Feeling the heavy killing intent coming from Unohana who suddenly became behind him, Dylan had the illusion of being cut in half which made him shiver and tremble. He gritted his teeth as he refused to give up to this feeling of fear that was grabbing his heart and mind.
And at this moment he remembered the first time he felt so close to death, it was when he first appearance in this world and fought against a horde of monsters.
The moving to the second time when he faced that goblin variant that made him closer to death than the first time. That situation felt quite similar to this one with Unohana.
The feeling of death gripping your heart and fear filing your mind, making you feel helpless with no way but to give up.
But Dylan wasn't the type to give up easily, he proved that before against that goblin variant and the situations that followed. He would not give up just because he felt close to death.
'No, that's impossible.' Dylan thought before his body suddenly moved with incredible speed and span around.
CLANG!
His sword blocked Unohana's deadly attack that was filled with her killing intent.
"Good, but not enough, Dylan." She said with a cold voice before she attacked again.
CLANG! CLANG!
"Ugh!" Dylan blocked her attacks but he felt they were heavier than before making him feel numb in his arms.
Gritting his teeth, he moved and attacked again, searching for an opening but the way she was attacking wasn't filled with any openings at all.
It was flawless.
'Then I have to create one.' He said inwardly before his attacks became more fierce and deadlier.
He was blocking continuously while attacking from time to time to try and create an opening for himself.
CLANG! CLANG!
They moved with incredible speed around this vast barren land, leaving cuts that affected the surroundings everywhere.
It was a battle of pure sword art, a dance of death and precision, each aiming to the end the other's life.
There was no words needed while fighting, only their swords were doing the talking.
Dylan moved and made a violent yet precise stab aiming for her heart but it was deflected by her sword before from within her sleeve, a small knife was shot at his head making him widen his eyes before moving his head to the side at the last moment evading the attack.
Then he responded with an attack of his own.
CLANG!
'Now that I remember, she always carries knives in her sleeves that she uses to surprise attack her opponent. Such a dirty way to fight but that is her style, deadly and tricky.' He thought as he continued his blocks and attacks.
He suddenly made a swift diagonal slash from bottom left to upper right but it was blocked and deflected away by her sword before she attacked him with a knife hidden in her sleeves toward his throat which he dodged at the last second and took a step back trying to assess the situation.
She didn't go after him and just stood in her place as if waiting for something.
Meanwhile.
'Her attacks are heavy and deadly, the more the battle lasted, the heavier and deadlier her attacks have become making it more difficult for me, I need to figure out something.' Dylan thought deeply searching for a way to try and push her back.
From someone's point of view, it seemed like a dream unreachable as for anyone who fought against her, they couldn't touch even a strand of her hair.
Let alone leaving a small wound on her porcelain like skin.
But Dylan wasn't dreaming or wishing, no, he was just stating facts.
As of right now, she was only using pure swordsmanship, if it went to that, Dylan was confident he could push her back.
But he need to figure out a way to counter her deadly and heavy attacks that seemed to numb the arms.
Then at this moment, something clicked in his mind.
'The second time when she appeared behind me, that heavy air and that sea of blood running under me, it wasn't my imagination. Yeah, it must be this.' Dylan finally understood something about why her attacks were so heavy and seemed so deadly that it felt cutting him in half.
He exhaled a hot steamy breath before focusing again with clear mind and a stance that left no openings which made Unohana smile more as she too took a stance of hers.
'Let me see how much you discovered, dear Dylan~' She said with an alluring voice inside her mind before she saw him suddenly disappeared from her sight which made her eyes widen slightly before with a strong and swift wave of her sword.
CLANG!
She blocked his attack that came from the side.
'It is....heavy.' She thought before Dylan attacked again with incredible sword skills that if any sword master saw him, he would stand in admiration and fervor to the amazing swordsmanship of Dylan.
CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew everywhere as they moved and attacked each other with deadly intent in their attacks.
The surroundings changed more as their attacks become even deadlier and more dangerous with deep cuts and trenches around.
They didn't care about anything except killing each other. Unohana's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as the more she attacked, the more Dylan was getting better and better bringing a new feeling to her heart that strived for a battle of death and blood.
It made her heart flutter while a small blush adorned her cheeks as she continued fighting.
Dylan's attacks were getting heavier the more he put into it, although his body ached, he felt nothing as the adrenaline coursing through his blood and veins was making him feel as if he was high, no pain and no tiredness, which made him break his limits and push further, he could see it, a new realm of swords sparkling in front of him and he was already standing at the threshold of this realm, just a step inside and he would open it.
CLANG!
Their swords met again and again and again creating a very beautiful yet deadly sight.
Their battle was taking on another level, the sword skills they showed was something otherworldly as they both handled the sword as if it was an extension of their bodies.
Dylan was discovering more about the way of the sword as he fought Unohana, a woman that was said to reach the peak of the sword.
A woman that no one could beat her in the sword skills and swordsmanship.
Dylan could feel it, he was about to step into this new realm.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
After few more clashes and sparks, Dylan put his first step in the new realm of swords when suddenly—
"That seems enough." He heard her calm serene voice before the world turned upside down in front of him as he found himself laying on the ground with sword on his neck.
"Your body can't go further." She said was a gentle motherly smile as she looked at him before retracting her sword as it disappeared from her hand.
Then she knelt beside him and caressed his damp hair gentle not caring if it was sweaty or dirty.
At this moment, Dylan released a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Huff...Huff... Huff..." His breath was heavy and steamy as now the adrenaline subsided, all the tiredness hit his body making him unable to lift a finger.
His body ached along with his muscles while his brain was running out of power begging to rest.
"You showed me how you can face death without any bit of hesitation. I'm so happy and proud of you, Dear~" hearing her sexy yet gentle voice saying that, Dylan felt at ease and relaxed.
"I'm...glad." he said before he closed his eyes and drifted away in a deep sleep.
Unohana who saw this smiled gently before putting his head on her soft thick thighs while continuing to caress his hair tenderly.
"Sleep well, dear. You will need it." She whispered into his ears.
[That last attack, was because you felt if he went further, he would harm his body.] Suddenly, a soft alluring voice said to her.
"Of course, I can't let him harm himself." She said.
[But I'm truly amazed by how much he improved from your fight, he already stepped into the Golden Realm of swords that only few could enter.] Another voice that was majestic and commanding said.
[Although you restrained your power to match his, he managed to keep up with you.] Another voice said. It was energetic and filled with vigor.
"This won't be the last time we fight~" Unohana said gently with deep hidden meaning.
[Anyways, his opponents will get stronger than before from now on, as the next phase is—]
[The Inner Circle.]