Akaza's Destructive Death: Air Form unleashed a staggering six-hit barrage, each strike tearing through the air toward Horitake's exposed back.
Though Horitake couldn't see the attack, the piercing whistle of the air alone told him the danger was dire.
His eyes narrowed. "Thunder Breathing: Second Form, Revised—Chidori Stream!"
A crackling, shrieking burst of purple lightning erupted, like a thousand birds crying in unison. This time, the lightning didn't dance along Radiance's blade but flared behind Horitake, weaving into an electromagnetic net of absolute defense.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The six air-shattering strikes slammed into Horitake, kicking up clouds of dust and explosive roars, but every one was intercepted by the Chidori Stream. Horitake stood unscathed.
He spun around, arcs of electricity crackling across his body. Gripping Radiance with both hands, he plunged the lightning-charged blade into the ground. "Thunder Breathing: Second Form, Revised—Thunderbeast Pursuit Fang!"
A torrent of lightning surged through Radiance's blade into the earth, burrowing underground with ferocious speed. The electricity erupted around Akaza, coalescing into seven or eight snarling thunderwolves. Howling like vengeful spirits, they lunged at him from all directions!
Akaza was caught off guard.
That was the point of this technique—catching the enemy unprepared.
In the past, Horitake could perform Thunderbeast Pursuit Fang, but not like this, channeling lightning through the ground. Thanks to his refined mastery over electricity, he could now execute it with such precision that even Akaza was blindsided.
Faced with the pack of thunderwolves surrounding him, how would Akaza respond?
"Destructive Death: Shatter Form—Ten Thousand Leaf Flashing Willow!"
Akaza didn't hesitate, slamming a fist into the ground! The ferocious punch unleashed a shockwave of aura, fracturing the earth in a leaf-like pattern. The surging aura followed the cracks, erupting upward in a devastating counterattack!
Boom! Most of the seven or eight thunderwolves were blasted apart, shattered into chaotic arcs of lightning.
But one wolf, having leaped into the air early, escaped the destruction.
It pounced onto Akaza's back, jaws wide, and without hesitation, sank its teeth into his neck with a ferocious snap!
Akaza grunted in pain, his anger flaring. He seized the thunderwolf on his back, intent on tearing it into a shower of sparks.
This played right into Horitake's plan.
Horitake smirked and snapped his fingers.
The thunderwolf detonated in a massive explosion of chaotic lightning! The blast engulfed Akaza's face, forcing him to stagger back several steps!
Steadying himself, Akaza raised his head, furious. His face was scorched, his clothes tattered.
"Impressive move…" Akaza growled, his voice low and menacing, like a demon from the abyss.
Horitake didn't let up. Yanking Radiance from the ground, he charged forward. "Thunder Breathing: Second Form—Thunder Slash!"
A violent surge of purple lightning flared, then instantly converged, condensing onto Radiance's blade, transforming it into a blinding purple Thunder Slash blade.
Horitake moved with blinding speed, his eyes sharp as lightning. The Thunder Slash streaked toward Akaza, unstoppable in its ferocity!
Akaza's expression shifted as he saw Radiance morph into the Thunder Slash blade. Unlike the shrieking chaos of Chidori, this silent purple lightning blade was far more dangerous—far more terrifying!
He knew he couldn't let it hit him.
"Fine, then… Destructive Death: Foot Form—Flying Star Thousand Wheels!"
To counter Horitake, Akaza unleashed his meticulously honed kicking technique! Aura surged around his feet, and with blue energy swirling, he launched a flurry of spiraling kicks, their erratic trajectories darting like shooting stars!
Their ultimate techniques clashed head-on, needle against wheat!
Horitake assessed Akaza's move with clarity. The strength of this technique lay in its relentless chain of kicks—immense power with unpredictable paths, nearly impossible to defend against.
To block or dodge, Horitake couldn't meet it directly. He'd need to adapt Thunder Slash.
But should he really change his approach?
Thunder Slash was defined by its relentless forward momentum, its edge unmatched.
Altering it now risked giving Akaza an opening to counter.
This moment tested their resolve—who would dare to face the challenge head-on?
A faint smile curved Horitake's lips. He didn't dodge or retreat. Instead, he charged straight into Akaza's technique!
Akaza, laughing wildly, rushed forward to meet him!
Boom! A deafening explosion shook the earth, startling everyone nearby!
In the distance, nearly a hundred swordsmen paused their battles, looking up to see towering clouds of dust and the shockwave rippling outward.
But they knew their priority. They couldn't interfere in that terrifying duel. Better to focus on slaying the remaining demons!
The swordsmen raised their Nichirin Blades once more, cutting through the dozens of demons left.
Elsewhere, the two Pillars held a clear advantage over their Lower Moon opponents.
In the original story, Giyu Tomioka dispatched Lower Moon Five, Rui, in a few strikes. Tengen Uzui and Muichiro Tokito were no less capable. Defeating their foes was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Horitake and Akaza's clash had concluded.
They passed each other, standing back-to-back some ten meters apart, motionless.
Splatter! A long gash opened on Akaza's right waist, blood trickling steadily, unable to heal.
Akaza clutched the wound, his teeth clenched—not from pain, but from loathing and disbelief.
He was injured! A significant wound! And it wouldn't regenerate!
This was a humiliation he'd never experienced!
That was Akaza's mindset now.
And Horitake? Was he unscathed?
Not entirely.
Horitake stood still, taking a deep breath, blinking his right eye, which stung with tears. A closer look revealed his right eye socket was bruised, blackened like a panda's.
Even though Horitake had used lightning to deflect in time, Akaza's kick had landed solidly on his right eye socket. A bit more force, and his eye might've been temporarily blinded.
Still, Horitake had only a bruised eye, while Akaza bore a gaping wound. This round went to Horitake.
Akaza was clearly enraged.
He roared to the heavens, the blue twelve-pointed snowflake array reappearing beneath his feet. His aura surged wildly, and he spun around, charging at Horitake with a terrifying speed that broke the sound barrier!
In his fury, Akaza unleashed a combat prowess beyond his usual limits!
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