeply.
“Father!”
Kuina covered her mouth with both hands, tears of excitement welling up in her eyes.
“Kuina, prepare yourself.
The road ahead will be very difficult.”
“Yes, Father!”
Kuina answered excitedly.
“I’ll work even harder too!”
Zoro immediately declared his determination.
At his young age, witnessing such a battle filled him with motivation.
He secretly vowed that one day, he would reach Musashi’s level.
“I’ll defeat you too, Kuina.
Just you wait!”
“Then you’d better work even harder.
Hahaha.”
Kuina smiled at Zoro.
“All right.
The battle is over, so there’s no reason to stay out here.”
Zhuyun clapped his hands.
“Mr.
Koushirou, it’s already quite late.
If you don’t mind, could you let me and my companions stay at your dojo for the night?”
“Of course.”
Koushirou had already composed himself and once again wore his usual gentle smile.
“Mr.
Zhuyun, you are Kuina’s benefactor.
And Lady Miyamoto is a Great Swordsman whom I deeply respect.
It would be my honor to have you rest at my dojo.”
Koushirou extended his hand.
“Everyone, please follow me.”
“Big Brother, you didn’t deny that you’re a swordsman just now.
So, are you a Great Swordsman too?”
Kuina followed closely beside Zhuyun and looked up at him.
“Can you also unleash sword techniques as powerful as Sister Musashi’s?”
“Heh.”
Zhuyun glanced at Kuina and continued following Koushirou.
But instead of answering her directly, he began to recite something.
“I am the bone of my sword.”
“This body is made of swords.”
“Steel is my body, and fire is my blood.”
“I have created over a thousand blades.”
“I have traversed countless battlefields without defeat.”
“Unknown to death, nor known to life.”
“Never once have I retreated.”
“Nor have I ever known defeat.”
“I have never had a companion.”
“I have endured pain to create countless weapons.”
“Yet I stand upon the hill of swords, intoxicated by victory alone.”
“However, all that remains is emptiness.”
“Therefore, this life has no meaning.”
“Thus, I pray…
Unlimited Blade Works.”
“Then this body is destined to be born for the sake of the sword.”
“What…
what is this?!”
Kuina, Koushirou, and Zoro were completely speechless.